skootx

I'm making a gun belt, by stitching two belt blanks together for thickness. I have not stitched them together yet- I'm trying to figure out the best way to trim them to length. When I lay them out flat, they are exactly the same length. When I wrap them around my waist, the inner blank ends up about 4" longer than the outer one, which is logical. Should I glue/stitch them together flat and let the leather stretch as needed?

Yup... I reread the thread and figured that out.

Thanks. I tried that method but the nylon thread frayed apart and didn't hold well. I ended up getting the turtle knot to work if I don't cinch it down right to the top of the needle.

So... what's the best way to attach T270 bonded nylon thread to my sewing needles? I tried a double half hitch, turtle knot, taut line hitch, they all slip out.

Thanks Mike. Yeah, I thought the belt clip might hold it, but nope. Live and learn. I'm thinking now of creating a belt loop on the back. I'll be happy if I can at least make this functionally perfect, I'm doing a 4 day shooting class in late April. I expected this would be a prototype anyway, and I think with a tight fitting belt tunnel it will function well enough. Eventually I'll redo to get it looking good too. I come at leatherwork from woodworking, so I figured the stuff I got was the equivalent of poly/stain, which it is. I'm much more inclined to handmixed shellacs and hand rubbed finishes, so I will certainly put your recipe to use. Now, I did use an overstitch wheel, 5 holes per inch with a groove for the stitches. but you mentioned using that tool to "finish"... I only knew to use it for measuring. Can you elaborate? Thanks!!!

First time making a holster. This is my second leather project, the first was a stacked knife sheath. I have since pulled this holster apart because the belt clip isn't strong enough. I can draw OK but it's a heavy gun and I feel like it moves around too much. I'll be doing action pistol type stuff but also carrying on hikes, so I wanted a removable retention strap. I'm happy with this part but not so much with the "patch" I used so the front snap wouldn't come in contact with the gun.. I found I need to get some thinner leather for that type of stuff, I'm using my one piece with is easily 10 oz. and the snaps require a lot of dremel-skyving to recess the seats. I could use some ideas on finishing. I'm using Fiebing's USMC black dye, three coats buffed, then Tan Kote. Every little nick and scratch shows up, and I know some of that is due to semi gloss black finish revealing that. But is there a way to finish up the leather before dyeing? I don't like the Tan Kote either, it goes on very splotchy and uneven and doesn't take to being rubbed in. Any thoughts on an alternate?

Thanks all, that confirms I'm thinking down the right path. Dwight, I love your work- I'd buy it if I didn't enjoy making it so much! The holster attachment I'm thinking of uses these clips http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/VClips.aspx. But the holster itself is still up in the air. Primarily the belt will be used to conceal carry a Beretta Nano (or similar, I haven't picked out the gun yet), but also to carry a Beretta 92fs and two mags OWB, which is quite a bit of weight. Just to clarify, the velcro I have is narrower than the belt width, so I don't watch stich lines running down the middle of the belt. I know I'll have them around the outer edges. I think backing the entire width of the belt with velcro would add a load of bulk to an already thick belt. So yeah, I think Red Cent's advice on the thickness is where I'll go.

I'm looking to make a gun belt for concealed carry of a small handgun. The commercial gun belts are 1.5" wide and nearly 1/4" thick and lined on the back with velcro for attaching the concealed holster clip. I'm thinking I'd start with something like this (http://springfieldleather.com/18889/Belt-Blank%2CW-OSnap%2C1-1-2%22%2C15p/), but I'm stumped on attaching the velcro as I don't want those stitches showing. So I'd need to sew the velcro to something else, and stitch that onto the belt blank, so the stitch lines only go around the outside edges of the blank. Any ideas on what to stitch the velcro to? I'd guess those blanks are about 9 oz so I don't mind adding a bit more thickness for another layer. (I could probably find 1.5" wide velcro but I already have loads of .5" from a previous project, and I thought about using two of those blanks doubled up, but that might me too thick) Thanks!