rickmoo

i have a ridgid oscillating sander, but i usually put a sanding drum on a ridgid drill press. drill or cut a hole in a piece of wood 1/4" or 1/2" . let the drum sit down in the hole { clamp the wood on the table } that way the bottom edge of the leather will be sanded also. i like to sand the edge, then burnish with water and canvas. go back and lightly sand again . this way the edge is even and not fuzzy.

i have a cobra 4 and tried the stirrup plate on a straight stitch. the feed dog has to be removed. the leather has to be pushed and i didn't see where it hrlped any. i also have a holster plate and the feed dog should be removed, although it doesn't hit the plate. the 1st. time i used it just to try a stitch i liked it. i tried it later and didn't like it. just another thing to get used to. you have to push yhe leather just the right consistency.

hi, using 346 thread, make sure the bobbin thread is no larger than 277. also, is the spring installed correctly? i'm sure you are aware that the thickness and type of leather dictates which type of needle. also, the needle has to be straight and sharp. and the correct size.

OK, the site i listed isn't the one. it is www.brown-recluse.com i had left out the dash for the site. lots of info on several sites.

MAn, that spider i so cute... LOL! i generally don't like them either. all spiders carry venom,but some not deadly. the brown recluse, black and brown widow spider are dangerous. as well as the hobo spider. recluses and widows freak me out more than poisonous snakes. check out www.brownrecluse.com ... they have a recluse first aid kit guaranteed to work . lots of testimonials to this . i have one, but haven't needed it. interesting web site.

i have the same videos. it does take practice and i haven't perfected it. if i remember correctly, he stitched from the bottom up and the diagonal stitch comes from the top down. if it makes a difference. i hate wasting leather,but can't get good without practice.

hi, i doubt there are patterns for every gun. if i had an alaskan i could make a pattern. you would have a lot of help if you order al stohlmans volumes 1, 2, and 3 making bags and cases. springfield leather has them. good wholesale price if you have a retail license... tax#.. look at pics of pancakes on line and draw a rough outline of some. use the gun as a model. if wet forming the leather, wrap cellophane plastic around the gun. cut the bottom or back piece sort of large as in an oval shape. make sure the top piece is large enough to form around the gun . as you form the leather to the gun it starts taking shape and gives an idea how you want to cut the shape and the belt slots. it's definitely trial and " E " , but you get better as you go along. there is an art to making holsters. are you using heavy veg tan? dying , oiling etc.? it's sort of hard to explain how to make one, for me at least.

OK,......... here's some sites to help get you going. the thread exchange, inc. ..... poly thread and bonded nylon. www.fastenersdirect.com .... www.perfectfit.com www.outdoortextitles.com .... www.sunbrellacentral.com ..... {buckles} www.buckleguy.com .... www.conchos.com ..... www.buckleshop.com www.brettunsvillage.com .... www.ohiotravelbag.com hope this gets you started ..........

you might try........ www.waterhouseleather.com ....... if you don't see it on the site, call them. i believe they have more leather than listed.

www.waterhouseleather.com has had brahma bull hides. i imagine it is the same stuff.

www.waterhouseleather.com has water buffalo leather 4 to 4.5 oz nice stuff. i have some in brown. www.brettunsvillage.com has bison leather in black flavor. 5-6 oz. under the site map click on the full sides and hides block. the have other nice leather and accessories also. free shipping.

www.waterhouseleather.com has water buffalo leather. it is 4 to 4.5 oz. i have some in brown... nice stuff. * check out www.brettunsvillage.com look under the site map and click on the full sides and hides block. they have american bison in black flavor 5 -6 oz. # 1's 20 sq.ft. $ 75. american bisons are not buffalo. they are true bison.

seems that there are more colors offered with the smaller threads. at the thread exchange, # 92 and smaller, there is a lot better selection of colors. if you don't see it in bonded nylon, look at polyester thread. i use both. they sew the same.

Rob, try .... the thread exchange , inc. www. threadexchange.com ....... steady adding thread to their inventory. i've bought lots of thread from them. i don't know about #277, but they have a toboggan " dark orange " in # 207. located in Weaverville, N.C. near Asheville. i've been near there twice this summer.

if you don't mind buying john bianchi's 3 dvd set for making gun belts and holsters , he shows clearly in detail how to sew bullet loops. a wonderful set of dvds. should be around $50. also included is a 90 min. dvd of him - his start in making holsters and the fame he gained through innovation. very well worth it.

Hello, the other day i was on leatherworker here looking at some stuff. i saw that someone needed a holster for a....... NAA .22 mag mini revolver holster. don't know the date of the topic, but when i tried to go back and find it , i couldn't no matter where i looked. so i'm letting anyone know that i have made a few... one with a belt loop, two pancake models, and i can also make one that looks like a knife sheath. if you need one i can make it or i can send a pattern. RIchmoo

try ....... thethreadexchange.com..... located in weaverville,n.c. near asheville,n.c. phone: 800-915-2320

ferg, i've ordered 2.5 oz. to 8/9 oz. vegtan from them. i bought a 4/5 oz. side once that wasn't great... good for practice, i hate wasting good leather anyway. haven't been working with leather too long. the leather i've bought thas a nice light color , clean looking. i don't carve, but it stamps fine. i've made some holsters... does fine. i sew with a cobra class 4 machine. it also takes dye well. bought a nice thick belt made of water buffalo. honestly i haven't bought much leather form others, so i just have to say it's fine for what i'm doing. i do burn leather with a detail master excalibre pyrography machine. rickymoo

i've bought a lot of leather from waterhouse leather. anything $99 or more and free s/h. they have 5% off at the top of the page of ads here at leatherworker.net they're always having specials and closeouts.

Hi, triggleather.com has a great selection. wholesale with a business license.

try ... thethreadexchange.com ... they are located in weaverville,n.c. near asheville, n.c. i've bought lots of bonded nylon and polyester machine thread . they have lots of sizes of kevlar and nomex thread.

Hi, a couple more sites worth looking at... masecraftsupply.com .... ajh-knives.com. .... for some exotic stuff, boonetrading.com has a good site. hope this helps someone. Ricky Moo

Hi, are you able to make your own? what oz. leather ( thickness ) do they need to be? i've made my own from veg tan and sometimes overlay it with other type of leather. right now i'm making custom leather pen sleeves for a pen making site. i have a sewing machine ( cobra class 4 ). could i possibly make " cut " some straps for you? if so, let me know and we'll converse more about it. Ricky Moo

<br /><br /><br / try looking online at sites for knifemaking ... knifemaking kits and such. i was on some sites awhile back and i saw nice clips that were not as expensive as the ones mentioned. seems i saw one that is wide and it rotated. hope this helps.

Yeah, ditto on the Cobra class 4 machine. i called Steve last august and got the summer special. you won't go wrong with the cobra class 3 or 4 . sewing machines seem to be more competitive in price than a year or so ago. right now i'm making custom leather pen sleeves for a pen making ( supplier ) site. some of the leather is pretty thin. that big cobra 4 does a good job on it. it absolutely penetrates 3/4 " of leather easily also. i like the idea of sewing without having to punch so many holes by hand. leather stitchers are very kool and fun to sew with. not too hard to learn on either. hope this helps.