Samuel

jtron5, I'm originally from Oregon as well. I saw your post when I was doing a search on the forum for laser engraving. If you see my previous post (leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=41796), I have access to a CNC engraver as well and I had the same problems as well. I use a hydraulic 12-ton arbor press I converted into a clicker. I learned how to weld a few days ago and I now know how to make my own clicker dies, and how to re-enforce clicker dies. It's easier than you think. If you have access to a laser engraver and want to make stamps, use Delrin and not acrylic. Delrin is way stronger than acrylic and is easier to work with on a laser engraver. Also, there should be a feature on your laser engraver that has a stamping mode, where you can get better results for creating an object for stamping. By using stamping mode, it creates letters in a pyramid shape so there is a better impression. Hit me up if you have any questions, as I'm always willing to help out - especially a former Oregonian. P.S. - GO DUCKS!

Thanks for the comment Ray! The machine is a 24"x18" Epilog 60 Watt Helix Laser. This is a commercial laser, and cannot work under certain extreme conditions like heat above 90F Degrees. I've used this machine to etch and cut into wood, acrylic, cotton, aluminum (no cut, etch only after a chemical is applied). You CANNOT laser anything with PVC or ABS in it as they are poisonous chemicals when the laser hits it. I've had people ask me to laser engrave their iPad & eBook covers, but I've discovered that 99% are PVC through the copper wire test. The copper wire test is where you heat up a copper wire with a blowtorch, touch the product you want to test, and blow torch it again. If the copper wire then turns green it's positive for PVC. Most of these machines are generic, and made in China and re-branded within the United States. You can get a cheaper model that will do the exact same thing, but may not have the same level of support. You can also build these machines yourself. I know a couple of people who have, and they said it was easy but you do have to do some extensive research beforehand. Those pictures are etched into the leather with a laser. I took it to a local leather guild meeting, and everyone loved it. The images look like they're printed on vs. branded. Ask as many questions as you want!

The one you're talking about is actually my first one I made. Although I had various settings available to me based on material, I had no idea what to do. So, I took a some scrap leather and messed around. I need to do some color mapping on state emblem to lighten up where the grass is suppose to be. My only problem I had is cutting out leather. When I would use the Vector (cutting) settings, the laser will sing the edges where it cuts the leather due to the off gassing being hit again by the laser. It's hard to explain without a video. If cutting is needed on the laser, I simply turn the leather sheet over and do the cutting that way. Ideally, I actually want to use it exclusively for photographs on gun holsters.

Here are a few pictures of laser engraved leather I did a while ago on a Epilog Helix Laser engraver. I like the results, and my hope is to do custom engraving on gun holsters, purses and messenger bags.

I had GoDaddy, but I felt I was limited with what I could do. The time to update the domain name servers did take a little more time. If you're just starting out they're not bad. That could be how WordPress's was setup, the design of the template in WordPress, or a combination of Bluehost and Wordpress.

It's either one of two things: the lining of the pants, or thermals. The material doesn't resemble the same jeans use because it seems too thin around the wound. I wear jeans underneath my tactical pants sometimes. It saves me time when I want to shoot, and not drive twenty minutes home to change. Plus it saves on awkwardness when I start dropping my pants with no skin showing.

