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Everything posted by Dwight
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Mouth Reinforcement
Dwight replied to KAYAK45's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
I might be too late, . . . but just for the heck of it, . . . consider giving it a couple coats of 50/50 Resolene/water. If that doesn't stiffen it up a bit, . . . then bronze plating is about the only other hope. May God bless, Dwight -
Newbie Having Trouble With Dip Dye
Dwight replied to BBAYS's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
I'll agree with Randy on this. Lose the alcohol. I regularly use Feibings dyes, and all but one are the oil base. I do not dilute the oil base unless I am looking for a specific effect, but I dilute one of their spirit dyes by 1 to 1 for a certain color I use in some of my products. When I do dilute, I use the Feibings product for that, . . . and have never, ever encountered the problem you mention. And, yes, . . . almost all of my stuff is dip dyed, . . . for me and my products, . . . it gives a more predictably uniform color. As an aside, . . . I did do a western rig one time, . . . it was dip dyed in a 95% thinner / 5% dye solution to give an "aged" and "worn" look. I was thrilled with the product (still have it in my personal collection) and there was simply no cracking or anything like that. Again, Feibings oil base dye and their reducer. May God bless, Dwight -
What gun do you plan to make it for? May God bless, Dwight
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I need a pair of chaps about like most guys I know "need" another horse, another gun, or another dog, . . . but after seeing these, . . . I just might be tempted to haul off and make a pair. I started to make a pair several years ago out of naugahide type material, . . . primarily to keep the poison ivy & poison oak off my clothes when I did my weed eating thing, . . . but after I found out about Round Up and some other chemical weed eaters, . . . I shelved that project. You did a real good job, . . . I'll second the suggestion that there was probably one happy cowboy last Christmas. May God bless, Dwight
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Looks like a Win, Win, Win to me: you were happy with the work, . . . client was happy with your work, . . . you were compensated for your work. What's to complain?? I'd be proud if I'd done that one. I did one for a Ruger a couple years ago, . . . stainless fluted barrel target .22 with a 4 power scope and regular sights both on it. Had to set the muzzle in first, . . . then rock the rest of it back onto a ledge that the trigger guard sat on, . . . grabbed the snap strap to hold the whole thing in place. It was a Win, Win, Win for me too. Keep up the good work, a lot of people I know wouldn't even have tried that one. May God bless, Dwight
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I don't have any samples to show you, . . . but with my Tippmann Boss, . . . if you let up a bit on the tension, . . . you can nail that stitch where ever you want it, . . . just about any direction you want it from where you are now. You can get some pretty far out patterns by connecting the dots your way. I haven't tried the thin thread yet, . . . but I got a hunch it will work. May God bless, Dwight
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Doug, . . . it probably is not the problem I had, . . . but it sounds just exactly like it. My "big" problem (there actually were several other little things) was that a set screw had loosened in the back of the machine. Around in the back of your Boss, . . . remove the cover, . . . there is a cross shaft up in the top. On the left hand side of that shaft is a collar, . . . mine had slipped and moved about 3 inches down the shaft. The proper position for that collar is the center of it being exactly 1 inch from the inside left edge of the machine. There is a wonderful mechanic at Tippmann's, . . . his name is Ben, . . . he fixed mine, . . . but I stuck it in the passenger seat of my Jeep and drove it there. Best wishes, may God bless, Dwight
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Thanks for sharing, Cowboy, . . . yes, . . . He is good. We don't brag on Him enough in my book. May God bless, Dwight
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I googled up this page, . . . http://www.mcpheetersantiquemilitaria.com/05_accoutrements/05_item_006.htm As Frank said, . . . 36 loops. May God bless, Dwight
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I had some of the same problems when I did my first few belts. Yes, . . . matter of fact, . . . I groove both sides. I do my edges first, sanding and edging them to an acceptable final finish. Sometimes I even go ahead and burnish them. This is the trick necessary to getting the backside stitches in the groove where they need to be. I learned to position the stitch groove in the window on my presser foot so I could dictate to the machine where the next stitch would land as I made the turn. I actually move the belt while the needle is all the way down, . . . pivoting on the needle itself. I also drastically removed pressure from my presser foot. My belts or holsters will feed, . . . but I have it so loose that it just barely feeds, . . . and I have practiced to the point that I almost force feed it into the machine. That did get rid of those nasty marks you were talking about. My machine is a Tippmann Boss. May God bless, Dwight PS: They beat the heck out of a sail needle and a palm, . . . those sewing machines !!!
