Blackey Cole

I have one of the folding ones with a table from Camping World that the fabric got exposed to the SW Desert sun too long and one side ripped at the stitching but the back and the seat are connected. It is a project I will be working on later down the road. I can take some pix of it if you would like. I was planning on using skirting leather for the seat and back then take some 9-11oz and triple stitch it and see if it will hold my 300+ lbs of mass. I will tool it but I would probably add a strip on the back with my SASS alias on it. The down the road when the table gives way redo it in thin wood covered with tooled leather covered with neat lac.

Adam I will do but it may be this weekend before I am able to get photos taken and scan my hand drawing so you will be able to set what I am trying to draw on the computer. When I said scale I ment ruler habit from my technical drawing class and 13 years of working on Aircraft in the USAF. I have items that are very similar to what I am designing. I will scan my full size completed drawing. I will then try to hand draw the 1/4 pattern so that we you can see the actual size of the item then once we draw it in the computer it will be copy and flip twice.

I can work real well in PS it is AutoCad that is my problem. I have version 17 and 18. If you could assist me with learning it I would be greatly appreciative. Adam can you work out some tutorials for me for doing some simple patterns where you have a center line and develop 1/4th of the pattern then copy and flip vertically then copy both sections and flip horizontally. I am working on some loading or stage strips for 38s. I can supply the detail figures and you are more than welcome to my finished design for teaching me what I need to know to built the digital pattern. I have figured how to set the scale and change the units to architectual mode.

I have PS CS4 but I would need a full tutorial to be able to use it like you say can you work one up for me. I plan on sending it off to Grey Ghost for having a plastic template made if all works well plus being able to reproduce the pattern as needed and doing away with poster board for patterns print it out from the compute and coat it with self liner or the laminate stuff.

Thanks for the laugh, been the best laugh for months. I have a couple of the free sample pieces from Springfield leather and plan on using them as stiffeners for some CAS holsters in the future plus as the mouth stiffener on a pancake. I plan on sandwitching the kydex between two leather pieces much like I have used flashing in the past. I was going to use Barge cement to bond everything and sew the edges just like a lined holster which is what it is plus the stiffener.

I have a stamp from Grey Ghost and it seems to be well made. I just finished a pattern that I am thinking about sending him if he can make it like a craft aid with everything indented in the leather instead of raised if the holes are drilled. I have looked at his ad and like the thickness of his templates my problem is getting the pattern built in Turbo cad. Ideally I would only have to build a quarter of the pattern the flip it horizontally the flip it again vertically in this case. But I am having a hard time drawing it in turbo cad. Which by the way is the easiest of the cad programs that I have found. Adobe Ilistratator would probably be the best since I have Photoshop and can draw in it but not to scale like I can in a Cad program.

Making the case is simple enough from what I can see from the photos. The hard part would be the tooling on the outside of the case unless you can do a rubbing or a better detailed image of it plus would need accurate measurements of each section plus the flap and the end pieces. Can you do up a detailed drawing to go by plus posting it and the rubbing before I would commit.

If you charge $5 shipping for the handguns you will be ahead using the postal flat rate boxes or envelopes they will pay the shipping back., with a minimum for a weekly rate plus the deposit for the item it seems that it will cost more but once the deposit is returned it should be cheaper in the long run. Now makers buy the item and turn around and sell it when they are done to reclaim some of the funds.

How about setting up an inventory of rental items for those of us that do one offs and probably will only use it once. Maybe a deposit that will cover the item and a weekly rate for the time the item is out of your shop.

Actually footballs are not made from pig skin but are made from cowhide today.

This is a outstanding tutorial on rolled edges. I have George's DVD on rolled edges and from I recall this cover it in a nut shell.

G-o back to Tandy and get these three Diamond Hole Punches they are designed for sewing or stiching leather. The saingle pounch is 8065-00, the 4 prong 3/32" spacing is 8066-00 and the one you will use the most is the 4 prong 1/8" spacing is 8067-00. I tried using the round or scratch awl, the diamond awl, 1/16" drills, and the 4 prong stiching punch is the fastest and best way for most flat things I have found. I wish I could mount it in a press and lower it somehow for better results than hitting it with a hammer but with the limited space I have that will not be happening. Otherwise I use a 5 spi wheel. The three in one isn't as good as the individual wheels.