Very interesting article for us holster makers, but I find this article quite suspicious. I do think this is standard for people who negligently shoot themselves. Person admits some guilt, but not the appropriate level of guilt. Person shifts blame to manufacturer when others call person on how negligent they were. Person tries to hire some lawyer to settle out of court for some undisclosed amount. Person settles lawsuit. Person then states since manufacturer settled, person is not guilty of firearm negligence. I don't think this photograph is altered or fake, but then again anything is possible. I don't find it odd that the person didn't post his name, because this individual may be in a job where they might get fired for it. If this individual is in a job where they handle firearms (law enforcement, security, military), and they don't report it then there are bigger problems that need to be dealt with. I don't think that having an insurance company will stop true legitmate accidental discharged suits caused manufacturer defects, but will stop the unnecessary lawsuits back. If you have an insurance company, you may have requirements to send your holsters to testing companies who will give you a sign off of liabilty, which would increase I think a medium and large holster company would be smart to hire a press relation management company, and some lawyers to help curb anonymous postings that may damage your brand. The company my father works for hired a company that gets alerted if anything is said about their company through the internet, forums, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media sites. On more than a few occassions the company has had to send a cease and desist letters, and on a few occasions it was their competition or disgruntled fired employees making the posts. When dealing in the business firearms, I think it would be a necessity to have insurance. Heaven forbid somebody gets harmed, and your product is named and you don't have insurance that can provide a lawyer to your company. Now, you have to go out and find a lawyer and spend lots more money because the lawyer knows the demand is great. In this case, this is what I think happened: Individual worked in a job that requires him to report reasonable off duty shootings (police officer, sheriff deputy, military, corrections, or armed security). Individual was either getting out of the vehicle, or getting into the vehicle and didn't have the firearm on their person because it was in the glove box. Individual then put the firearm in their holster while sitting. Here are some things I think probably happened during this incident: The individual who had the negligent discharge was probably talking to someone else in the vehicle. The vehicle probably had the radio or music playing, and playing at a medium or loud level. The individual who had the negligent discharge was talking to someone on their cell phone while putting their firearm in their holster. The individual probably had a negligent incident past (sweeping someone) and probably stated in the past, "Don't worry, I've been around firearms all my life" after do it. A combination of the above. I've seen more than a few gun shot wounds first hand, and all of them are from deliberate or negligent action. Guns don't have a brain, hand, or a finger to operate themselves therefore it would be safe to assume the above.

At my local V.A. hospital, our rehabilitation department has basic leather wallet making classes for people who need to learn basic fine motor skills, learning how to use their prosthetics, and for traumatic brain injury. I don't know if you're already in contact with the rehabilitation doctors and therapists, but if you are not ask them about skills they need to practice for part of their rehab. They may have some specific things for individual people to learn that you might be able to integrate into your curriculum.

I don't know what the guns laws are like in your area, but here are some more options: Order directly from ASP or Rings directly from the manufacturer without the color so it doesn't eventually rub off over time. Aluminum casted guns. I know http://duncansoutdoor.com/?s=molds is one place, and there was another place that was a non-profit law enforcement training group but can't remember the name. Replica blank firing guns, which are generally in 8mm. If you get the replica from the right supplier, they seem to be the same size and weight of a real gun. Full metal airsoft pistols will work as well. There are some manufacturers, like Tokyo Mauri, that license the design from actual gun manufacturers.

I haven't taught leatherworking classes before, I have taught community education classes at the local college before. Something I discovered that worked really well is to allow the students what to pick after they have the basics down. So what I did was have a basic course, then the students were able to pick a few modules out of a dozen. If the students wanted to learn more, they could purchase the modules for an additional fee. I was very surprised how many students spent more money. In your case, if I were a prospective student, I would love to sign up for your course if it included a basic cutting, dying, sewing, stamping and engraving. I would not hesitate if if I could then learn how to make two to three things from your website, like a wallet, flask, and organizer. Just an idea. Keep us all posted on how the class turns out.

Did you feel like a kid waiting for Christmas after you placed the order? I know I'm feeling that way right now! What sewing machine did you buy? What are the models of Singers you're thinking of getting rid of?

I've never done Crimson Trace before. Would you just add some tape and a pencil where the Crimson Trace goes or is there dummy kit you can order from Crimson Trace you can attach to your blue gun?

