Sixer Report post Posted August 11, 2011 These things are tricky to the point that I don't even enjoy making them. The reinforcement piece is a PITA to line up correctly and even worse to hand stitch. I feel like I could ruin this holster at ANY stage in the process. That drives me nuts. It's also near impossible for me to get a good burnished edge between the front flap and the reinforcement piece. I have a pic of the first one I made... but right now I'm thinking it must have come together by pure luck, because I'm convinced the one I'm working on now is destined to fail. Anyway, just wanted to vent a little bit and see if anyone had any helpful insight on making this type of holster. Any suggestions are welcome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted August 11, 2011 Burnish the mouth band before assembly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted August 12, 2011 Most of my IWB have a reinforcement piece on the mouth. I sew it on while everything is nice and flat, after burnishing the edges of it that I will not be able to burnish later on. I do not use any kydex, steel, or aluminum "stiffener" as I have never had one collapse on me or any of my customers (of which I know). Maybe you just needed to rant today, . . . sometimes I get that way, . . . mostly though when I am out of coffee May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
particle Report post Posted August 12, 2011 It's also near impossible for me to get a good burnished edge between the front flap and the reinforcement piece. Looks pretty good from where I'm sitting! At what point are you burnishing the area between the front flap and the reinforcement piece? Do you wait until the holster is formed and dried? Or do you do any burnishing prior to that? If not, I would suggest you wet your holster for forming, then take it straight over to your burnishing station (mine is a drill press with a wooden dowel) and put your initial burnish on it. What you're really trying to do at this early stage is pre-round the edges - nothing more. It's much easier to round the edges prior to the drying process. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sixer Report post Posted August 12, 2011 Thanks fellas... I really just needed to complain a little As far as the burnishing goes... I do burnish the entire reinforcement piece before stitching it on... though I always seem to lose that smooth edge when I get it wet to mold. I think what I did wrong the first time was not leaving enough room between the mouth and front flap. I adjusted the pattern this time around so I would have just enough room to get in there and do what i need to do. Particle, I'll take your advise and give it a good burnishing before and after wet molding! I'm a bit more encouraged today. After stitching the reinforcement piece on I found that the front and back fit together nicely... something I was conerned about. Anyway, thanks for listening to my previous rant and I appreciate the advice! Pics to follow! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
evandailey Report post Posted August 12, 2011 Thanks fellas... I really just needed to complain a little As far as the burnishing goes... I do burnish the entire reinforcement piece before stitching it on... though I always seem to lose that smooth edge when I get it wet to mold. I think what I did wrong the first time was not leaving enough room between the mouth and front flap. I adjusted the pattern this time around so I would have just enough room to get in there and do what i need to do. Particle, I'll take your advise and give it a good burnishing before and after wet molding! I'm a bit more encouraged today. After stitching the reinforcement piece on I found that the front and back fit together nicely... something I was conerned about. Anyway, thanks for listening to my previous rant and I appreciate the advice! Pics to follow! Do you (or anyone else for that matter) mind sharing how you hold the holster for stitching on the reinforcement on one of these? I can't seem to envision how you would put that in a stitching horse for that wrap around reinforcement. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sixer Report post Posted August 12, 2011 (edited) Do you (or anyone else for that matter) mind sharing how you hold the holster for stitching on the reinforcement on one of these? I can't seem to envision how you would put that in a stitching horse for that wrap around reinforcement. That's one of the things I hate most about making this holster. Personally, I don't use a stitching pony / horse for any of my holsters. I cut and burnish the reinforcement piece first. I only burnish the bottom part of the piece because I usually need to re-sand it after glueing it on to even it out. I go ahead and mark my stitch lines on the bottom of the reinforcement piece as well. That way I don't have to manuver around the flaps later on. Once I have the piece glued in place, I use an awl chucked in a drill press to make my holes. I place a few pieces of thick scrap between the part I'm poking holes in and the flaps, so I don't put any holes where they aren't supposed to go. After that, I plop down in front of the TV and start stitching... again being careful not to stick the flaps with my needle. It's a little tedious, and I'm not sure if my way is the "right" way... but it works for me. Hope that helps! ETA - Here is a link to a post by Woolfe that helped me quite a bit... not much on the stitching but good info http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=22992 Edited August 12, 2011 by Sixer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Warpe Report post Posted August 12, 2011 That's one of the things I hate most about making this holster. Personally, I don't use a stitching pony / horse for any of my holsters. I cut and burnish the reinforcement piece first. I only burnish the bottom part of the piece because I usually need to re-sand it after glueing it on to even it out. I go ahead and mark my stitch lines on the bottom of the reinforcement piece as well. That way I don't have to manuver around the flaps later on. Once I have the piece glued in place, I use an awl chucked in a drill press to make my holes. I place a few pieces of thick scrap between the part I'm poking holes in and the flaps, so I don't put any holes where they aren't supposed to go. After that, I plop down in front of the TV and start stitching... again being careful not to stick the flaps with my needle. It's a little tedious, and I'm not sure if my way is the "right" way... but it works for me. Hope that helps! ETA - Here is a link to a post by Woolfe that helped me quite a bit... not much on the stitching but good info http://leatherworker...showtopic=22992 I used that link to make mine and it worked like a charm...nerve racking as you swear you are going to sew the wrong pieced together, but it all works out.....just take it slow. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rayban Report post Posted August 12, 2011 Most of my IWB have a reinforcement piece on the mouth. I sew it on while everything is nice and flat, D...won't the reinforcement flatten out with the rest of the mouth when done that way? Wrapping it around the fold is what helps keep it open.....I may be wrong...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted August 13, 2011 D...won't the reinforcement flatten out with the rest of the mouth when done that way? Wrapping it around the fold is what helps keep it open.....I may be wrong...... When I make that type holster, there are 5 pieces of leather: front, back, re-inforce piece, left loop, and right loop. My procedure is: burnish the loops and the three sides of the reinforcement that are not on the top (at the opening). Glue and sew the reinforcement to the front piece (all my reinforcements end squarely at the sight channel of the weapon, . . . which allows me to machine stitch it on and be done with it. Punch and snap the loops to the front. Pre-mold the front and let dry. Glue front w/loops to back, . . . sand, . . . edge, . . . burnish, . . . stitch groove, . . . sew. Final mold and bone. Finish. May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoelR Report post Posted August 13, 2011 I've done a few of this type. I my approach is to glue and stitch the reinforcement flat and then fold and glue the halves together. Takes a bit of planning to get just the right amount of leather in the band area of the two halves. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sixer Report post Posted August 17, 2011 Well, here is the final product.... Not too bad for my second attempt at this type of holster, although I did forget to include the sweat shield on the main back piece of the holster. Luckily I remembered it in time to add it to the reinforcement piece. Thanks for the help! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
particle Report post Posted August 17, 2011 Looks great! nice save with the sweat shield. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
