ShortBBL

Very nice!!

I'll second Phillips.... they just made mine. The picture I took is not too good but here you go. It looks WAY better in person. The stamp is less than an inch high! Nice detail!

Thanks again Bruce! Good info there! Jon

<br /><br /><br />Thanks Bruce. If you were to get seperate machines for these operations, would you recommend something differant? I prefer to buy once...... if two machines is better, then I'd just as soon get it over with! Thanks again! I'm just learning and this is a super place to do just that!!

I'd like to know what is recommended for the following needs. 1) I want to be able to take some 7/8 or heavier leather straps and split them down to maybe 4oz to use for making bullet loops on gun belts. (Corect me if that's not a decent way of going about making loops!) 2) I need to be able to make differant size welts for knife sheaths. 3) I would like to be able to make some lap (I think thats the right term) skive's.... I'd be tappering (skiving?) the leather for instance, where I will attach a belt loop to the back of a heavy sheath. Tapered would work best and is what I have seen several makers do. So... is there a skiver that would work GOOD for all these needs? Am I better off with a splitter? What Skiver or splitter is a good one to get? What do YOU use and/or prefer? Thanks a lot for the help!

Good ideas by all! I am going to make a PDF file template in CorelDraw and will post it when I get it exactly as I like. Then I can print a new one when needed. With my printer, I can print on card-stock and it will be pretty stiff. I will then punch all the holes out and use it as a guide... not for punching all the way thru leather, but for marking and then moving the guide to punch. We'll see how that works! The milk carton is a good idea too.... and thin plexi.... lots of good ways to go about this project! Thanks!

Perfect suggestions guys, thanks! I was thinking of making an oak board jig but it would have taken a LOT of work. I think the way you've mentioned will be just great, and much easier to make!!

I have a few hole punching questions. What's your favorite weight hammer and type of hammer for punching holes for belts etc? I got a few new punches today and I used my light weight, ugly cheap yellow mallet from Tandy, that I use for tooling (laugh) and wow... it took some pounding! I'm guessing with the right tool it will be much easier/faster/cleaner! Another thing. When I was pounding, I had my leather sitting on a cutting board, the hard plastic type from walmart or wherever. The back of the leather would get the nice dimple effect, which is less than desired! Where do you punch holes so the back of the leather won't show marks from what it sat on? Finally, if you make a lot of the same size belts, do any of you make up some type of Jig for marking holes? If so, can you show what you came up with? I want to use the oval holes for gun belts, but I can tell it is gonna take some slow going to get them to look perfect. Man... it sucks trying to be a perfectionist when ya aint perfect!

For sure! Nice work on the holsters! I love my single six!

Thanks to everyone for the good ideas! I tried the tape and it worked pretty good. I'll add the cardboard and see how I like that.

I'd love to see it. thanks!

Does anyone make Ruger Single Action and/or Double Action dummy guns, like a GP100, Redhawk, Blackhawk, Single Six etc?

Yes, I have one.... it is indeed plastic inside and their glue job isn't the best. Mine started falling apart after 6 months. Thank goodness Apple came out with a new phone or I'd be stuck with that vaja case still! ha ha

I've seen belts done both ways.. some dye the inside layer and some leave it natural, saying that dye will rub off and ruin peoples clothes. I bought some Wickett & Craig English Bridle, drum dyed and was hoping I could make a couple belts as well as a holster or sheath or three. Fisrt off... maybe this is the wrong material for belts.... but more than that, what are your thoughts on dye on both sides? Thanks!

Thanks!

Clair, most basements in America are just another level of the home, under or half-under the ground. If they are finished off, they can be just as nice as the main levels. My basement has a big living room, a large bathroom with double tub/whirlpool, a big furnace/storage room, another huge walk-in closet and the room I am using for my leather working room. My basemement also has big windows, like 4 foot x 5 foot!

I'm planning to make a bunch of belts and need to know what you all use for the keepers. Do you make your own or buy pre-made ones in quantity? I think I would make my own, but I'm open to thoughts on this. I would like to know where one can find the clamp type pieces (and the tools to set them, if there is one) as shown below. Thanks!!

I'd like to buy some quality punches for making belts. I plan to make (for now) gun belts (non-loops ones) and to start I will stick with 1.5" and maybe 1.75". Can a few of you tell me what punches you would use for the holes, the tips and the end (where the buckle attaches) as well as the bag punch for the buckle? I need to know what sizes to get and where etc. Also.... while we're talkin punches, I guess I'd like to get a bag punch for cartridge loops too. I plan to make the type where the leather goes in and out the same hole.... what size bag punch is used for this? Is 7/8 oz leather too heavy for loops for a 45 or 44? Thanks for the help!!

LOL... that's no lie! My "other" office room looks like a bloody tornado came through and stayed awhile! I'll try and keep the leather man-cave a bit cleaner.... but I fear that won't last. I'm a messy one!

I'm just getting it set up. I expect my sewing machine soon (Thanks Steve!) and I have a Drill press and a belt sander to bring down (this is in my basement) and should also have my burnisher From Steve any day as well. Wow.... my iphone isn't the best is it? I think my stool needs to be chopped off too! Oh yeah... that sweet piece of Granite is 16x25 and cost a whole $25 total! Craigslist works sometimes!

I am hoping that my new Cobra Class 4 will arrive in the next two weeks. I will be sewing mostly holsters, belts and knife sheaths. I'm curious how people like to sew on their machines, standing or sitting? Please vote (if you sew with a machine) and also leave a comment of what type of things you make and how you prefer to set up to sew. Thanks!!

Thanks! I forgot about those little gadgets! They look like they'd help a lot!!

I do..... when I was taking a little learners class from Tandy, I had to keep taking the glasses off to see..... that never was the case in the past. I need glasses to see long distance, but now, I need em to read too. Ugh! Oh well.... time to bit the bullet and get progrssives I guess. Thanks!

Hmmm that's goofy! I was IN the Tandy store in town and the guy said there is no heart shaped stamp... now that I looked in their catalog... There are a few!! Ugh...... ok... order time. Thanks All.

Ok... yeah I am getting old(er) and really need reading glasses (bifocals, can we say that here?) but haven't bit that bullet yet. I'm curious, do those who stamp and/or carve leather, use one of those table mounted lighted magifyers? I knew a guy who used one for checkering gun stocks, but sadly he is gone now or I'd go check his out. If you use one, how do you like it? Thanks!