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Shop Press For Holster Work

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I've been doing a lot of holster and case work lately, so I'm in the market for a molding press. Building one is not out of the question, but finding time is hard. Northern Tool and Harbor Freight are my first resources to look at. I'm leaning towards the Aframe bottlejack 12ton, but the 10 ton with the air guage and handle off to the side looks good too.

I always wanted a vaccuum set up, but I'm not sure it would work better than the presses.

Hell, if I could find an old printing or wine press, they might work too. I've never seen any of these work for this kind of job, so I'm not sure the results of any of the methods.

What's your setups, and or recommendations. If you have pictures of what they come out of the presses looking like, without additional hand boning, that would help me too. I did a search for this stuff on LW, but couldn't find too many discussions with my search criteria.

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I have both now. I started with the vacuum setup and had no real complaints. I needed a shop press for some other jobs so I figured might as well get some 40 durometer pads and give it a try. I have the 12 Ton Harbor Frieght model. Works good but the only advantage I've found is that with 8/9OZ the press will bring up fine detail lines better than the vacuum. I use it for that and finish up in the Vacuum bag as I can bone the details right through the bag and they are held in place until I release the vacuum. Best part is no more slip marks or fingernail marks on wet leather. Yes! I'm somewhat of a Klutz. I don't use the press at all for revolvers.

Tip. Sign up online for Harbor Frieghts online cupons. They will constantly be sending you cupons for 20 to 30% off. Combine that with a sale and you can get some really good deals. I ended up with about $69 in my vacuum pump and got the press for around $80.

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Weaver leather has a great setup, complete with plates to use as a clicker. Just add 2 sheets of gum rubber from McMaster-Carr and you are ready to go.

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Sorry for the delay in response, I had to do some errands today.

Thanks all for sharing...good advice, too.

Since I wrote this topic, I found boomstick's added commentary with pictures of his setup...it was exactly what i thought it would be.

I ordered up some gum rubber today. One kink in the action, though, was my friend found a big industrial valve with wheel and screw setup...I think he is welding on some spokes and plates ( he gets off on stuff like this ) so I may be using a handpress setup. We'll see what he comes up with. Of course I'll post pix if he makes it.

Denster, and his combination of tools intrigues me...press AND Vacuum...hmmm.

But I still want to see everyones pictures of their setup, especially if you haven't posted them here before!

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Sorry for the delay in response, I had to do some errands today.

Thanks all for sharing...good advice, too.

Since I wrote this topic, I found boomstick's added commentary with pictures of his setup...it was exactly what i thought it would be.

I ordered up some gum rubber today. One kink in the action, though, was my friend found a big industrial valve with wheel and screw setup...I think he is welding on some spokes and plates ( he gets off on stuff like this ) so I may be using a handpress setup. We'll see what he comes up with. Of course I'll post pix if he makes it.

Denster, and his combination of tools intrigues me...press AND Vacuum...hmmm.

But I still want to see everyones pictures of their setup, especially if you haven't posted them here before!

Do a search for vacuum and you will come up with a thread where I posted photos of my setup, the cost, and suppliers. My press is not welded up like boomsticks as I need to shift it back and forth from other duties. Were I going to use it as a clicker also I would have gotten the air operated one and welded on plates. There was a post mentioning the press Weaver sells as a clicker. That one is for smaller parts and probably wouldn't work well for larger patterns such as holsters.

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I'm typing through my phone so I don't have the time to search an old post I added on the harbor freight press. I do apologise, but you can search this this topic, where I also posted pictures of my press.

I would recommend spending a little more money and getting a better press than hft. If molding is all you're gonna use it for, then it will work fine, but if later on you want to convert it to a clicker press, you may have problems. I had to spend money to get the machine working properly and I still can't get it to press evenly. This affects my embossing feature. I just purchased a C type of press that I plan on using for embossing, and clicking. The old one l plan to use as a holster press.

The problem I found wit hft press is the pressure extension rod its not thick enough for large projects. I finally purchased one that does everything I need, but I'm stuck with 2. The one with the gauge sounds very nice. I hope this helps, Daniel .

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