MADMAX22

Very good job on those holsters. I like that CCW one for your glock, and the 1911 both look really good. How do you like that vinagaroon? You do anything to get rid of the smell on it? Ive just tried using vinagaroon with a coat or two of oil and then snow-seal, it doesnt make a really glossy finish just a mellow nice finish and from some of the comparisons that were done I guess snowseal is really good for water repellent and such. Just not sure how long itll last.

Thats a good book for sure. I would have loved to have scene her do some stitching. One thing I have been playing with is drilling my holes. At first people said ahh your removing leather and the awl just pushes the leather out of the way but thats not true, the diamond awl actually cuts slits in the leather. I have found that using a 3/64 drill bit for my smaller thread makes a perfect size hole that I can hand thread without a palm helper just rubber gloves, it makes the stitching look perfectly even allmost like a machine that is stitching straight on. It doesnt give that zig zag look that a awl will give you. The only thing with the drill is you gotta keep it straight 90 degree angle or yes you will get angled holes that come out at a different point in the back and personally I only think that it works with predrilling your holes however this is just my opinion. Great tutorial and I would highly recommend to anyone to pickup the book you referenced as it has pictures and some great isntruction.

I agree that is a nice finish and great job on this one. When I first saw the pics thought it looked like some real nice latigo allmost. Very well done.

Very nice job. I like the stingray eye thats some good creativity. Wish I could do the inside like you guys do. You all make it look so neat and professional. Hope it goes well on your auction.

Very cool thanks for posting, that technique seems to be just the ticket Ive been looking for. Thanks.

That looks really good, Nice finished product. One question, how did you get the leaves and such to stay that nice light natural color?

Should be fine as long as you keep it out of the sunlight. Vacuum seal and keep it at a steady temp in a dark place and your good to go. Heck even keep it in a nice box in a dark place in steady temps and it would be fine. Its the temps and sunlight/artificial sunlight that will eventually get it,

Well I am not sure how complicated it would be, maybe depending on skill level and stuff like that it may be considered a little complicated. The design is more indepth then yours but the way he lays out the steps to do it and shows everything one step at a time its really not that bad. Im sure you could very easily handle the project. If you ever get a chance pick up all three books in the series if you can. They are outstanding books, a little outdated but the material and techniques are great.

Ive bought my holsters before I got into leather work so I pretty much got what I could afford and that looked like it could do the job well. All were bought at local stores in the variouse states Ive lived in. For my M&P40 I have a Desantes OWB, its ok but has to be worn in the lower position or it gets floppy. For the taurus pt145 pro Ive got to bianchi holsters one owb and one iwb. The IWB is the only one that seems to be of any decent leather working and does its job well. The OWB is ok but is made onpar pretty much as that Desantes. Just wanted to add some links to what Ive got Bianchi IWB http://www.bianchi-intl.com/product/Prod.php?TxtModelID=100 OWB http://www.bianchi-intl.com/product/Prod.php?TxtModelID=7 Desantes http://desantisholster.com/001.html

Looks pretty good, nice and simple. I was looking at making the one from Al stohlmans book "the art of case making vol1" I think it is (Ive got all three). If you get a chance to check out that one give it a shot.

Mattsh I was wondering when you talk of using a wedge to keep the front site channel cleaned out so that it wont catch once your all done what kind of critter did you use for this. Thanks for the info.

Hey Roo I think for the triangles that a dremmel may be the trick. Not sure of what attachment would work best but thats about the only way I can think of getting those smaller spots burnished and not burnish everythign else around it. Good idea by the way, I think it will look really cool when you get it applied to a project.

I remember this use to be a big thing on the more finely made leather items from people/ When I was a kid you couldnt find a shoe/luggage/purse/ just about anything leather that was made by a decent source that didnt have a leather tag with either the maker or the company that made it on there. It is a nice touch. Shows pride and a little extra effort to IMO.

Well guess I can throw my experience out there as more of a beginner with alot less time under my belt (about 9months or so). When I first started lacing a project or two I punched holes and used the hollow needles. It worked ok but I had issues. Since then I have swayed more to the split lock needles like Marlin uses because I find them easy to use, they are really cheap compared to the round hollow needles and I think IMO they tend to go thru the slits easier. I have changed from punching holes to usiing slits for most of my projects. I think for somethings I will still punch holes but who knows, for now its the slits with a angle to them not straight up and down. Helps make the lace lay down nice and good. Started hammering down the lace job as well as directed by everyone here and it vastly improves the look of the lacing. Two grand words of wisdom that I have gotten here WAX your lace lol. That makes a world of difference. And as stated keep track of which way you pull it thru so you dont have to try and roll your lace over because you pulled it thru the wrong way. Im still learning but am improving and must say this site is a great resource and if you can get ahold of it that book Marlin directed you too is great also.

Thats great thanks. Understand perfectly

Very nice looking wallet. The round braid is that the same as the mexican basketweave thats in the lacing/stitching books? On the wallet lining how did you do it? Is there two layers with the front layer having slits in it. Im trying to do a wallet for myself and am tired of my halfA lining that I did on my last one and its really hard to find a tutorial or instruction to do some of these nice linings. Thanks for any info and once agian top notch job.

That looks really cool, I like. The colors go very well with that one.

Ordered online a couple of things from them and well I wasnt impressed. Got a vegtan double shoulder and some of the upholstery leather they had on sale. I think Ill stick with tandy where I can choose what I want. Maybe if I had gone in person to the store (not a choice lol) it may be different. Ahhh well.

Careful with paypal as if they decide to audit your account they can freeze all funds that are related to it. Including the checking/savings account associated with it. Not sure if this correlates to business's but Im sure that something similer does. It doenst seem to happen very often but if someone complains to paypal that they got burned by you then they can freeze accounts to audit them and any money in that account will not be accesible.

Those tooling sides what kind are they, Im assuming the craftsman but I didnt see the stock number on the site.

Very cool, keep us updated and show some of the stitching if you would. What thickness can these guys handle?

Very nice looking IMO. I cant add much since Iv e only done one holster myself. The only thing I noticed is that some people like to stitch around the belt holes in your first holster. Still this is optional. I think they look really good. Welcome to the forums as well ... and I think there are atleast 3 of us here who have a PT145 or 140 pro guns lol.

LOl from the small pic I was like " looks like a blob of gator..." then opened up the pic and was like "WOW", that is really cool. I like the different shape to the edges. By the way do any of you wallet guys have a tutorial for making the wallet lining, the card holders and all that.

WOW thats really cool. Thanks for posting it.

Same thing happening here in the US. Its allways the same, more strict gun laws or bans means that the legal person is unarmed and the criminal who wasnt legal to begin with is still gonna find a gun. Thats allright big brother knows whats best right...... and nice looking stuff by the way. Is that bag a drummers bag or some kind of office bag, cant tell if those are pens or drum sticks lol.