This is a good thread. Although new and starting out, I would like to add and reiterate some remarks here. I work full-time as a federal police officer, and part-time as a private firearms instructor. I make leather and kydex gun holsters and accessories. I would not want to quit being a full-time police officer or part-time firearms instructor to make holsters and acessories full-time. The reason is I believe all three jobs compliment each other. Being a federal police officer lends credibility to my part-time training, and that lends credibility to my holster & accessories making business. Where I've lived and instructed, there are lots of people who want to take $50 firearm courses. Instead of jumping on the bandwagon, I decided to charge a lot more because I believed there was a group of individuals who felt there was little value in a short cheap class. I found out that more people wanted to take my courses due to my background and because of the smaller classroom size, and more hours. I wasn't competing with any of the other instructors, even though they would call me up and ask, "How are you getting more students than me?" I believe that there are a few groups of people within the firearm community that are willing to spend more money, and are not necessarily influenced by price, even if the economy shifts. Case in point, I see it a lot with cowboy holsters. I used my teaching opportunity to market and get feedback on my products. I have a classroom portion dedicated to concealment of firearms, and I show my holsters and accessories during this portion. I've been using it for researching and developing my products but students say, "I don't care if you're not selling, I want one. How much?" I've also got requests for other law enforcement that I've became friends with, because they know I've very knowledgeable in concealing firearms. I've travelled to gun local shows and some really big gun shows. Fortunately for me, most of the holsters are the cheap nylon constructed kind. Something I've noticed is that people get drawn into a demonstration of some kind at gun shows. Case in point, I saw 30+ people drawn in to a booth selling gun cleaning supplies by putting on a simple 5 minute show on how to clean your gun, and half of those people would buy something after the demonstration. I figure I'm going to set up my booth with my sewing machine (when I get one), would setup a kydex press but with the fumes it's a no-no, and make some holsters. I'll also have a small class on concealment and what to look for in a concealment gear. I'll have someone to model my products and answer questions in case I'm busy sewing. I think I would be the only one with this setup, and would be able to get my name out, product feedback, and be able to sell lots of holsters. When it comes to making money, I'm starting out with the business mentality. I'm going to sink in around several thousands of dollars for everything, and plan on making that money back with interest in a certain amount of time. I've also factored in paying myself a minimum of what I'm making per hour as a police officer, plus business taxes, insurance, gas, marketing and other costs. This all goes into my bottom line. I'm not going to do this for free, and don't want this to be a hobby because I feel I will probably destroy this hobby going the route I am. I have metrics I have to hit every month, and if I don't see it I'll have to make up for it the next month. With that being said, I'm going to invest a lot of time in researching and developing and not compromise. I've talked to some really nice holster makers, and I know two of them that do it full-time. They love their job, but feel it's important to ease yourself in. Start small, find a niche, do a great job, follow through, and market your products the most effective way you can (generally through word of mouth). One of these holster makers admitted to me he doesn't make a lot of money, but is making more than when he was a truck driver and can be home with his family more. The original poster is a dog trainer and I believe this would be an excellent way to compliment the leather business. You could use each business to promote each other. For instance in your dog training classes, allow students to get 25% off your leather products, and allow people who spend more than $100 to get 50% off your dog training classes. Turn the multiple businesses into a symbiotic relationship.

There are exceptions to that question, one is buying it for a gift and the other is if you do a immediate private sale with no background check to someone who you suspect is prohibited to possess a firearm. In the State of Oregon, you're allowed to do private sales but it does not absolve you from civil, and in rare cases criminal liability if you don't do a background check within 24 hours. Our State Police allow us to conduct background checks on and by private individuals. For insurance and investigation (in case they're stolen) purposes, I'm doing the paperwork the state allows. I'm good-to-go in my state, but I would recommend that every check it out in their state. Hopefully, because this program is only available to federal law enforcement, they know the laws where they live.

In addition to a saddle shop, I would also consider taking them to a shoe shop or shoe repair shop as well. I had to get my leather dress shoes changed a little and I remember the shoe shop having belts and gun patterns in the corner. I asked him what he was doing, and he said he was doing some outsourcing work for a holster company. Since then, I've seriously thought about outsourcing some of the work to him since demand is getting more and more for me.