Abstract: A method for removing material from a portion of an edge of a shoe upper folded over the bottom of a shoe, comprises the steps of moving the bottom of the shoe in relation to lateral roughing wheels (15) for roughing the edges according to two different paths and in relation to a first (26) and a second tool (22) for roughing the heel and toe areas. The roughing wheels (15) rotate according to an axis substantially parallel to the length of the footwear to provide a removing action directed towards the inside of the bottom, and are movable along a path comprising a forward stroke and a return stroke which are carried out at different distances towards the inside of the bottom. The first tool and the second tool rotate to provide a removing action directed towards the inside of the bottom along a path substantially parallel to the length of the footwear in respective heel and toe areas.