Otto6294

I forgot it still needs leg tie downs.....crap. Another shot

Finished and edge coated everything. Shot and hand buffed leather sheen. I learned another valuable lesson. I ran out of medium brown dye. I ordered another bottle and my second holster is noticeably more brown and less red than the belt and first holster. Must have enough dye to do entire project! Maybe it will redden up a bit yet, but I doubt it. Oh and this rig squeaks when I walk like a fat, sweaty guy in a leather recliner.

Bad a$$. Love it.

I have noticed specialized feet on these newer machines that allow you to sew closely to a raised surface such as a molded holster. Is there a foot available for my old singer or can I modify a foot to get closer to a raised edge? Otto

Are these dyes, paints or a combination? Some type of dye masking technique.....I love the contrast. How will the white wear?

That looks like a place to get stuff done. Dandy setup.

I have no idea, but I did manage to finish that holsters brother today and I edge coated the entire rig and oiled the inside of the belt and holsters. As soon as they are good and dry, I am going to shoot them with some leather sheen and call them finished. I think I figured out what edge chatter is. It must be the uneven edge around my tooling design. I did have a little trouble keeping my edge beveler in line and I had a pathetic hammer I was using before my new mallet came in. I must have rolled that hammer off my tool and smacked my knuckles a hundred times.

I love dangler sheaths and that is a nice one. Otto

Hmmmmm........a site dedicated to the creation of items constructed from animal skins. Interesting. However, being new here I will heed your advice and discontinue the practice.

Hey resqman.....What is beveler chatter? Rough edges?,... uneven?.......I think I bought the wrong edge beveler. The guy at the shop told me it's the one I need, but if I really get on it, it peels quite a strip. I think it is a #4 rounder. Not a flat edger. I think I should have got a #2. Thanks, Otto

Before that in 1995, I made my father a muzzle loader hunting bag from a small bundle of leather I bought at a rendezvous.....again nothing but an awl. That is the extent of my leather work.

Thanks everyone.The last thing I made from leather was a back quiver in 2008 for hunting whitetails with my longbow. Nothing but an awl and a bag of scraps sewn together with 2 carbon shafts sandwiched in to stiffen it. The window allows you to draw arrows out of the bottom from under your arm. It works good.

That is some meticulous work. Outstanding.

I need to fix it up a bit. It needs a new belt and some TLC.

My wifes father bought my daughter an antique roll-top desk for college graduation present. My wife and I took my truck to the antique store to pick it up. I walked around the place and back in a dusty corner I found this stitching horse.....totally cool. I bought it.

It really does well on nylon webbing and straps. I have made several foot loops for my tree climbing harness system.

Oh....it also really puts a lot of pressure on whatever you are sewing. It can mark leather pretty good unless you put the smooth foot on.

I purchased a 1948 model Singer from a retired guy that used it to do upholstery, boat, and pool covers. It has been converted to a v-belt and it has a 1/2 horse motor. It was filthy. I cleaned it up and proceeded to learn how to sew on it. It sews wonderfully. I had some issues threading it the first time, but I figured it out. The needle clamp was cracked, so I got another one. It came with 100 assorted needles, a few tools, a smooth foot, a welt foot, and regular foot, 20 bobbins, 4 bobbin carriages, and a spool of 138 black thread. No play in the needle bar.The walking foot has a little play...I don't know if that is normal or not. It will sew whatever will fit under the foot. Someone said it would sew 20 oz of leather and that is about right. I can easily sew 2 layers of 8/9 oz veg tan. 3 just won't fit. This is my first machine. I may sell it later on to get something for thicker material.

My wife bought me a pair of .45 long colts for my birthday.(What a woman!) I have been an elementary and middle school art teacher for 24 years. I have done many things and have lots of hobbies, but leather work wasn't one of them. I looked at tons of holsters and decided I would try to make my own. I went to Tandy last Thursday and bought a side of 8-9 oz veg tan and a side of 4-5 oz. veg tan and 11 stamping tools and a few other tools. I sketched a few oak leaves on copy paper and cut them out to use as stencils. I laminated the leather with contact cement, tooled the leather, oil dyed, finished edges, etc. I have one holster to go yet. They are turning out very nice. I have plans for a scabbard for a rifle, a back quiver for traditional archery, a chest holster, and saddlebags for my Harley.