I have Photoshop and have used it for my Photography for years now and fell that I am knowledgeable of it and it took a while to learn it. I love the layers features and stuff but it wasn't designed to be a drawing program it is more of a manipulation program. I have access to a couple of other applications like photoshop. I also have two printers a Brother Laser and an Epson 1400 which can do 13x19" prints. My Plan would to be print out the pattern on over head projector film once it is complete and use that film to transfer the pattern directly to the leather. That is why I am looking for the computer drawing program. It was years ago when I took my Technical drawing class and back then we use pencil and ink. We drew straight lines and circles to draw the items out. I need a program that will draw circles, arcs and lines to scale and be able to use layers and image manipulation. I am living and working out of a 40' toy hauler. Space is a minimun with my other activities, Cowboy action Shooting and Photography. I like to keep as much data in digital form since I have a network with closs to 3TB of storage on it. I plan on buying all the digital books that I can so that it is only a keystroke away. I would like my patterns to be the same because using the poster board my patterns only last a few items befoe they start breaking down plus I am working on a new system for transfer points on a pattern and then redrawing the lines to complete the design on the leather. Now i am doing it with paper and pencil. I would like to modernize my process. I guess I will keep looking for a program that I can understand and will fit my needs.

I am want to find a simple to use program that will allow me to draw patterns for my leather items. I like to start with a center line and develop one half then make a mirror copy of that to complete the pattern that way I can get everything symmetrical and reproduce it many times as needed. This would also allow me to print it out on the overhead projector material and go off of it to the leather directly. I have looked at inkscape, photoshop, cadstd, and one other cad program but like photoshop it is steep learning curve to be able to draw anything. I also use a Wacom tablet for drawing with so having it recognized would be nice.

I got a Grainger catalog today and found the piece I was looking for. It is a Heavy Duty Ball Bearing Mandrel, I am going with the 5/8" drive shaft, part # 6L098, costs $65. So as soon as the eagle flyes again I am off to Harbor freight for their 1750 RMP motor and the to Graingers for the rest.

The Grainger part numbers for these parts would be great if you have them

It looks like a great outline. How about adding photos to illustrate the points to make it that much more informative?

If anyone has part numbers or links I would be in debt.

Up to now I have tried about every way to Burnish the Edges of my work. I have used a drill, Dremal type tool, Canvas, Saddle Soap Bar, Gum Tagameth(SP). I recently aquired John Bianaci (SP) dvd collection four of them. The 3 vol Art & Secrets of Western Holster Making and aninterview with him where he explains why he is where he is type thing. Well in the Holster video he recommends getting a motor driven burnisher and how to make the edge tool for it. I found that Harbor freight has an 1750 motor with keyed arbor. So if I mounted it to a piece of plywood and add the double arbor attachment to it with the same size pullys it will run the arbors at the correct speed for Burnishing. Now where to find the arbor attachment? I have ordered some Coco wood edge burnishing tools for my dremal tool and I will see how it works when it gets here later this week. If you have built a motorized Burnisher please show me hos and where to get the parts.

I purchased a large whiteish mule hide a few years ago. I got it for some mocs but bought a pair of buffalo mocs before I was able to make them. I know it would be good for chaps and mocs but what else can it be used for? Will standard dye work well with it. I am thinking down the line on what to finally use it for. It is real spongy so belts and holsters are out. It might make a good bag but I am not sure. Have any of you use mule hide? if so was it white, and what did you use it for? I have an 3 slot pancake holster to make and a set of 1885 US Cav saddlle bags first after my current loading strips that I need to finish and ship out.

Sorry I didn't read all the posts maybe someone else as one. I thought of a way to do it but It may wait until I buy a blue gun model since it would be forming the outside wet molding it then developing the pattern from that.

Don, I am new here but I have been looking for a 3 slot Pancake holster for a Springfield XD 45. ANything close would be great. I know how to make a pattern for most styles that fold over but I have forgotten how to do a pancake or slide style. TIA