SooperJake

Dwight, Although my work took a sharp right turn some years ago, I had good success drying holsters in a Nuwave oven. Racking my brain to remember, but I think the lowest setting was around 105 deg. F. That's what I used, or the next setting up.

That looks awesome!

Very nice, indeed.

+1 on watching Eric Adams videos via youtube

Good Sir, you have slighted my collection of XD/XDM pistols with this comment......GROWL!

The best and most profound poems often appear, outwardly, to be simple constructs. Only through contemplation does the deeper meaning wink at us, if we are lucky. Here we have a beautiful interpretation of a poem constructed from leather and string.... no croc or python skin needed...just a wink sent back to you....if you are lucky. Nice one Dwight. More pics please.

Thanks for the input, everyone. My biggest problem with Go Daddy was getting any exposure on the web. Every time I'd call them for help, all they wanted to do was sell me something. That seems to be their central focus. I don't need bells and whistles, I need exposure and traffic. I can build the website easily enough from any of the template-type companies out there. But how does one get people to find it? Jake

How about a progress report on this old thread?

Very nice for a first!

I may have just answered my own question. I found a page of 30 reviews and the large majority of them are negative.

Have any of you used web.com to build your website? If so, how is it working out? I just dumped my GoDaddy account after a year of dismal results (read: no results), and am looking for an alternative rather than giving up entirely. Jake

Always informative and in a well written and entertaining style. Thanks Mike!

I do not leave the gun or the mold in the holster for drying. After vacuum molding and hand boning, I heat-set the holster in a Nuwave oven for about 5 minutes at around 130°F. Let it cool a few minutes then reinsert the gun/mold for final detailing. I then let it dry completely at room temperature. No less than 24 hours. It takes a firm set with a low risk of cracking from drying too rapid. Afterward. I condition with Bick 4 followed by my usual finishing process depending on what is desired.

Mistakes? They're called engineering changes....

Nice work!

Nice one, Max!

Try burnishing a freshly dyed edge on some scrap leather and you will realize a kind of magic happens. For dye, I like the Fiebing's oil.

Casing your leather just like you would for tooling often helps with the detailing being crisper, especially when you are doing all the boning by hand. . Dunk the holster then bag it over night. Might be worth a try. Also, I think too often we see a holster molded too far, to where it looks like the pistol itself. That level of molding isn't necessary for retention. It might look cool to some, but I don't care for it.

Just a note on vacuum presses and rubber. I tried to combine the two ideas, 40 durometer rubber sheet and a vacuum press. It doesn't work. I'm using these items for molding currently. http://www.veneersupplies.com/products/Dura-Max-Elite-Polyurethane-Vacuum-Bag-2-x-4.html 2x4ft bag. http://www.veneersupplies.com/categories/Vacuum__Press__Items/Vacuum__Press__Kits/ the $82.50 kit on that link. http://www.harborfreight.com/25-cfm-vacuum-pump-98076.html that pump. http://www.sculpey.com/products/tool/sculpey-style-detail-tools-set-3 3pc ball- end tool set http://www.polymerclayexpress.com/products/tools/clay-working-tools/bone-folder and a couple odd pieces I made from whitetail antler or wood.

Using my Cowboy CB4500 as reference, I see no way the holster plate could be used with the lower feed dog. The holster plate is too high above the feed dog to do anything . Perhaps we are talking about two different plates? I ground most of the teeth off of mine and polished it, but still get mixed results . I haven't tinkered with it in a few months though.

HO. Nothing better in my book. and get it from Ho direct if you can. I've tried Mexico tanned stuff and ran into dye issues. A white haze formed and I'm told it is/was because Mexican tanning uses some type of clay.

Ask them what there intent is.

I've had decent results with Eco Flo " PRO" as long as I pretreat the leather with Bick 4 conditioner, wait 10 minutes for the conditioner to soak in, then apply the Eco Flo with a sponge just barely wetted. I also blot off the sponge on paper towel to remove excess material. The leather doesn't absorb water as easy after, so for wet forming you need to soak it more.

I wouldn't make another one for him, once you rectify the first. Paid for or not. I would, however, ask him if he needs a holster for his flashlight

Nice Work!