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Top Coat For Iwb Holster?
Dwight replied to Shooter McGavin's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
Most of my holster business is IWB's and I pretty much use Resolene exclusively. I have never taken my holster off and found it soaked with perspiration or even damp. It protects my weapon, . . . protects the leather, . . . and makes for a good looking product. 50/50 mix with water, . . . brushed on with a cheap, 1" bristle brush. Works great. May God bless, Dwight -
It has taken some "work" to get me there, . . . some practice, . . . some effort, . . . but, yes, I do. The vast majority of my work is either a belt or holster, . . . and if there is any kind of "edge" from which to work, I do stitch groove on both sides. It makes it easier to lay the stitching flat with the work. One of my first and worst concerns was that I would get out of the groove on the back side, . . . and the ugly old groove would be there. That very rarely happens, . . . but when it does, . . . I work on that piece of leather with a spoon and some water, . . . and whey I get done, . . . it is almost impossible to find the place. May God bless, Dwight
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Duke, . . . a couple years back, a lady on this forum told of an old fashioned "Finish" she has used for a number of years. Gives a soft finish, . . . gives a sheen, . . . real easy to apply, . . . and very cost effective. Measure out equal parts BY WEIGHT of virgin bees wax and neatsfoot oil, . . . put in a jar (one you don't want to use for anything else again), . . . set it in a pan of boiling water, . . . wait for it to all melt together, . . . pour it into a little plastic tub and let it set up. It'll be similar to shoe polish, . . . put it on either with your finger tips or a small rag, . . . rub it in, . . . buff. I also like to hit the first coat or two with my heat gun set on low and far enough away that I can literally watch it melt into the project. I just finished a black, single holster, western rig, . . . most authentic looking one I ever did. The finish is soft both to the touch and to the sight, . . . and if it gets scuffed or anything, . . . real easy to fix. Again, . . . old fashioned, . . . but is a real nice looking finish. May God bless, Dwight
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Because it is just basically a computer monitor, . . . the thing needs to be protected. Put something in the "cover" part that will protect the "screen" from the owner banging it up against a table corner, chair arm, etc. I'd use a thin Kydex sheet or something like that, . . . maybe a sheet of plexiglas, . . . but other than that, I think I would make them either like a zippered Bible cover or with a clasp like a clutch purse. And of course, . . . carve the thing front and back, . . . May God bless, Dwight
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Simulator (Blue Gun)
Dwight replied to Rick Pen's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
This will be the place: http://www.letargets.com/estylez_ps.aspx?searchmode=category&searchcatcontext=~080000~080200~080202 May God bless, Dwight -
That looks good for your first one, . . . my first one did not look anything near that good, . . . but I still have it, . . . and sometimes still use it, . . . just for old time's sake. May God bless, Dwight
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Your Finishing Method For Gun Leather
Dwight replied to Rayban's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
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Your Finishing Method For Gun Leather
Dwight replied to Rayban's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
Resolene holster finishing 101: (hang some kind of string in it through a belt loop, . . . around a snap, . . . somewhere that is unobtrusive, . . . so you can hang it to dry) Thin resolene 50/50 with water. Obtain a cheap, BRISTLE brush about 1 inch wide, . . . not nylon, rayon, uberfiber, . . . bristle. Start with the holster opening, . . . where the gun goes. You can pour it, . . . brush it, . . . however you do it, . . . get the inside of that puppy wet through and through. Next, do the back of the holster, . . . slather it on until it gets good and wet, . . . and the brush strokes are causing a minor "foaming" of the product. Keep brushing until the bubbles are gone. Now lay the holster on your hand, . . . start adding resolene to the front, . . . again using quick brush strokes, . . . create a foam, . . . brush left, right, up, down, diagonal, . . . this will dissipate most streaks. You want a good coating on the front, . . . be careful not to over do it. Once the foam comes up, . . . you have enough, . . . stay with it and brush out the bubbles. End up by holding the holster by the string, . . . then brushing all the edges real good for a good looking edge. Bagkote holster finishing 101: (hang some kind of string in it through a belt loop, . . . around a snap, . . . somewhere that is unobtrusive, . . . so you can hang it to dry) I've not done a lot of this, . . . but am pretty well impressed with the results so far. Thin the bagkote 50/50 with water, . . . put in a small air brush, . . . mist a light coat into the gun cavity, . . . then the back, . . . then the front. Hang up to dry. Repeat as desired. I prefer Resolene, . . . am learning to use Bagkote, . . . do not use Atom Wax or super sheen. Hope this helps. May God bless, Dwight -
Goverment 1911 Shoulder Holster
Dwight replied to johnggrg's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
Some years back, I purchased a shoulder holster for a friend, as I could not at that time make him one. It was not any thicker than 5 oz, . . . was very, very rigid, . . . and was a well made holster. Just relaying my experience, . . . May God bless, Dwight -
Who Uses Insert Stiffeners For Gun Belts?
