Peterk

thanks all!

thanks guys for your feedback... I am still on my first double shoulder from Tandy, which I believe is their Craftsman quality and I do remember seeing their higher grade stuff when I was in their store last week, and immediately realized what a "higher grade" piece of leather really looks like. From what I've heard the stuff you would get from ZW, W&C, and/or Herman Oak is even beyond that so I can't wait to try one of them. I know Herman Oak has a minimum order policy and Zack White is still within my budget so I will get a double shoulder from ZW soon to try. Thanks. Here is what I've made for my first holster/leather project with the Tandy leather...

Hello all, After working with leather from Tandy, and seeing some of the leather customer makers use, I can see that I will need to upgrade the quality of the leather if I am to take my hobby to the next level. As of right now, I am unable financially to upgrade to quality leather as supplied by vendors such as W&C or Herman Oak, but I have seen some pasted leather from Zack White company with reasonable prices. I have heard from a reputable custom holster maker that he has had good luck getting good leather from Zack White, but I would like to know if anyone here has gotten leather from Zack White, and how you feel about it. I am referring to 7 - 9 oz Veg-tanned leather suitable for Holster/knife sheath use. Thanks!

Thanks Lobo for your help! I really appreciate it. I will get some supplies going and try them out on my next project. Brigade calls this white inhibitor their "mixture"... Who knows...

I've heard neats foot oil being used quite a bit in saddle-making so I figure that may be it since Brigade calls theirs a saddle oil. Thanks much Rick! Now to figure out what that white substance may be...

Hello all, Just started holster making as a hobby and have seen on brigadegunleather.com that they dunk holster parts into a bucket of oil, and brush a moisture inhibitor mixture to the flesh side of the leather prior to assembly... Does anyone know what type of oil they may be using? And what that moisture inhibitor mix, that prevents moisture from seeping through, may be? I know this may be trade secret, but it looks to be some great processes to help me progress in my hobby so I would like to try it. Any suggestions on substitutions of these items would be great as well! Thanks in advance. Peter

Tac, I've not liked any Sigs until I bought and shot my P225/P6. I have medium sized hands and the other double stacked Sigs just didn't feel good and consequently I never shot well with them. Anyway, do you have a picture of your slicker wheel setup you can show me? I am thinking about getting one of those, or one of those rosewood slickers and figure out how to attach it to my bench buffer... ArtS, thank you very much! I got the grip unfinished from marschalgrips.com, one of the best places, if not the only place to get nice Makarov grips (also where I'm getting my P225 grips), and refinished it myself. Fills the hand and stopped the battering of the web of my shooting hand.

Thank Tac! Got ways to go on the stitching... hand holding the dremel perpendicular to the piece to drill the holes is not easy... But it does give me an excuse to buy a drill press. :D Need to figure out how to get my bench polisher to work for me on burnishing an edge; this will be the next lesson for me. Next up will be my Sig P225.

Hello all, After reading countless threads here and everywhere else, I've finally worked up the courage (and funds) to give holster-making a try. I have a long road ahead of me to get to a place where I can make some half-decent holsters, but so far I am enjoying the craft and willing to sacrifice my fingers (hand sewing is no fun) to get to where I would like. Here are a couple of pictures. The antique-esque finish is done with Eco-Flo Bison Brown, topped with Satin Sheen. I am currently using 207 waxed thread but any suggestions to a thinner and possibly stronger thread would be greatly appreciated to hopefully make hand sewing a bit easier. Thanks much! I chose my Makarov as my first test subject because 1) it is a smallish gun to start learning with and, 2) holster choices for Makarovs are slim pickings and I could never find one I like. Picture one Picture two

Bought me a pair of Ginghers from Tandy just two days ago and waiting for it. Tandy is running a special at like half price of retail so definitely check it out.