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If you can find the Brass version on sale its MUCH better than the plastic one. I have used the brass one but don't have one yet. You need a straight blade. I have 3 of them. each has an old knife in it that stays there. 2 are set to a predefined width as they are a pain to set up in my mind so I leave then at 1/4 and 1/2 inches. The third is the one I adjust when I have to but I prefer to not have to adjust them. Michael

Glue the pieces together with some contact cement first if nothing else just 1/4 inch or so wide from the edge. This will keep the pieces together. Then hold your diamond chisel and hold it straight and the holes will be straight. As soon as your can stop using the chisel and learn to use the awl or if you have to use a teeny tiny drill bit instead of the chisel. The diamond chisel punches too big a hole and it will not properly closeup. You will find that the awl or if you have to a drill bit, will look much better when its all done. Another good trick is to use a drill press and put a needle in the chuck. With the press OFF push the needle through the leather to make your hole. Much nicer than the chisel. The idea is to put as small a hole in as you can. If you are using the large eye needles from Tandy its time to put them aside and use a harness needle. Start with a #0. A #000 is too large. As you get better you will find you can get down to a 1 to a 3 size needle. It's not a sin to pull the needle through the hole with a pair of pliers. Give it a try. you will be amazed at how much better it looks. Michael

Well share them with us, please .

Looks good. Personally Id add another stitch line along the trigger guard. Looks like you have too much room between the trigger guard and the current line of stitching. Never found anything wrong with a Glock until I picked up my first Sig. Now Im spoiled.

I find that with full strength I get bubbles that dry and wont buff out. 50/50 and I dont get bubbles or streaks.

NIce looking ax. While Fender lost its bid to trademark the body shape of the Strat and Telecaster, they did trademark the name "Telecaster®". Id be careful of the use of the name Telecaster®.

just remember, its cut 50/50 with water.

I oil after molding a holster or tooling a belt and thats before dyeing. If after it feels like it still needs some oil Ill oil it again. All depends on the condition of the leather and the type of dye I am using.

I believe it is close to 207 but I could be wrong. You are going to find that almost everyone that hand stitches is going to tell you this tool is from the depths of hell and is cursed. Ok maybe not that bad but its hard to find someone that has done this for any amount of time and likes the speedy stitcher. It makes a poor quality stitch. It is my opinion that you would be better off doing a saddle stitch if sewing by hand. It makes a much nicer stitch and its stronger too. This is not meant to insult you its just that most of us think you get a more professional looking stitch that is stronger with the 2 needle saddle stitch method in stead of the Speedy Stitcher.

I only have one awl that I use for Harness needles 0-2. Since the hole closes up Im not sure that there is a formula or a need to use different thicknesses.

I just looked at the new topic screen and the image link is there. Its the same one on the reply screen second row 11th icon from left. Its there on the new topic screen. Am I misunderstanding what you are looking to do? Michael

What are you using as a sealer? Not everything works. You should wait at least 24 hours. I use Resolene 50/50 with water. 2 coats on the parts I do not want to color. Then I use Fieblings Antique to color the area I want darkened. If ever there is a little color left on an area you stained you can use an alcohol wipe to remove the leftover color on the resolene. It works really well that way. Not all finishes can be used as a resist and not all dyes or stains can be used over a resist. I have been told that Clear Lac is also a good resist but I do not have any to try. The Fieblings Resolene works great for me as a resist. Michael

use some neatsfoot oil to soften the leather a little then clear lac to finish it. you will love the results. Since you are dyeing the leather there should be no problem with the slight darkening nestsfoot has on light colors.

Very nice, What weight is the leather on the outside?

Yep, thats one of the ones that got me thinking there has to be an easier way to get these set up initially.

