Shorts

Clips are the standard Ctac clips from CompTac.

Got a tuckable. Trying to decide if I like it or not. Also that brown is the Angelus dye. I'm still working out the kinks in using it. The Jet Black is easy. Any other color, not so much. M&P9c Commander .45

I'm making an anniversary gift for my husband; a new belt. The belt was to be brown. By mistake a I grabbed the black dauber. As I applied the dye, it totally wrecked the color for that section until the black faded out. Not cool. Trying to figure out what to do I decided to rebuilt the belt and save the botched belt by dyeing it black. While stitching the redo belt I ran out of bobbin thread. Not cool! I got new bobbin installed and then back stitched a couple then went forward again. I hope the connection survives. I finished up the belt with no more issues. Even got it dyed the proper color and it is drying now. I'll top coat it tomorrow. It can wait a day. Besides, tonight I can think of other things DH would like today besides his belt I've decided I hate making keepers and random spacers for holsters (worked on one of those today too). I need a little shop gnome that makes these piddly annoying parts. Anyone have an extra gnome they'd send my way? Yall have a great weekend!

Got the tension squared away and the backside looks much better. Thanks for the help guys

Thanks Steve. I'll give it a little and see how it goes For future reference, will the tension needed change with different size threads?

I've been noticing on the backside of my holsters that I can just make out the knot in each hole. Seems like the lockstitch isn't as centered between the layers as I thought they'd be. The front side looks great. What is that a sign of? What do I need to do in order to get the lockstitch more hidden? I'm using 7/8oz leather and 207 thread top and bottom.

After 4 calls in the last 10min from the same guy, I specifically came back to this thread to get the right wording I did try to sell him some custom leather goods on his first call after I told him I wanted any proposals in writing. He paused to let me talk, didn't answer any questions or say he needed anything specific, then continued his spiel. When he started talking I began my sales pitch again. I told him I appreciated his call but I needed to get back to work and hung up on him. He calls again, he's going to hear about legal action. I know I'm probably getting spooled when I let these folksget under my skin. But I'm competitive and stubborn.

A written proposition sounds like a good way to go about it. I'm automatically turned off by being approached by a vulture...err, sales person of nearly any kind (cars, snake oils, etc). Anyone that calls me has already failed. I don't prefer to do business with a company that uses blatant practices that I despise. I feel these tactics undermine my readiness and timing. I suppose I do take it personally that someone is essentially forcing the discussion and interaction on a particular subject that I'm not to that point yet. When I am ready to complete a transaction I will seek it out. And I don't want to hear about it until I bring it up. Wow, I'm controlling about my money! I think I will turn the tables. I'll go into a sales pitch for my items when I get these calls. hehehehe

I got a little fed up after 5 more calls from the same company. One guy listened to me get firm and then hung up on me. While that bothered me he hung up, that was the last time that company called today. Several other solicitors letg me know I can get a free computer. This number is/was on the DNCR prior to this. I suppose the recent paperwork somehow threw it back into the free for all system. What does rub me is that we just got these phones in February after not having cell phones for 3 years (out of the country). So everyone just got them lol

Thanks coldmaker0. I'm not certain if that will work for my clips. I allow vertical holes for carry height adjustment. Securing the clip to the holster body will negate the adjustable feature.

How do yall secure IWB clips to the holster and keep them from spinning? Do you go with a double screw/post in the holes? No argument there when using the holster untucked. Right now I'm using a single screw and leather spacer. My concern in using two screws to secure one clip is losing room for the shirt tail when the holster is worn with the shirt tucked in. Thoughts?

I just got a call from a card service asking if my business was considering accepting credit cards. I said I was, but I had not completed my research to feel comfortable making a decision today. I also asked her if she was soliciting my business. She said yes. I asked her company name again and said I would keep it as an option as I do my research. While I am going to use a credit card service, I don't appreciate receiving solicitors calls because my phone number is listed on some official paperwork. Are these types of calls going to be a regular occurrence that I will need to deal with? How do you handle them? I don't want to be rude (although I feel like it) because I hate solicitors. I just got ding-dong-ringed two more times. This is going to get really old. As for another separate work number, that will be happening very soon. I'm going to take an extra cell phone on our account and use that as the work line to keep things separate. Any advice or unforeseen pitfalls going about that?