Dwight replied to Fredo's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
Before you spend that cash, . . . try a little experiment. Take two belt blanks, 8 oz +/-, so the total thickness becomes .220 to .230, . . . stick em together with Weldwood contact cement (don't be tight fisted with it either, use a goodly amount), . . . edge, burnish, and sew with some 346 thread, . . . dye it a reasonable color, . . . give it a good coat of 50/50 Resolene/Water. Put it on a nickel steel roller buckle and wear it for a month, or a week, or until you are satisfied that you don't need a stiffener. While I am not a poster boy for morbidly obese, . . . I'm a pretty good chunk, . . . carry a full size all steel 1911 with 8+1 and up to 3 full stainless mags. My belt holds up my piece, . . . . all of its accouterments, . . . and my pizza belly, . . . Try it, . . . you just may like it. May God bless, Dwight -
The "Boss" takes a bit of getting used to if you have any experience with a "standard" sewing machine that does clothing material. I still reach occasionally with my left hand behind the needle to lift the presser foot, . . . duh, . . . The good side beyond the durability of the machine, . . . is the people who make them. Mine got out of time, . . . rythem, . . . and I got out of patience. Called Ben at Tippmann, . . . told him I needed help with a capital "H" and he said bring it on in. Three hours later, my machine was sitting on his desk, . . . after a few of those doctor like, . . . "Hmmm"s, . . . "Ahhh"s, . . . and an "Uh Oh" or two, . . . he grabbed a battery drill and proceeded to disembowel my machine. When he stitched her back up, . . . she was sewing like she should. Cost, . . . a hand shake, and a "Thank You". That is my kind of warranty, . . . my kind of service, . . . and they are my kind of people. May God bless, Dwight
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A few months ago, I was invited by a friend to bring some holsters, . . . sit at the gun show with him, . . . we'd chat and sell guns and holsters. If I had taken only the top stuff, . . . I would not have had a good day. Most of what I sold was the "not quite perfect" stuff, . . . including one absolutely hideous looking attempt at making a kydex tuckable for a 1911. The guy that bought it, . . . only wanted a holster he could slide down on the bed rail at his house, . . . for a night time gun. I could probably have gotten three times my price if I had marketed it that way. Anyway, . . . I'm in agreement with Lobo, . . . May God bless, Dwight
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If you are doing only small stuff, . . . a 1 ton arbor press from Harbor Freight is only $50. I use it for everything from my maker's stamp down to my 1/2 inch lettering. The best part is that it gives me a "uniform" look across the lettering or stamping, . . . something I could not get with my mallet / hammer / sledge / hatchet / etc. May God bless, Dwight
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Using Un-Dyed Leather ~ Who Does It?
Dwight replied to ShortBBL's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
ShortBBL, . . . I'm one who makes first, . . . dyes later. I've done the drum dyed, . . . won't be going back there, . . . don't like the leather. I've also dyed then assembled, . . . but most of the time, . . . it is assemble, . . . they dye. Lou Alessi was the other way around, . . . cut, dye, assemble. Dyeing is not an art, . . . but it can make you pull your hair out trying to get just the right effect. I'm working on a single holster western rig right now that I want to do in a light grey color, . . . I got the color I want, . . . but all top coats I've tried have altered the color. I'll just keep messing with it until I get it. I'm also in the process of building a spray booth, . . . got the gun & compressor, . . . gotta have a booth, . . . then the dyeing will get to be fun. Or maybe I'll really be bald, . . . whatever. May God bless, Dwight