Double Daddy

Thank you, Sir! The MUCH thicker sport drink bottles didn't even cross my mind. Appreciate the link as well!

Okay...now I'm curious. By "16 oz bottles I have saved", I'm guessing you mean regular ol' plastic water bottles (Desani, Aquafina, DeerPark, etc). The 2oz squeeze bottles can be either the red cap top variety or metal needle version? I've seen Don Gonzales' video about adhesives, etc...he punches holes in his Weldwood lid to fill his working grungy-looking glue reservoir, then uses small bits of leather to cap over the holes (secured by the contact cement itself)...easy to remove later and doesn't require taking off the lid or leak AND allows him to fill smaller containers in similar fashion to the way you are talking about here. Always looking to glean knowledge where I can...also follow your work on the FB...excellent craftsmanship, Sir! Any further info you can share is always appreciated!

Like the Good Rev. Dwight, I'm a devotee of Weldwood (Red Can Original). I've also used TiteBond II/III wood glue in a pinch simply because I keep it on-hand for other things in my shop...it works well too and allows for a bit of adjustability but, as Dwight mentioned, the "setup" is longer...likely due to the application differences between the two types of glue. As for keeping my Weldwood workable, I try not to let my glue pot get too low (keep it filled and well-stirred when I'm not actively working on projects) or sitting out in my work shop when it's too hot/cold (that space isn't climate controlled so some chemicals are brought inside to a space where they can be kept more stable, temperature-wise, yet isolated from human-kind).

Whistle - Mr. Bruce was kind enough to share some of his knowledge in a thread a couple months back...lots of helpful info therein!:

What Dwight said. I hoard pickle/jelly/olive jars and use them for things like glue and custom dye mixes (full strength and diluted). As for the Teflon pot, I haven't read near enough positives to persuade me to purchase one for use with the adhesive I use (Weldwood Red Can Original). Harbor Freight is also pretty hard to beat (at least I've found to be the case) when it comes to availability & price of those acid brushes...and the wooden handled "chip" brushes. Some stores also carry bulk boxes for even better per-unit pricing. I'm sure you could look within these forums and find HF is many a leatherworker's friend and go-to for various/sundry supply.

You keep posting (as your time allows)...and we'll keep reading!!! Most appreciated!

This is great wisdom, Mr. Bruce...thanks for sharing! I've been wondering about the best way to sharpen these kind of "handled" punches. My round punches are usually chucked into a drill press and get strips of wet/dry sand paper and/or emory cloth (working thru the grits as you suggested) to keep them fine tuned...but...the slack area on the belt sander would be great for what you are describing. Again...appreciate it!

I went the same way Dwight did when it comes to custom stamps...brass being the preferred material because I tried HDPE/delrin and other plastics years ago and they didn't give the crisp results I was looking for, long term. I've always gotten great service from https://leatherstampmaker.com/ ...great folks who communicate well, ship quickly and offer lots of different options. We've ordered makers' marks of different sizes from them as well as a set of custom coaster embossing & cutting dies for production work. These will will emboss two different borders (camouflage or rope) and/or click out a simple coaster blank...the borders are spaced far enough in to allow for a stitch line to a backer material (cork, milled oil-tan, etc)...room in the center for monogramming. Peruse their website, give them a call/email...LSM will be glad to help you.

Here's the direct Amazon link to the Farnam NFO (not a compound): https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/9DE069A2-2F42-4600-9929-AF4F5CD62B8C/search?ref_=ast_bln&terms=neatsfoot oil

Appreciate the OP's extensive research and price comparisons...most helpful! I'm still working thru my current jug of local Tractor Supply-acquired Fiebing's 100% NFO...this post prompted me to do some shopping/price comparison of my own...came across this on one of BigDogPaul's online sources (Amazon): Might give the smaller jug a try next to see how it works out...

I've made a holster or three for Glocks (and other polymer frame handguns) that were not black...but in similar fashion to what Dwight pointed out above, most of mine have been dyed black leather with either matching or contrasting white thread. That said, I don't reckon there are any set rules about colors, holsters, etc. I did have that one feller who wanted a holster for his (gulp!) Hi-Point 9mm...it too was black and LH, t'boot! By my estimation...with time and materials, the holster was worth at least twice the retail cost of his weapon of choice. He could/would not be swayed towards an Uncle Mike's Walmart Special and didn't seem to mind my price (too much anyways) and has since came back several times for belts and guitar straps. What's that saying about some folks and their money? For a very decent visual side-by-side comparison of black vs. "not black" leather on a Glock handgun, check out this thread started by another leatherworker in the forums:

I considered one of the Vevor clicker presses - I had been using a modified 1-ton arbor press for clicking (mounted to the bench betwixt a widened plywood base using metal plates to "spread" the pressure load on the cutting pad over said base)...but it wasn't getting it done anymore. My hesitation over the Vevor was pretty much as you stated: uneven pressure/results front to back when clicking out items. I just endured the 1-ton for a bit longer, saved up my cereal box tops and bought a 4-ton press...no regrets.

