JLSleather

I"M the dimmest switch at my sewing machine, but it sounds like you need a speed reducer. Dual pulley, different sizes, trade torque for speed....

Yeah, you'll use a dry one. Wet one to take off the heavy particles - might use more than one piece depending on teh dye application. Then when the leather is still damp, dry one..

Even better. Tear an old t-shirt into pieces about 8x8 (or 10x10, whatever). Point is, one shirt go a long way. Wet one piece, wipe both sides, set that piece of to the side (if you hang it over something, it doesn't mildew and it's reusable). Wet another piece, wring 'til damp, buff. When teh rag is collecting black particles (dye is in fact pigments suspended in liquid - you're buffing off the 'chunks' that didn't penetrate), change the rag to a clean one. Whole thing probably won't take you 10 minutes once you have the stuff ready to go. Then while it's already damp anyway, go on mold the holster. You'll buff it again with a clean cloth once it's almost dry from forming. You'll pick it up quickly -- black polishes up nicely and shines even without finish on it.

Menards has a 1x4 (need about 8'), two screws and a bolt -- for about $6. That's all that tandy thing is, and the menards version lets you make it to a height that suits you (and less flimsy). They're not particularly suited to belts, either. Something with jaws about 6" wide works better (and 8" wouldn't hurt) While yer at menards, buy one 10d nail. Pound it into an awl blade -- it'll be sharper than the one from tandy. As for buffing, I have not yet found anything works better than an old t-shirt... worn and soft. Use the wife's... so if you run out it dont matter With the heavy black, wet teh rag, and WIPE (not buff) the first pass. This will remove flakes and particles which can scratch teh surface of your leather. I'm talking wet, but not dripping rag, so the leather will get damp, but not soaked. Then buff -- don't need to wait for it to dry first.

I got one o them harbor freight brushes. Everybody was on about 'em , so I ordered one. Maybe a year ago? Maybe little longer than that? When it came with a different fitting than my other hoses, I put it in the drawer, where it's been ever since! Pulled it out in the course of moving stuff (for the move to MN) and saw that the fitting I need is already in there Oh, well... maybe that little girl from AU can get some use of it ...

Gotta watch them goofy marketing people. They'll take a $2 knife off teh shelf at the auto parts store, put a sticker on it that says "leather knife", and charge $24 ea.

Shopping list: Fiebing's oil dye pony from Tandy stitching awl from Tandy

It's not difficult as it sounds. I cut hides with a 6' aluminum stick I found in the drywall section at Menards

Better yet, get some of teh black OIL dye, some wool daubers, and some disposable gloves. As for getting it off this time, 'dawn' dishwashing soap works well as anything I've tried. GoJo from the shop doesn't help much, bar soap from the bathroom leaves black plus the wife's wrath, and the neighbor girl doesn't like grey shades on her kitty

I didn't say I've never used a round knife, actually I just said I don't own one. And by the way, I don't own a maul either....

OR, to ask the same question another way ... What hammer was this tooled with? OR, yet another version of the same thing.... What machine was this sewn on?

We's headin' in the St Cloud (ish) area. Too many airports in St Paul for me (though having two Tandy's within a few minutes would be nice for those "emergency" purchases). Still, not too far up the road. I have been known to trade holsters for walleye jigs

Are we still on this?@!@! What project would someone make with a round knife (or head knife) that you wouldn't do with something else? An actual answer to that question should answer the original question

Welcome. And good work. And thanks -- for dying the inside of the slots. I see holsters with everything BUT the inside of the slots dyed, and I can never decide if it looks like the guy forgot or just couldn't be bothered. You can put the dye on before OR after stitching, in fact, many don't dye until after it's formed. Course, the thread gets dyed, too, so if you want the thread a different color, then dye the leather first .. Oh, and where you at up there? I'll be moving up yer way shortly. Don't care if it was 10° this morning when I got up... still moving up there

I don't put items in plastic bags. Those are frequently used to "sweat" or "case" leather... since teh moisture CAN'T ESCAPE .... I keep finished goods to a minimum in my little "just in time" shop, and those which are done are in drawers to prevent spills / scratches / dust ... NOT sealed.

An airbrush certainly can be useful for leather work. Folks sometimes get tunnel vision, wanting to do that same tired "fade' they see everyone else doing. TIP: If you do the same thing as everyone else, you will look like everyone else Just a little practice, and a little bit of thought, and you can do some purdy cool stuff in leather, purdy easily...

I had one supplier split me a strip of two once when I didn't want to cut into what I had here. What they charged me to split a couple of strips was borderline insane I generally have 3 weights here, and sometimes a 4th weight from time to time. But once I move, I think I'll just purchase a good size splitter. I mean, assuming that I can find one.

My belts are generally around 13-14 oz total thickness. I have hand stitched them, but not so much these days (though I would if I needed to). This weight can be done with different weights, like I do -- 8/9 oz lined with 4 oz - or with two layers of the same weight, like Dwight mentioned (double 6/7 oz). Two layers of a single thickness lets a guy get by with only buying one weight of leather, or thicker lined with thinner lets me carve a little deeper.. so each has it's benefit. No rule says you have to go all the way around the belt with one thread. Tw0-piece it (one splice) would be fine....

I did explain it -- it's to show folks what to do with downloaded holster patterns Gotta curb teh subscriptions, tho.. too many and there goes the weight of my talk about "no subscription necessary"....

I think we're not talking about the same thing here. What the next guy pays, or doesn't pay, for shipping charges is neither my business or my concern. My question about percentage was rhetorical.. I was not looking for any answer - simply making a point. But the original line of thought was (and currently is) where I should stand if I pay money but don't get what I ordered. And the conclusion is, I don't order anywhere that suggests a possible problem before I've even ordered! Whether they're charging me $7 or 7¢, I'll want what I paid for. Different people do different things. Not my forum, and I expect that some will like what I say, and some won't. Again,.. I don't employ anyone - haven't since 2005, and I won't in the future. I dont ask teh next guy what he charges, or why, because it's none of my business (plus, I dont honestly care). When I'm thinking about redheads, I mean just girls. Though I realize some have other interests, not my concern. And so it is with $30 holsters. I don't make them. Tomorrow, I'm going to not make them again. I likely wouldn't hang out with the guy who does. But it makes no difference to me if the next guy does. Unless I were to buy one and the guy selling them was to suggest that my package was lost and that's "too bad", in which case we have a problem ...

I tried to set the dogs on 'em, but the dogs just aint that bright ...

I think this will cover the theory.. just my leather lacks wrinkles https://youtu.be/OMVHrTPf1AQ

Man, was I way off. Took 3 mins to do a holster and mag pouch (not 30 seconds). Video available shortly .. no subscription required

6-32? Those holes that small?@! The pic showing hole spacing is confusing,too.. that sure don't look like 3/8" between holes ... OH, and I would need a source for them where I'm not told I may or may not get my package

Individual preference really -- each his own type thing. I have personally tooled a good bit of 9 oz cow with an 11 oz garland rawhide mallet.