My First Project

[Nomadiccorpse]

Hi, I'm new to this, been working with leather for a grand three weeks now. So I saw these holsters based of the uncharted video game, and really wanted one, but didn't want to shell out the 300 bucks they were asking, so I decided to make my own. But I ended up spending that much anyway. I took my 300 down to Tandy and bought a bunch of stuff not having any idea what I was doing or what I really needed and jumped in with both feet. So I made a few bracelets for my buddy's daughters and thought I knew what I was doing. So feeling confident I started my shoulder holster and then I realized about the order things need to be done in and what tools I really needed, but here's the final result. I am happy with it, and confident my next will be even better. Constructive criticism accepted.

[Nomadiccorpse]

Sorry apparently I don't know how to upload pics

[ReneeCanady]

Well I think you did really well especially for your first time ever! If you stay with the art (and you should) you will slowly find out how to do other things like finishing edges. You will find yourself buying a few tools for each project you want to do and then before you know it you have more leather tools in your house than Tandy carries lol.

[THE BIG RED VIKING]

Great job, better than my first and second holster! Keep it up I learn something new everyday.

[Nomadiccorpse]

Thanks for the compliments, I plan on sticking with it, and I'm about to start some batman type bracers

[MadMorbius]

I think you did a great job on a first project. Like anything, you'll make minor improvements to your work as you progress, until your starting products are unrecognizeable.

I would like to offer two suggestions. First being that you invest in an edge beveller and perhaps a hand-held burnisher. Then practice finishing your edges.

Not only do finished edges add a whole new dimension to the work, it protects the leather; Properly beveled edges allow for a clean burnish, and a clean burnish locks down and seals the fibers on the exposed edges of the leather which are otherwise prone to absorb moisture and expand, or wrinkle/damage the face of the leather via use.

Second, I stronly suggest you back up those rivets with stitching. In my experience, rivets (particularly rapid rivets...the copper variety and tubular rivets are pretty much bomb proof) will fail before a good saddle stitch ever will. Wherever a joint is weight bearing (or holding something of fair importance, like say a pistol) a row of stitching provides a backup to a rivet, while the rivet provides a backup to the stitching. Both need to fail before the work will.

If you keep at it, you'll find it a very rewarding hobby (or second income even). But like all things, it takes practice. The good news is there's a wealth of information freely available on the net (and these forums), and plenty of people willing to help you get over the humps.

Edited November 27, 2013 by MadMorbius

[Nomadiccorpse]

Yeah I need to back up my rivets I think too, don't want to drop a pistol. But about the finishing edges, do I just basically shave some off the top and bottom edges with a beveler then rub it with the burnisher?

[MadMorbius]

Well, thats the basic idea but you can do a couple of things to make it a cleaner finish. There are a number of threads stickied on here that describe the process, but I tend to bevel, then dampen the edge, slick it with a canvas cloth saturated in saddle soap and then finish up with either a hand tool or the burnishing bit on my shop drill press.

I recommend dying the edge after you bevel and before you burnish...often the dampness of the wet dye is enough to assist with the burnish.

[Paulsleather]

I like the creativity of using the ring thingy to tie it all together in the back, and finishing with the concho. As your skills continue to grow, it will result in a level of fit and finish that will only enhance that creative look. Keep at it!

[Nomadiccorpse]

Thanks, now it's time to hit up Tandy for more tools and leather lol