Color consistency has been my concern in regards to diluting for a shade. I suppose it'd stay close if parts were measured even and only filled in the dipping container when it was at a certain minimal level. Your stitching looks great. I'm struggling too getting the end and beginning of stitches to 1. be secure and 2. look good. I'm tempted to leave thread tails and handstitch the backstitches for a good lock. But by doing that I will never get better with the machine and it will still be slower. Granted its only a couple stitches but sometimes it takes me forever to get the needle threaded LOL

Buff out the dye to get the residue off (I use a horsehair brush). Then topcoat. I prefer Resolene (an acrylic) and have gotten great results by airbrushing (I dip small parts sometimes). Once that is dry, buff it out too. The better you buff the slicker your leather will come out. I use EcoFlo dye too so I know you can get great results. Edit: Just like a paint job, applying the clear in a couple layers, buffing between each, you'll get a great shine. And it isn't flash photography Once the Resolene settles in and fully cures, with wear, the shine will settle out compared to brand new.

I'll grab some next trip to HD or Lowe's. Try it out. I need to mix up my brown but have to decide how much to mix

I got my order yesterday, 4 pints. Black, Med Brown and 2 Reducers. A note though, the Reducer is $8/pint and the Neutral is $10/pint. If the two can be used the same way, why the difference in price? What is the significant difference that warrants $2 ?

I began stitching a couple stitches on the single layer at the buckle end and continued through the double layer and all the way back around. Ending the backstitch in the double layer. These are pics of my first belt up close on the buckle end. You can see where the stitching starts. Also there are several ways to get the keeper on there. Since I wanted the basic thing built I went ahead and used a staple to form the keeper and looped it over both layers. So it can be replaced if it tears apart from the staple. Another way is to install the keeper between the two layers when you stitch. This lakes the backside of the belt less bulky and lumpy. The stitching may be tricky though getting under the keeper, at least on the closing side. If you're completely closing the buckle end off, then you can stitch the flap to the layers. I don't. I secure it with the chicago screws you see there. Sorry about the blurry pics. I've been wearing this belt since Nov or December. So it's been used, dinged, rubbed and dirtied. While not the prettiest anymore, it has held up well. It's also conformed to me as you can see in that pic. It use to wear like I had a hoola-hoop in my jeans

Well you learn something new every day. Good info on the edgers guys

Thread size depends on the leather weight. If you bought from Steve you should have received the owners manual with tips in the back on recommended thread sizes for weight. Many holster makers using 6-9oz leather use 207 and/or 277, maybe 346. The needle on the machine is likely size 25. I use a groover so I know where my stitch line needles to go for the pistol. I use my crafttool adjustable groover I've had for years since its the only one I have. Nothing special. The groove does not need to be deep as the inner foot has the notch on the bottom to groove for the stitching. Use it as a guide. I don't have an edger yet but I anticipate a #3. I use a different method to edge.

Love that brown one. Very clean work on both holsters

I too wear a 1.5" doubled 7/8oz belt. The buckle end I folded the outer layer over for the (heel bar buckle) as Dwight mentioned in his post, Keeps the bulk to a minimum without needing to cut thin the leather. I wear a steel Commander all day and it does the job. The thing I might do different is punch the tongue holes with an oval punch. I used a round punch this time. When the tongue lays flat, it stretches the edges of the hole. Oval hole would alleviate this effect and allow the tongue to lay with less resistance. The good thing is that I can easily see which hole I wear my belt on lol

That would be my fix as well.

Kevin, I think so. I'll have to ask my dad about it for his take. He's a dirt nerd (USDA Soil Scientist) but would probably have some good thoughts. Speaking of leather, I need to give you a call for the current HO leather deal. westtxcowboy1979, I'm over in Grapevine. The water is pretty friendly here.

The last day or two I've molded a couple items using water from the restroom sink. They molded up pretty well and I'm impressed how they've dried out. Anyone notice any difference in the way waters from different areas/water systems mold your leather? The water in Japan didn't mold the leather the same way this Texas water did. Yes, I used the same leather. I'd venture it is the chemical composition of the water but a printout chemical comparison would be neat. Any lab nerds done such a thing?

At the end of the DVD Steve shows the different accessories that are available. Now that I've seen what it looks like I can apply very easily the explanations from here. Great info guys. I don't believe I would use one with the way I'm building holsters presently.