If budget isn't an issue, BuckleGuy just came out with a new, floor mounted 12-ton manual press ($3300 plus freight)...they also have 4-ton bench mounted models for less https://www.buckleguy.com/clicker-press/ I bought my 4-ton elsewhere (same item and basic price as BG because they were out of stock at the time)...it's a handy thing to have for appropriate sized items that need cutting out (about 8.75"x11.75" work area)...also does well for stamp embossing or pushing smaller cutting dies thru leather as needed. I had no need (or room) for one of the larger floor mount models at this time.

Yeah, that stuff...I'm probably not calling it by the correct name. I have no idea about the "fake wool" stuff you speak/type of. I also have a tendency to re-purpose old socks/t-shirts...I just ask The Missus to launder them clean and then I keep them separate for use as shop rags, etc.

I use sheep sheering (I buy it in bulk quantity just for this purpose and for dying large pieces when I don't have the capacity to dip them)...only apply pure neatsfoot oil (not that compound stuff) to the hair side like Dwight said above, never the fleshy/split side...that side is WAY too thirsty for oil.

Sharp looking holster, both in design and color choices (dye & thread). I can absolutely see it only getting better looking as it "ages in"...such is the beauty of leather. Thanks for sharing!

I use Denatured Alcohol for when I need to reduce my dyes...and you ain't kiddin' either about making sure the lid is screwed on tight before mixing. I keep clear graduated measuring cups on hand just for this (one could probably get them on line but I have a bunch left over from my days of doing tub/tile refinishing)...pour what's required of each component into clean pickle/olive/mason jars, seal it up tight, swirl it around first...then go to shaking. I label and keep the reduced mixtures on hand either for dipping or for wide-area dye work via pieces of shearing or airbrush.

Doc - See the last post in this thread - To the OP - you can use the heat emitting lamps, as Doc pointed out...they work great (I built a drying/"hot" box in the attached thread). A person could make their cabinet's workings as simple or complex as their mechanical aptitude allows. It's the temperature that you are after. Good luck!

Several cutting tools stay on my bench. First, your historically (and not crazy expensive) handy utility knife like Mr. Dwight illustrated above (it gets used for long edge work, general cutting, etc). Next, I have a strap cutter for belts and any straps I might need AFTER I get a straight edge established with the piece of aluminum and aforementioned utility knife (hide is clamped to the work bench under the aluminum). Finally, I keep a large handle Xacto knife with #2 "pointy" blades (also not bad pricey when you get 'em on Amazon, etc) for "fine" corner work...I usually hold it upside down/sharp edge up (Sam Andrews style...look up his videos on YouTube for more details on this method). Been cutting leather this way for a number of years now and see no reason to change canoes...I'm not one for fixin' things that ain't broken. Besides, those round knives make me a bit anxious as well.

I'm like Dwight...Wellwood RED CAN (WRC)...the smelly stuff. Dating back to my years of working in cabinet shops, using it with laminate tops and wood veneer, I have lots of experience with it and very satisfied with the results. When we started this leather venture and found that most crafters here use it (or something very similar, chemically speaking), I found no need to "fix what wasn't broken", to use the old term. The plus side is that I can get it at my local Ace, Lowes or Home Depot in quarts & gallons. I have experimented with Titebond III and Gorilla Brand Wood Glue (not their original glue that requires dampening the surface and clamping for 1-2hrs)...results were pretty decent but definitely NOT as convenient as WRC. Like others on here I suspect, I've also developed the habit of keeping my jelly, pickle & olive jars...they are great for these kind of uses (glues, custom stain batches, etc). DD

Good choice for material on the belt clip...metal, not the plastic "FOMI-style" things that absolutely WILL break at the most inopportune moment.

That will NOT buff out...and, per your description, you are not likely to "walk off" any whoopin' she's inclined to dish out...

Whoo-eee, Boy! I do like me some Schofield revolvers...and a brace of them, at that! Sure is a nice rig...heirloom work you've done there. I really like the color you picked and the border stamping....not "too fancy" and it compliments the shooting irons quite well. The money belt is a great design for this type of setup too...well executed! Thanks for sharing!

You won't regret it. I bought mine, a CB3200, from Cowboy Bob back in late '13...it paid for itself in no time, has never given me a moment's worth of trouble AND the learning curve was "flat" in large part thanks to this very forum. My singular regret was not going with its bigger brother (4500)...but...sewing machines can be addictions too...or so I've heard.

When I install a metal clip on a leather holster, I use the ones from HolsterSmith.com (they'll also hook you up with all the hardware needed...just tell them the thickness of leather you are working with). They look like the cheap ?FOMI? ones but they don't break...they allow you to take the rig on/off easily as necessary while holding securely to the gunbelt. I've made quite a few of these for folks and have never had complaints.