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Everything posted by 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 -
The main most thing I have a problem with, . . . is watching my left hand. I'm naturally right handed, . . . eat, type, shoot, throw, shift, . . . do it all righty. Every time I pick my head knife up, . . . I make a mental note to watch that left hand, . . . because if it is in the way and I slip, . . . it is in trouble. That is also the reason that I use a drywall knife for most of my cutting. May God bless, Dwight
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Sheath For Dagger I Made
Dwight replied to hivemind's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
Thanks, hivemind, . . . I'm working on a late 1880's style SAA rig, . . . part of the "Set" is an antler handled knife that would double as a short sword, . . . never made one, . . . like the idea of the buttcap. Keep up the good work. May God bless, Dwight -
Paddle Holster
Dwight replied to txgunrunner's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
FWIW, . . . I contacted Galco a couple years ago, . . . wanted to make myself another paddle, . . . their rep said they would sell me their plastic part for ten or twelve bucks. I thought about it, . . . decided against it. You may want to contact them. Stay away from the $20 jobs you find at cheap gun stores, gun shows, and flea markets. They break at the drop of a flea's hat. May God bless, Dwight -
Spurs, . . . enclosed is the notes I give out/use for a class I teach on making a pancake. Take your time, . . . visualize each step, . . . PM me if you have any questions. May God bless, Dwight
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Sheath For Dagger I Made
Dwight replied to hivemind's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
I was thinking earlier today about a knife with an antler handle, . . . lo and behold, . . . here it is. Now for the $64,000 question: how do you lock the antler onto the handle without a rivet or pin showing? I can see a pin on yours, but on others I've seen I am at a loss as to how to do it. Thanks, . . . and both are some good looking work as far as I can see. May God bless, Dwight -
What kind of holster do you want to make for it? May God bless, Dwight
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Another thing you can do, . . . thin down some of the buckskin to about an 80/20 thinner to dye ratio in a small bottle. Just touch it with their yellow, adding drops with an eye dropper one at a time, . . . mixing, . . . spotting on a scrap piece of leather and quick drying with a hair dryer. You will probably come real close that way, . . . and when you find the combination that works good, . . . if you have access to an air brush, . . . try using it on some scrap leather pieces. The trick is to mix up the dye a bit lighter than you really want it to end up, . . . that way you can add successive coats and it will darken. Tricks learned after 30 years in a paint plant, . . . making automotive refinish paint, . . . but applicable to this operation also. May God bless, Dwight
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FWIW, . . . I had several email discussions years ago with Lou Alessi on holsters. His professional process was to cut and then dye them. It was the second step in his process, . . . and considering that his business made thousands and thousands of holsters, . . . I worked out for him. I personally don't like to do it that way, . . . but then again, . . . I do a lot of things differently from accepted ways. May God bless, Dwight
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What Makes A Good Gun Belt?
Dwight replied to CrashInBlack's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
All of the belts I sell on my website are double layer: I start out with the front piece, . . . hit it with calipers, . . . then go looking for the back liner. 8 oz is supposed to be .125 thick, . . . but often times will run much thicker, . . . and what I am looking for is a total of .118 to .124, . . . which my experience has shown me is just about perfect for carrying a handgun, ammo, etc. As mentioned, . . . cemented & sewn, . . . although I do have one out there I did not stitch, . . . it is a "trial" that has been going on for over 4 years now, . . . no complaints. May God bless, Dwight -
Holster Too Tight
Dwight replied to steelhawk's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
I laughinly tell many of my (face to face & CHL) customers that the best way to get their holster to fit them and their gun: find a really good restaurant about 2 hours drive from home. Put on the holster, put in the gun, get in the car, turn on the heater, buckle up, . . . go get a meal at that restaurant. When you get home and get out of the car, . . . it will be fitting you like a glove. It takes a little body heat, . . . time, . . . etc. So far they have all laughed, . . . I don't know how many have done it, . . . but they haven't come back complaining either. The next step is to have him put the handgun in a baggy, . . . put on the holster with the handgun, . . . and wear it around the house for a day or two, . . . especially seated, . . . maybe watching a movie or two. Again, . . . the body heat will take care of it if there is any taking care of it to be done. It may be that you will have to remake it, . . . but so far I've been pretty much able to avoid that. May God bless, Dwight -
We may be doing a "word play" thing here: but I have always called the black plastic thing that uses an actual razor blade a box cutter. They start out sharp, but are only good for about one belt, and the blade is wobbly and thin. I have x-acto knives gathering dust because they also are too wobbly and thin. I have three drywall knives that use a blade that is shaped like a trapezoid. The blades change by pushing a button at the blade end of the knife body, and as Bison mentioned, they need to be stropped well to stay sharp. On the average, I can cut 2 or 3 full belts out without having to stop and strop the blade. Having 3 knives allows me to also just pick up another knife and keep cutting. Sharpening each end of all 3 blades can take a half hour of time to do (also sipping a spot of tea or some coffee along the way) but it is well worth the effort when you see the final results. Doing only straight cuts in 6 oz leather, . . . you will love the drywall knife. May God bless, Dwight
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I am the newbie on the block when we talk air brushing, . . . but I bought my stuff from Harbor Freight (there's a www.com version) and if you only want one gun and one bottle, you can get started for $15. You will need a compressed air source to go with it. One idea I had but discarded, was to use a small 12 volt compressor we carry around in our cars to blow up low tires. With a very small tank, and a cheap regulator, you could pump it up while you are doing the leather work, and then use the air out of the tank. Just a thought. Some garden sprayers also pump up pretty good pressure also, use the hose from it to go to your air brush. If I didn't have my compressor, . . . I'd probably try that one. May God bless, Dwight
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I don't have a Glock 26, . . . but of the others I do have, . . . I have never had that problem. The only issue I ever had was with a Springfleld 1911, an older stainless model, . . . the slide was definitely bigger than my mold, . . . and definitely bigger than a "standard" 1911. It was the only one I ever encountered, . . . but it did happen. Put some duct tape on that puppy and build it up. May God bless, Dwight
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I have two old 9 x 13 baking pans, . . . one is for browns, . . . one is for black. Pour in the dye, . . . "dip" the leather, . . . hang up the leather, . . . pour dye back into bottle, using funnel. Depending on the color, . . . I've found some work even better if I cut it somewhat with the thinner. It seems to be more even then. It is really the only way I can successfully dye a belt and get the color I really want. May God bless, Dwight
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Western Tooled Purse
Dwight replied to hidepounder's topic in Purses, Wallets, Belts and Miscellaneous Pocket Items
The words amazing and awesome seem to be too shallow to describe your work. Thank you for sharing, . . . as previously mentioned, . . . it gives us pause to think about how well we do our work. May God bless, Dwight -
The important piece of information is missing: What do you want to do? Purses, . . . military pouches, . . . holsters, . . . masks, . . . armor, . . . bottles, . . . bags, . . . boxes, . . . ??????? They each require different approaches, . . . May God bless, Dwight