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That is some nice clean work there. How are you molding the holster to the gun? Vacuum, press, or magic? Inquiring minds want to know.

I actually got a medium/light density foam roller from a sporting goods store to do the intial wet forming. Put a rolled up hand towell behind it, place on a firm surface and then roll my full weight over the holster & blue gun for a few minutes. From there I just finish it with a wood burnishing and boning tool. 

Its the most economical way I've found to wet form a holster. A poor man's hydraulic press 

That is pretty cool. I'm so very glad I asked, because that is something I never would have thought of. I start with wet leather and a big bag of rice...

Good job there Mr. Smith.............

You all need to get into vacuum forming, . . . it's so easy to do, . . . 

But then again, . . . I'm just plain ol' lazy, . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited November 6, 2016 by Dwight

Thank you Dwight. I took your advise and ordered a pump, bag, and vacuum kit. Very excited to get It going and look atthe differences in results. 

@MisterSmith- Where did you order the stuff from, and what did it run you?

Just remember when you are forming, . . . put something flat under the whole holster.  I bought a $6 or $8 little white cutting board about 10 x 12 or so.

I put the weapon in the wetted holster, . . . lay it on the cutting board, . . . inside the bag she goes, . . . turn on the vacuum and watch the magic.

If you had been here the first time I used mine you would have thought "That boy is touched for sure, . . . "  I laughed till I cried, . . . seeing how easy the vacuum pump did the work.

I had used a press before, . . . and always wondered if this would be the gun I'd mess up with too much pressure or something like that.  With vacuum forming I don't think we could hurt one, . . . even the plastic fantastic ones.

You can also do some of the boning right through the bag if you are careful, . . . 

Have fun, . . . may God bless,

Dwight

@CaptQuirk I ordered a vacuum pump from Harbor Freight, and the bag and vacuum kit from veneer supply (the links are pasted below). I used a coupon code at Harbor freight from retailmenot.com and got 20% off. 

All totaled it cost me $250 after shipping. Haven't received any of the supplies yet, but I'll let you know how it works out.

http://www.harborfreight.com/25-cfm-vacuum-pump-98076.html

http://www.veneersupplies.com/products/Project-CRS-Continuous-Run-Pump-Vacuum-Press-Kit.html

http://www.veneersupplies.com/products/VS-Standard-Vinyl-Vacuum-Bag-2-x-2.html

@Dwight I'm dying laughing at your description of your first vacuum form!

 Thanks again for the added insight. Very much appreciate what you do for the members on this page

@MisterSmith-Thank you for sharing that.

@Dwight- How long does the vacuum pump need to run to insure a good mold? In other words, how long do I need to run the generator to do this? Or, is it a suck and seal set up, where it holds the vacuum after the pump is off? Could I possibly ask any more questions?

It takes all of about 30 seconds for the initial molding to take place.  The first time I did it, . . . I was thinking of like 15 minutes maybe, . . . 10 at least.

Turned that dude on, . . . Voila, . . . it's happening.

I'll play around with a bit of molding as well while I'm there, . . . 

In my setup, . . . no the bag does not hold the vacuum, as mine is not totally air tight, . . . just air tight enough to work.

May God bless,

Dwight

@CaptQuirk I took this newfangled vacuum and bag press for a spin yesterday, and yup, its as advertised. I got so much more detail than I ever could than by doing it by my old method. I use fairly thick leather (8/9 oz), and this thing saved my poor arms and shoulders. The kit and pump I ordered went together in about 20 min., and is pretty user friendly. I did one holster yesterday, and all totaled it took me about 4-5 minutes to form.

One quick tip if you're going to hand form the holster while in the bag, get some silicon spray and lightly coat the area where you are going to use your molding tools

Cheers!

@MisterSmith- That is great to hear! I guess I'm going to have to put one of these together myself. Let's see the results!