Red Cent

The brown in this picture was created by taking Buckskin and putting four or five drops of black into it. I took a plastic bottle about the size of a pill bottle, filled it up and mixed in the drops of black. When first applied you will get a greenish tint that will turn to brown with the second coat. Might get better if one used more black. I used Fiebing's spirit dye. Threw in the last picture . It is impossible to think what happened in your country would ever happen here. Blood would run in the streets. ....

Dwight, what size needle are you using for the 346?

http://www.schmetzneedles.com/learning/pdf/leather-needles.pdf

No pictures here either. Cut a piece of kydex almost as wide as the strap. About 2 - 2 1/2" long. Drill holes on each end, one for a rivet and the other for the snap. Punch holes in strap to match and attach with rivet and snap. Kydex goes on the back side of the upright strap. Thumb break requests are few for me. I think I have done two in a year.

We had a few posts a while back about the color brown. I was trying to mix some dye and come up with a brown that did not have a hint of red. Some pretty interesting colors showed up but not true brown. Buckskin, the base of all browns. Using a small plastic bottle (imagine small pill bottle) I poured Fiebing's Buckskin dye until almost full. Then I added a few drops of black. Oddly enough, there is a point of "drops of black" that will change the result from a brown with a green tinge (really) to a light brown (depending on amount of black added). Additional drops of black will darken the brown. However, all of the stuff I dyed is mottled. Great brown with dark spots. Kinda looks good (different) but I don't know why it is mottled. I will try the airbrush tomorrow. I like the basic color. Pictures later.

I guess Dwight beat me to it again. Buy a heat gun. Coat each piece liberally but evenly. I use a paint scraper for large pieces to spread the glue. I applyhigh setting of heat slowly watching the glue just start to rise as I move on. After mating the pieces I use a small roller or a rolling pin. I have learned that if the backside of the leather has the fuzzies, go to the belt sander and remove. Weldwood Gel.

i think double caps hammered Tinker, what are double caps?

8-9 ounce leather and a .080 piece of kydex ain't that thick. On my holsters, the thumb break strips are integrated into the pattern and are one piece not lined. I make the pattern strips long and install the snaps when everything else is done. Cut, burnish and dab of dye and burnish.

http://www.zackwhite.com/English-Bridle-Double-Butt-Bends_c_608.html

Beat me to it Dwight.

In the big picture, 10 hides may not be much but if I had you as a customer, I would not screw around. I firmly believe that the "small" guys get the dregs and the Mernickles and Kirkpatricks get the best of the litter. I am not begrudging the businesses because money does talk. The problem I have (I have posted this before) is the distribution lines. There ain't none. They sell down stream, up stream and sideways. There is no consistent "grading" system. I have ordered from a number of suppliers and have received the holes, scars, and brands on stuff that is supposed to be the premium leather. I have received whole sides that range from the requested 8-9 ounce to around 5-6 ounce elsewhere on the hide. Apparently there is the Superior grade that I did not notice. 'Course, the answer is to buy from Hermann/Oak but I can't afford that. One might be interested to know that W&C supplies The Hide House in Napa Valley, CA. I wouldn't buy any more product from The Hide House if you paid me. I recently ordered (second and last time) two sides of their "Premium" grade and it is not consistent in weight, has more belly than nay I have ever seen, and if you put masking tape on it to hold a pattern, the tape will lift the "tan" color.

I don't groove, I crease. I do a lot of white thread sewing with a machine. The ditch digger will leave a natural colored line on your dark dyed piece and if you stray just a little you will leave telltale goofs. So, I crease. And I always run a very wet rag over the back stitching and then roll to flatten the stitches. On the front, the crease and thread tension pulls the thread into the leather sufficiently. I don't groove or crease the back.

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,47819.0.html Worked for me.

I use around 220 myself but I will go over the area with 1000 to get a very smooth surface. Then buff with old piece of towel. Be careful not to burnish. If you don't dye it, that area will soak up finish coat and be a different color. I use Neutral KIWI shoe polish to finish that piece. Will darken veg tan a tad just like M&G.

airbrush

207 top and bottom?

I would guess most use 8-9 ounce for the pancake.

Katsass, no response It is difficult (for me ) to form well intended criticism being concerned not to offend. However, I suppose one would think that the poster knows of this and should expect a critique rather than un-tempered criticism. I know Katsass has a heart because even the grumpy old guy smoothes it over with the grumpy old guy reasoning. I think (with tongue in cheek) that we need a sticky that points out we mean well no matter what names we call the poster Then we could post the warning and tear into a newbie without concern. Well, maybe a little.

If a customer orders a pancake holster and he wears a hd gun belt, I will make the slots wider. That heavy belt will kink a holster and/or add some discomfort. I will, sometimes, bevel/ramp two sides of each slot. This allows the belt to lay flat and the holster will follow. I also make the slots around 1 3/4" long to make sure that 1 1/2" belt will go through the slot. No complaints and repeat customers. Some of my customers are serious about the CC holsters and like the "mods". .

Outstanding.

8/9 for half pancakes and IWBs. Requested, I will add suede or thin leather, smooth side out, to the back of either. 8/9 plus 5/6 for SASS holsters and field carry full size handguns.

That will sell.

Nope. Was not HO.

http://www.zackwhite.com/Drum-Dyed-Premium-Double-Shoulders_c_272.html

JLS, where do you buy your leather and what do you buy? Please.