Shorts

Hey folks, I'm going to tackle a shoulder rig for concealed carry. My inquiry is about the straps, one on each side, that links from the holster/mag pouch down to the belt. It is the straps that keep the bottom of the holster from flopping around away from the body. Some rigs don't use anything, some use straight leather (stability, but provides no room for movement), and some use elastic (stability and movement, but the elastic wears out eventually). Is there a compromise, technique or material that can provide stability and movement without wearing out like elastic does? Or is the answer to build a replaceable strap using elastic?

I daubered the interior and exterior before stitching. I was intending to go with white thread. However, I didn't like how the thread got greyish black ugly when I buffed it with my horsehair that had just been over a black holster <OOPS>. So I molded the holster and then came in with dye again (dauber) before edging and topcoating.

Spraying holsters and belts. I spray one at a time to finish a step in the process and get that particular holster drying before going to work on a different item. I've considered diluting. My concern is bleed through with the dye. Especially now using Angelus instead of EcoFlo. I've never tried that product. I need my holsters to retain form form as well as be a bit weather-resistant for daily wear. Can this do the above? I believe some of my problems are due to the change in location and weather/humidity. I'm down south now as opposed to being way up north and that may be creating discrepancies that I'm not use to.

Ok, I think I can come around to this color. Not sold yet, but coming around.

Welcome! Beautiful work!

lol Yeah Sorry yall! I'm not letting the AB off the hook though. I'm gonna keep an eye on that thing.

I've had 220 & 226 (and railed) requested often.

Thanks for the hugs. The airbrush seems to be only a cut out of everything that feels like its piling on lately. Thanks life. Yes, I clean after every use. It gets taken apart, washed, rinsed and set to dry, always. Which is why it is frustrating that its acting up. I guess it wasn't thorough enough. I use a Badger 350 which is the name brand version of the HF one it replaced just in Nov/Dec-ish...that also broke due to the same anti-Resolene behavior. Actually, it didn't just "break". I got fed up with it one night it sorta got put between the hammer and the anvil...which broke the threads for the airline...which required a new airbrush altogether Yes yes, my anger gets the better of me now and then - which is why I work out so much. The positive outlet is such much more productive than smashing things with a hammer <sigh> I'm looking at Resolene prices now. I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet, buy a jug and start dipping.

I'VE HAD IT WITH MY STUPID AIRBRUSH CLOGGING WHEN I APPLY RESOLENE! I HATE DAUBERS I HATE AIRBRUSH I HATE RESOLENE AT THIS POINT I HATE EVERYTHING!

When you find works, certainly use it. I look forward to more of your work I'm finding that I'm beginning to enjoy photographing my work as much as I build it. That is making me want to build more so I can photograph more. I can see a vicious cycle developing

lol I lived in Japan the last 3 years I KNOW about shipping heartaches. Never again! So is the Star Trek beam-me-up-Scotty dohickey being sold in stores yet???

Good thoughts above. I haven't posted because I really have no idea how such a venture would go. A small piece of random input though. From the perspective of your customer, I'd like it if you were local. If I didn't have to wait on shipping where I could drive over & pick it up. But I think that's my feelings on most if not all supplies I use. I wish I didn't have to wait on shipping but could walk outside, get in my truck drive to the corner get what I need and drive back.

I think you use the retaining wall for photos too! :D I coming to love the natural setting photos as I've begun using them myself. Nice job on the holsters. I especially dig the mags pouches

Perfect, thanks guys. I've got that on hand.

Just curious if I undertook a project of a leather cheek pad and shell holder what weight leather should i use? It'd be a lace-up gizmo.

King's X, got 'em today - thanks!

Thanks for the ideas That confirmed my thinking about having a decorative joint. That would look pretty nice when it was finished.

You're seeing exactly why I want to drop my stitch length. Getting around some tighter radius curves the longer stitches are just kicking my tail. Shorter stitches will definitely help. It's still taking me a bit to get things pretty. I put my flatbed on it. I modded the flatbed by wrapping it with thin leather. Otherwise the edge of the laminate would scrape up the backside of the leather I was working on. That worked like a charm I just have to be certain the edges of the pieces I'm working on don't catch. My beginning/ends are getting better, especially the backside. But not quite there yet. My straight lines are still a bit crooked If I can get the stitching around the curves worked out things will be going alright.

Thank you. Thread is 207. I'm not 100% sold on it with that stitch spacing and needle size. 346 would fill those holes better but I didn't want to waste thread so I'm using it for meanwhile and then I'll upsize it later. If I drop the stitch spacing down a notch it looks pretty good. I'm going to do an IWB with the smaller stitches for comparison. I just need to figure out the matching reverse stitch length before I do or else it will look goofy when I try that LOL

I take straps from a side to build a belt. I add 9" to the actual measurement for the buckle end and hole end when the belt is all said and done. I know some folks will need a belt that may exceed the strap length (I say "may" because I don't have a full side on hand to directly measure). How does one go about extending/splicing a belt without looking like patchwork?

Thanks Lobo I have my needles and thread handy just in case anything goes wrong.

Thanks guys. This holster has its share of Oopses but nothing that wasn't fixed by some snipping, moving, going slow, etc As I was telling a feller LWer, I enjoy the stitching machine very much. The stitching portion of the process use to feel like the last big hurdle before the rest was downhill. Now stitching is a breeze that takes just some thinking and going slow.

Thanks Kate. I've got to see about getting a real photo box built and setup since we've relocated. That's why my setup has changed. The outdoors was just the easiest available option right now so I'm trying to take advantage of it. I guess I need to start learning how to take good photos!

For my most recent items I've been taking them outside to photo them in the shade. They come out so much more brilliant than with the craptacular light box I cobbled together with a cardboard box and tissue paper The lighting was the indoor florescent stuff that just washed out any kind of pretty that the items contained. At thet ime it was the best I could do. But I've been able to change it. If you can, get your stuff to a nice setting. For me, its been making a great impression and such a difference on the results. The pictures convey a nicer feeling through the surrounding environment. Here's an example: Indoor, standard photo Outdoor, relaxed natural photo: Anyway, that's just a random perspective. I've been enjoying shooting things and getting a little creative around the yard. It adds to the joy of the leather I suppose

Thanks! They sure don't