TwinOaks

Tell the owner I'm reasonable on prices for holsters.

to Leatherworker.net! You've found the best site on the web. Don't be ashamed of any work you post- nobody started out as a master craftsman...ever. Keep posting your work and ask for a critique. The members here are wonderful folks, and I've yet to see anyone say "Nope, you'll just have to learn it on your own." Ask questions, and we'll try to answer them as well as we can. Check out the section called "Getting Started". There's lots of good topics for people who are.....well, just getting started. There's also a couple of pinned links that show how to carve and use your swivel knife. Keep up the practice, ask lots of questions, and never quit learning.

My thoughts on making a J-hook mold: Get a block of aluminum (which sinks the heat away, making molding faster) at the thickness you want for the clip. On one end, mill/saw a notch the length of the 'J' part, and just slightly thicker than the Kydex. Now, while the Kydex is hot, insert one end of the strip into the notch, and wrap around the block. For a visual of the cross section of this......take three rulers and stack them, then stagger the center one out a bit....kind like this top of block ---------------------------------- insert kydex here --> ---------------------------------- bottom of block

Josh, I've already shared some thoughts with you via PMs, and I'll only add two things here: 1. (just my opinion) I think the cartridge loops would look better if they were centered on the belt instead of riding at the top. 2. That is one hell of a nice looking rig. and I know I said two, but here's number 3. I'm inspired by that so much that I think I'll make one too. I'll start a vote right here and now for Jbird as "most improved" leatherworker for this year.

I try to steer folks away from the SOB holsters. Andy Artoonian at Horseshoe Leather gives excellent reasoning behind NOT using it. Since I'm pretty new to holster making, I try to learn from the pros. His reason (without trying to quote it directly) is that it places a chunk o' steel right across the spine, and that could have really bad results if a person fell/was pushed and landed on their back.

There is a tandy pattern for one in this month's Skiver. You might check the tandy website to see if it's posted there yet.

You mean that some people actually measure and plan? Dang.

Tom, I hate to say it, but I don't know of any sewing machines with a "Low Bobbin Warning System".

Now that the definition has been clarified.... The downside to making a sheath like the one in the link, is that a welt needs to be sewn in to protect the threads from the blade. Traditional pouch/tube sheaths that hold almost all the knife are sewn up the back, keeping the stitching away from the blade. It's little more than a triangle-ish piece of leather that's folded and stitched, then wet formed to put the seam on the back side. Check out ragweedforge, for more history and info on the sheaths, including the recommended hot wax treatment.

I've decided to invest in a good machine, and have done a little research lately. I think I've settled on a Toro3K, or possibly a Cowboy 441 clone, as either will be more than capable for making holsters and some tack. I spoke to someone at Neels (Ryan?) the other day and discussed the similarities/differences of the two. I'd also recieved a recommendation for a Neels model 5, but I'm pretty sure I want the compound/needle feed to avoid excessive marking on the leather when I have grain out on both sides. The Artisan website also advertises it's abilitiy to sew lighter leathers with a needle change. Is the Toro3k too much machine, even stepped down to a smaller needle, for sewing bags, purses, and wallets? I know very little about sewing machines and will only be able to afford one (more) at this time. I currently have a Viking 6440 (thanks, Ma) and am having trouble with the bottom of the stitches laying flat instead of being 'locked' in the hole. I appreciate any input, and add a further question: What thread sizes should I be using with the Viking for wallet construction?

Hi Tom, No, dissolving dyes in vinegar isn't going to do much. Soaking walnut, pecan, etc., does. The thing to remember is that with the vinegaroon, there's a chemical reaction taking place---not just a way to transfer suspended dye particles onto leather.

BTW, Chuck, thanks for your comments about guns and food buried in the backyard....I'm glad to know I'm not the only one.

Wolvie, Thanks for the reminder to get back to work....sheesh, no riding the clock around here, huh? I've been helping the mods out by categorizing and sorting the "How Do I Do That" section. The posts are read, then relocated to the appropriate area, similar to your sugestion. And I was doing really good about keeping things neat and organized until they dropped a few thousand old posts back in the mix.

With spoofable ISPs and the anonymity of the internet, I don't think it'd do much good, Denise. There'd be better results getting Ebay to turn over his user info (presuming it's real) to a lawyer and going after him for infringement and fraud. If nothing else, the use of someone else's pics/description violates copyrights....I think. Mike ( <-----electrician...not a lawyer)

