steelhawk

I've done some practicing with my new Cobra 4 and am getting pretty good, but still have a problem with starting and stopping the stitch. What is the best way to secure the beginning stitches. I've tried a few times and the result isn't pretty. Do I leave some long thread and stitch by hand, or can the machine do it, but I am not doing it right?

Maybe you can put some kind of woven section using leather strips in between the pieces.

You could try asking on a couple of the wisconsin gun forums. www.wisconsinshooters.com/forum and www.armedbadger.com

It arrived today. My son-in-law helped me get the head installed. Now I need to figure out how to use it.

I like it. Are those oval holes? How do you keep them aligned straight? After messing up the holes on the last belt I made, I decided that the next one would be round holes, even though I think oval is better.

The delivery truck guy just left about 30 minutes ago. I managed to get it unpacked and in the house by myself, but there is no way I'm getting it up the stairs into the spare room alone. Waiting for big strong son-in-law who lives 1/4 mile down the street from me to get home from work. In the meantime, I'll start reading the instructions.

I've used corrugated cardboard before and had some success, but it isn't as good as leather. I did a prototype the other day from a crummy part of the hide and it helped me work out the kinks a whole lot better. I was able to sew, wet form and try it out once dried. You can't do that with cardboard.

It's been a wait, and sometimes I thought it would never get here, but I got a call this morning from the freight company and they are bringing it out sometime tomorrow between 10am and 3pm. Now begins the learning experience.

The last two items I used my Vinegaroon on needed to be done more than once to get it all black. It is about a year old and was my first attempt at making the stuff. If it does get weak, what is the best way to get it back to normal? Also, what color should a good batch be?

I have a holster request for an XD45 Compact, with the 4" barrel and short grip. I didn't see a dummy gun available for it. I have a relative with a full size XD45. Looking at the Springfield site, it looks like they might fit in the same holster. Does anyone know if they are the same dimensions, as far as holsters are concerned? Thanks.

Wow, some interesting problems. I hope I don't have anything like that, but probably will.

I decided to get the real thing with the Ruger LC9. A dummy gun wasn't available yet. I've almost paid for it with holsters.

I put the stitch lines too close on a holster last year. I didn't think to try and stretch it, so I tried all my blue guns. One would go in so I formed the holster around that gun. It wasn't a great match and the stitch line looks funny so I never completed the holster. I posted about vinegaroon last year as well. I used it on each piece before assembly. It was a mistake since I was unable to form it at all. It sits collecting dust. Maybe I should put it and a couple of other failures into a holster collage or make a hanging holster mobile from them.

How was yours packaged? Did you have any difficulty getting into your shop?

Same here. I talked to someone named David today and he said mine should ship late this week or early next week. I have been impatiently waiting.

What Twinoaks said is right on. I had this problem with some Tandy stuff, but never with the Hermann Oak that I've been getting from Springfield Leather.

Those are great. It makes me want to try and make one.

I got my first order of blue guns from Cops Plus, but I got the second order from a member here, Shooter McGavin.

Thanks, guys. I think I did try to make these too fast and now I am paying the price for shortcutting. I should have known better.

I made a holster for a customer and was about to put the finish on it when I noticed the leather had separated around the belt slots. I have never had this happen before. Even worse, the next holster I made has the same problem. I'm using Weldwood cement and I don't think it is the cement since some stuff I glued today with it is stuck real good. The only thing I did differently with these two is use some Fiebings tan dye that I cut with rubbing alcohol. Maybe that is somehow the problem. Anyway, I need to know if there is a good fix for the problem. I sure don't want to have to make them over. I thought of super glue but don't know it that will be flexible enough, or I could cram more contact cement into the opening and clamp it overnight. Any help will be appreciated. I have made lots of holsters and never had this happen before.

I dye the inside before gluing it together. I try to leave the back natural, but sometimes get some dye on it somehow, so then it gets dyed as well. Shooter, I sent you a PM the other day. Did you get it?

Same here, Dwight. I don't quite get what you mean. A picture would be nice. A few months ago I bought a punch from Texas Die, although I think I need to grind it down as described in an earlier post.

Thanks. I checked out the tutorial. Lots of good stuff. I'm going to use the info there on the belt I'm currently making.

I like the knife. I had one like it once that belonged to my father. Sadly, it disappeared many years ago. My first knife sheath didn't come out quite right so I made a second and better one. I am thinking of making a third one some day in the near future.

I may decide to use the post office boxes. I just want to see what the cost of other options are. I mailed several using the boxes my dummy guns came in. It cost $2.00 less to mail them.