I have heard mention of this special grease. It seems it used to be more prevalent in our fathers and grandfathers day but its not as common now a days. I do know that the takes a lot of hard work to extract this grease. The few times I have managed to use some I have been very happy with the final result. As for this holster Im not sure if it is the photo or the actual finish but it looks too plastic to me. Its beautiful but looks like it will crack on the first bend. I guess Im a fan of the matte finish for belts and holsters. Michael

#1: used a trigger pull gauge that reads from 4 oz to 8 lbs. Its what I have around the house. It cost me about $20.00. Any spring tension gauge in the right range would work. #2: Yes it would which is one of the reasons I am trying to collect the data. Once we know the tensions then it might be a matter of using a small pully and a correct size bottle of water to get the right upper tension. I used a 1 lb bottle of water to set the bobbin tension the first time I set up my machine. This was before I had the Gauge. #3: I have a feeling they set up by feel and experience. But to be honest Im not sure how set up the machine is when we first open the box. Mine would not sew correctly with the supplied thread. So maybe they dont set up the tensions all that well. Just make sure the machine functions ok and ship it. If the knot is high or low they know the machine can be adjusted so its not something they worry about. #4: It may well be that the difference is 2 times. It is on my machine. The factory is pretty firm that the lower tension should be 1 lb. so my top tension is 2 lb. we shall see. Hopefully we get some other readings. Common household tool suggestion. Water and a 2 liter bottle. is we find that 1 lb bobbin and 2 lb top is a good starting point than a 16 oz of water and a 32 oz of water would work. bobbin tension can be set with the shuttle outside the machine. Just holding the bobbin in the air. and top tension could be set by putting the machine on its left side with the thread guide just off the edge of the table. There are other ways that might be better. We will =have to see what we can figure out once we know what it should be. For this test lets use 7/8 leather 277 thread and a 794 ? 200 needle.Once your machine is set up for a proper stitch on that leather/ thread/needle combination take your tension readings. Michael

I have this crazy idea that there has to be a better way to tell new Boss owners how to set thread tension. What I need from current Boss owners, if you have the ability to measure tension, is to give me the thread tension on your bobbin and at the H-07 thread guide on the upper thread tension. If possible please use 277 thread. On the bobbin just make a loop on the thread and measure the tension on a straight pull from the machine. This one we know should be about 1 lb. For the upper tension make sure the tension arm is all the way down so it does not interfere with the tension measurements. The H-07 thread guide is the one at the edge of the machine as the thread goes down to the needle. I just made a loop in the thread and pulled the thread with my gauge straight away from the machine. The point is to not let anything but the tension points be measured. If you have a way to measure the tension please measure it and post it in this thread. I used my trigger tension gauge to test mine. Mine is an Aluminum machine purchased 12/2011. I used 277 thread for the test. My bobbin was set at 1 lb and the upper was set at 2.1 lbs. If you can please let me know what yours is. If we find that the upper tension is about 2 lbs on most machines then for less than 20 bucks a new owner can get a gauge and set up the machine a lot faster. Its just a thought. Thanks Michael.

Tool a belt, Make a wallet, do a key fob. The concept is all the same on each piece. Practice practice practice. Let us know what you want to do and someone here can point you in the right direction. Heck Ill even give you my phone number if you want to talk about it or get stuck with a problem. Lots of help here.

Wesley, For a first time it looks good. Your stitch line around the trigger side needs to be closer, You might want to consider leaving the bottom of the holster around the barrel open. This way water and debris does not collect in the bottom of the holster. Keep up the good work and wait until you see how much you have improved when you finish your 4th one. Michael

Yes, just leave yourself enough thread and throw on a couple of needles.

Whats the price advantage of the group buy?

Resolene works best if you cut it 50-50 with water. Otherwise you can get bubbles when its applied full strength.

That may be your problem. The 7x3 needle is a round point and punches its way through the leather. The 794 needle is a chisel point and cuts its way through. This makes it easier to remove. You can get them from several places. I got my first ones right from tippmann. A good needle to use is the 794 S 200. It makes a nice line of stitches. The L and the LR also work well. Give the 794 a try and I bet you like the results. Even if it doesn't solve the upstroke issue, which I think it will, it is still a better needle to use. If you are in the United States, PM me your address and Ill send you a 794 S 200. I have 10-12 at the moment so its not an issue. Michael

OK thats what I am using for thread and needle size. But is it a 794 needle? If it is whats the letter after the 794? I have seen where a dull needle will cause issues on the upstroke as strange as it sounds. If you can tell me the letter style of the needle and if its a 794 that would help. The 7x3 needle can be used for leather also but its not as good as the 794's.