Chipperi

I just made a bracelet out of a scrap piece of 8oz. I have heard of people using olive oil as a finish. It actually gives a very nice russet color.

Stand behind your display with a 1911 on your hip

I have been collecting stuff to get started for a long time...I have never seriously gotten into leather work but I really want to. Today I stopped at a local custom kitchen place, to see about getting a scrap piece of marble, granite, or quartz. The guy said "I have to pay to get that stuff hauled away. There are a bunch of pallets at the back of the yard, drive back there and take what you want." 12 x 24 1-1/4" thick....I am just going to put a couple of 12x12 stick on linoleum tiles on the bottom to protect the table.

Thanks much guys... I saved the pic...off to practice practice practice! Chip KJ4QCV

My biggest problem seems to be holding a straight line with the basketweave. By all means explain what you mean by stagering the stamp. Maybe I just have tunnel vision and only see 1 way to do it.

I am fiddling around with the idea of making some name plates for members of my ham radio club. This is my first attempt at making one...My basket-weave technique leaves alot to be desired. I think a larger basket-weave stamp would be easier.

Does anyone know where I can find either wooden or marble pieces like these specifically the 2 in the front... LINK... without the name plate attached. I want to make some nameplates out of leather.

RealeatheR Crafts...Does anyone have experience with them? I am looking at several of their stamp sets on E-Bay. With the economy the way it is I am bargain shopping but afraid there is a reason they are that cheap.

Very nice. I hope my first attempt goes that well. I also agree for safeties sake cover a bit more of the trigger guard. Nice XD by the way.Very nice. I hope my first attempt goes that well. I also agree for safeties sake cover a bit more of the trigger guard. Nice XD by the way.

Wow it is on a military surplus auction right now I might put in a bid its only at 50 bucks right now.

What do you think the max thickness would be on that machine?

Certainly if I could find on on a government auction.

I want to start sewing my own leather holsters would any of these machines be suitable? I am hunting auction sites so I will probably be posting more.: 745R30 Consew 440R2N Chandler Machine 328RB1 Consew

Hey no screw up or mishap...it's just added re-enforcement!! Looks good.

Just to be safe, I have seen primers detonate even after getting oil in them, even though oil is suppose to de activate them. Go to a gunshop that carries reloading supplies and buy some nice new shiny brass, or you can go to one of a million online stores like http://www.winchester.com or http://www.midwayusa.com

really don't matter since its IWB but do spring clips or binder clips leave indentations in the leather?

With this style holster I cant mold until it is stiched, for that matter I usually dye...stitch...mold in that order on all my holsters.

Ok heres the problem. I usually make OTB paddle style holsters, so it is usually 2 pieces glued everywhere except the pocket for the gun. This makes it extremely easy to saddle stitch by hand. I am now making an IWB style holster which is a single piece of leather cut to shape and folded in half. Herein lies the problem the stiching is very close to the gun so glue is out, how can I hold it securely to punch and stitch it so all my holes stay backed up nice and neat? Sorry Brain Fart For those non gun people OTB= on the belt IWB= inside the waist band

Nice...I have been looking into getting into holstermaking myself, I had never really considered Shark skin. How does it hold up and feel compared to the traditional 8-9 oz tooling leather?

Heres another vote for Thunderbird...while your at it ya might wanna give Firefox a shot instead of internet exploder.

Thinking of my younger days. Leatherworking was one of the first merit badges I got. Chip Iley Boy Scout Troop 427 Edgemere,MD Eagle 1994

North east TN I am very close to Bristol motor speedway and the Virginia line

Told a buddy at work I was tinkering with the idea of getting into leatherwork/holstermaking. But the sewing machines are wicked expensive. His reply was (strong TN accent) "aww well I have a big ass upholstery machine in the garagecovered with dust I got it free when we cleaned out the church basement its a zuki or somethin I pluged it in a tried it once it still works." My reply was " see if you can get a look at the model name and number it sounds like a Juki, If I can use it maybe I can make ya a deal or trade for it." So hopefully I will be getting a good machine for near nothing.

OK... I haven't touched a piece of leather since my scouting days about 13 years ago. Being rusty I have a heap of questions for you guys. I want to try my hand at making some custom belts and holsters, I can make some nice stuff but my problem is getting it to look nice without looking amateur. So question: 1: can I sew and mold (bone) after dying to keep the contrast of the white stitches, without damaging the finish? 2: Gun belts at least good ones are double thickness, what is a good adhesive and technique to glue the two together before stitching? 3: Kinda worried about the dye bleeding against skin especially on IWB holsters. What is the best for against skin wear? dyes or maybe flax or linseed oil? 4: what are some of the best sources for 8-9oz vegetable tanned tooling leather, Tandy seems to have a monopoly but they are a middleman, I cant seem to google up any tanneries to buy wholesale. I am sure I will think of more Thanks