Rant on: Lots of interesting thoughts here. I agree a lot with Marlon, in that many people put themselves in bad situations. However, not everyone has, and the recession has lots of companies laying off workers. So what should they do? How about displace all the illegals by taking all the low paying jobs? Here's a crazy idea: Quit outsourcing all the jobs to foreign countries! Not only do you keep the money at home, but anyone calling customer service would actually be able to understand what the H is being said. (Can you hear the ads? Buy our product: our service dept. speaks English) I don't think that it's the end of the world just yet, but things are going to get uglier. As folks lose jobs, homes, etc., I'm expecting to see a corresponding rise in crime- petty at first, like a former banker shoplifting canned food, and getting progressivly worse with the economy. I'm fortunate enough to be in a good place to ride it out, too. In fact, looking at the course of events that led me and my family here, it's too much to be coincidental.....and to think I griped about all the little things when they popped up. Through several minor events, like almost getting killed in an industrial accident, and having a family member tell you they're selling the rental house you live in out from under you (in a month), we wound up here. I'm on a private drive out in the county, with well water (can be hand pumped if needed), septic tank, lots of game, and a large lake full of fish nearby. My neighbors include former military, mechanics, (another) electrician, farmers, carpenters, etc. This neighborhood has most of the basic trades covered. There's even a heavy equipment operator at the end of the main road with two dozers. I imagine parking them across the road would do a fair job of limiting trespassing. Oh, and everyone here knows how to hunt, farm, etc. We've got the makings of a nice little outpost. So what? My faith leads me to believe that God makes good on his deals- he said he would give us what we need ........not every little thing we think we want. We as leatherworkers have a useful skill, and this forum has provided MANY of us with opportunities that we didn't know we had. Did anyone join this board with the FULL EXPECTATION to meet so many friends, learn so many things, and develop your skills? I joined because I thought that some leather items would be pretty cool to make as gifts. Now I've met people I call friends from at least 8 countries, have learned more about leather (among other things) in just over a year than I thought possible, and am seriously considering starting a business- yes, even in these times. I didn't get bitten by the leather bug because I wanted to....I think I needed to. Has it occured (and I'm not thumping my Bible here) that the current crises are exactly what we need? Maybe this will move the country away from the 'gimme gimme gimme' ideology. Maybe, once folks figure out that roast chickens won't knock on their door anymore, they'll give up a lot of the vices that have turned this nation into a reincarnation of Sodom and Gomorrah. Apparently Katrina (bad ass huricane) wasn't enough of a clue. Perhaps all the doom and gloom, naysayers and lunatics, politicians and false promises need to just implode. Take things back to a simpler way of life when honor meant something, a man's (woman's too) word was binding, and a handshake was better than any stack of papers a lawyer could produce. At least two states have passed or are passing resolutions that essentially tell the Fed. where to get off. We may well be on track to a fracturing of the U.S.A. I hope it isn't the case, but I plan to be well prepared regardless. For anyone of a similar mind (TrooperChuck ) I recommend obtaining the Foxfire books, and listening to Bocephus' "Countryboy can survive". Finally, there's been some recent hoopla about repealing the 22nd amendment (term limits).....we don't need limits, we just need people to wake up and vote the bums out. Poor people have been voting for democrats for 50 years and they're still poor (how many times have I said that???) and a slap in the face may be needed to rouse them from their stupor. Re: 12/21/12 or the end of the Mayan calender, i-ching, numeroloy, and any other "prophetic" means by which they get attention about the "end of days".... (somebody help me out with the scripture citation, here) Weren't we told that "[no man knoweth the hour of my coming]", and ""? I don't know about any of you, but if God says "Nobody (human) knows when I'm gonna pull the plug", I wonder how anyone on TV or Youtube can claim to? Btw, I think the above date will most likely be a swapping of our poles -north becomes south.....kinda like the sun does every 11 or 12 years. My fingers are cramping now, so I need to stop or I won't be able to tool a straight line....well, straight- ish line. Y'all keep your knives sharp, your eyes and ears open, your powder dry, and never forget that God works in mysterious ways. G'night. Rant off:

Nice vid! Good info, and pretty easy to follow.

"Any one stain with blood...." Not intentionally. That said, while the color may be lasting, keep in mind that it is edible to all kinds of microorganisms that would like to eat the leather.

Hi and welcome to Leatherworker.net. We're glad you found our little corner of the internet. There's lots of members, both amateurs and professionals, who'll be happy to help with any questions you might have. Ask away, and enjoy one of the friendliest sites on the 'net.

Enjoy doing that while you can, so you don't have to do it when you don't want to. I've burnt the candles at both ends and in the middle, and as you get a bit older wiser, you'll learn to pace yourself......and leave all that staying up late foolishness to the young folks. And as I type this, I notice that it's already past 12:30......

Nice and clean, it looks nice. Well done.

Welcome to the Leatherworker.net forum, Jim. There's lots of great talent here, and just about everyone is willing to help out with suggestions and answers to your questions. We look forward to seeing your work.

Hi everyone, This is just a reminder that our proposed ship date is this weekend through Monday. If you are having trouble proposed deadline, please contact your recipient and let them know. Thanks to everyone who's participating this round, it looks like a smashing success.

Thanks for chiming in Lobo, I like seeing some gun leather pros input for questions like these.

The reinforcement band is folded/bent. The band is sewn to one side, then it is sewn to the other side. Then bent/folded and the two halves of the pancake are aligned for stitching.

Hardware store. Sometimes they are called "cup washers", or at least that what folks in these parts call them.....