TOM123

For needles you can check out http://www.campbell-...php/cPath/3_125 they have a large selection also Weaver has thread in many colors and they have needles too, I just can't remember the price. One thing to look out for is difference in color, I did get thread from Zack 3 different sizes in chestnut color but all 3 was different shades, but I do not use them on the same project so it is not a problem for me. Tom

BBAYS, give Kevin a call @ Springfield Leather Co.,(SLC add at the top of most of these pages) his adds say if you can't find it give him a call. Sometimes he has thing on hand that are not listed. Tom

mlapaglia, some hate the boss but if you get to know it, it will work very good for you, con grads I use the stirrup pad all the time to get closer to the edge of the gun when making holsters also take a look at the LED light for the Boss it mount right above the needle and you can see right where the needle will go in at----"I like my light". good luck Tom

Talon, you are on the right track with the arbor press, I got one from work for $5 took the press shaft and drilled in the bottom center to fit a die then drilled in from the side taped threads and added a detente screw to hold the die in place, for the bottom I drilled a hole in the plate that was on the press then took a 1" shaft cut to length welded a collar on the shaft and drilled a hole in the center top to set the die in, I also take the dies out and use it to press my makers stamp in. This has made both operations much easier, the snap set much titer and neater then hand pounding them. good luck Tom

Start with good firm leather The firmer the leather the stiffer the belt Then I BARGE glue two 6-7oz strips of leather together, sew, dye and finish with ACRYLIC RESOLENE. But I think most of the stiffness is in the leather you start with.

You might add to your list is the Ruger LC9 it is a new gun that is a little bigger then the LCP also very popular.

when i shape to the gun i wrape the gun in plastis to keep it dry, also i use a pencil between the sights to hold the leather up to make a channel for the sight to slide threw. also a deer antler works good to get sharp, crisp edges. after you shape the hoster and it starts to setup (about 15 to 20 min.) take the gun out and unwrape it. and if you don't like the way it looks when it dries wet it again and start over, the first one you try you may have to do it more than once. this is not the only way to do this but it works for me. good luck and must importanly have fun.

air soft make some that are the same as the leal thing, look at ebay for ones that will not work most of the time they are under $10 exept for a colt, you can't get them colt will not let air soft make them. also the S&W M&P40 is populer right now.

wickett & craig told me that harness leather is harder to dye do to the wax and oil in the hide, the hide i got from them is very good. give them a call and talk with them, they are very helpfull over the phone, good peple to work with.

I am trying a horse stall mat that I got at TSC, it is a rubber mat about 3/4" thick 4'x6', i cut it down to 2'x6' and sets on the bench(and stays put) and the knife will not track in an old cut. I have only used it for a short time so I don't know how it will stand up to use but so far it works really good. but it has no grid measurements

becarefull with mold in your shop will will spread every ware and is hard to get it out of the shop KILL the mold before you bring it in side. search mold on this sit and see all the problems others have had.

I work at TORO CO. I have worked there for 23yrs (it started out as a winter job to get throu to spring, man this is a long winter lol) I am the shipping clerk there, i also do custom bailing and my own bailing to feed my horses, also help on the family chicken farm and a few other small job for cash, so about a year a go i needed something to do in my spare time (what's spare time) I started to work on saddle repair and holster making. When looking for some tool i fund this web site and have been here alot of times---thanks to all the info many of you give.

I received the dummy guns today, very fast service thanks, Tom

the cheese cloth might have been a fiberglass covering at one time, you will find out when you start working with it and your arms start to itch. a good place for information on saddle bilding is Al stohlman's encyclopedia, there is 3 books but vol. 1&2 are the most helpful (load of tips) i got mine off of e-bay---all 3 for about $120.00

do not put oil on the ruff side of the leather it will collect dirt and flatten the nap if you have dirt in the nap you can use sand paper to clean it out and raise the nap again, use 100 to 120 grit rub easy

I'm looking for dummy/training/blue guns, needed for shapping concealment holsters. or even a link to a supplier that can supply them and not wait 6 week and tell you they can't ship them.