OLDNSLOW

some people might jump up and down about a little flub when we all strive for perfection, but my son always reminds me that they are hand made and not machine made! I strive for no wrinkles in holsters but more often than not there are always some little ones, but , it's hand made!

this was a post from a year ago you might get lucky but I would want to bet on it. Just sayun.

I will probably get yelled at but, with any build you have to account for thickness, if the pattern calls for say 7/8 and you use 8/9 it will end up being very tight. If it is a pattern you created and did so with the weight in mind then you should be ok. but it does make a difference, I have built a few that called for a given weight and then added a liner or thicker leather and didn't move stitch lines accordingly it ended up tight or small for the gun.

I have a sister that lives in California that has a full hide of Roo with hair on, she mentioned to me that the hide has gone real dry to include the tail falling of due to it drying out. So need to find the best way to revitalize the hide so that no more damage will happen to the hide. Thanks in advance for the problem. Ron

have you checked with weaver leather?

Ok what happened here everyone sort of disappeared and nothing more said or done, was everyone's feelings hurt and then go away or were some sent to the wood shed?

imagine that and they are just down the street, passed by there earlier today and talking to my son about them and wasn't sure if they were still open so thanks for the info!!

Not sure what the maker uses but I have a cobra splitter.

I do as well but have the 12 ton as a back up just I case.

There have been several arguments er a discussions on this very subject, I have made them and not sure if the trend is slowing now. It seems that now that the election is over and the Dems lost the whole gun scene is slowing some now, but I digress, some people such as my self will get some heavy saddle skirting and then split it in half then place either Kydex or a strip of stainless in the center glue it in and then sew it all back together. There are a few companies that are now pushing (green) gun belts that are made out of Biothane products, not sure of the spelling. I should add that you can order belt straps from most vendors then do the same that I mentioned above

the 20 ton was not mentioned for the purpose of doing kydex with it, it mentioned as a tool for forming leather holster. If the thought of one being used in forming leather then I have to figure that you haven't viewed one being used by a leather worker, or have looked Texas custom dies and the offering for sale their 12 ton hydro press for clicking and forming. A hydro press was being used with leather long before vacuum came along.

google that same question and there should be a lot pop up, that is what I did when I built my vacuum press. they really aren't hard to build once you have an idea as the which way you want to go.

the screws are a little distracting only because there is a highlight in the photo, and everyone would be use to seeing a pull the dot or some other type snap, they look good though in my rookie eyes.

they do, but, I don't think it is the kind you are think about? a lot will take a 12 to 20 ton press and get some gum rubber to use to form the holster.

nice job!

I have been splitting my own leather and I think I have it dialed in now for the thickness I want and did take one and oiled first, I have yet to dye it to see how it will turn out. I guess I should do that and maybe go back to spraying it the color I want so as to not over do the dye.

I like what you did, are you machine sewing these? And I have the same problem with veg tanned leather, when I dye it, it gets real stiff oh my younger day anyway, then I will oil it but then at times that has presented a problem when I have not let the leather dry enough from the oil. When it seems like I have over oiled glue wont stick to the leather. let me know if the water based dyes are working a lot better for you in these cases. Thanks Ron

yes, thanks for adding the link I am not good at doing that.

I stumbled on a guy, he has utube videos up of using a laser cutter, stitch dex holsters, and he did a complete build showing the use of laser cutter. The unit he showed is bigger then the 40 watt but not sure how big, but it did a nice job of cutting the leather pattern and doing some engraving work on the laser.

as a side note I only watched one of his videos so not sure what there is to offer.

Was the Listerine used in any of the testing?(jk) Just wanted to clarify! Thanks good job, looking forward to more testing!

Ok I don't know how to put the links up so I will tell you the name of the guys business, and here is what I thought was a little different about his video even though it only touches on what he does, I do feel that it might be the direction of what some businesses might be taking in the future. The guys name is Todd and his business name is Stitch Dex Holsters. If you go to utube and search for his videos, you will find one where he is using a LASER CUTTER TO CUT OUT AND DO THAT ART WORK WITH, and being that there has been a lot of discussion on the laser issue lately I thought that gives a little in site to how one person is using modern tools to make holsters, he also shows a little about how he uses a vacuum press to form his holsters. If you don't like it go ahead and throw stones I don't care just thought I would toss is a half cent worth. c ya

Electrathon, nuther question while yer getten yer machine set up, sis you check to see what the size of the laser bulb that came with? Was it a 30 watt bulb or was it truly a 40 watt as advertised. to some people it might not matter as they planned on upgrading as soon as it arrives or shortly there after. I been here chewing my nails down to the nubs waiting for you report. thanks Ron

I missed it who got missconscrewed , it is not mine and will take a dna test to prove it.

You didn't show us the buckle end of the belt! to address one of the comments made above there are various methods used to reach the end product, I have in the past and will still make a belt if requested with either Kydex or Stainless in the middle of for more rigidity. I will start with 2 straps cut and spit from 1 strap and glue in the Kydex or stainless then sew them back together. If someone is not interested in that strong of a belt then I will take 1 strap cut from skirting to make the belt, and I will either sew in 1 or 2 stitch lines to help control the stretch and add contrast to the belt, the leather taken from skirt will range for 12 to 16 oz leather and I also use a stainless roller buckle.