CaptQuirk

I was actually at his site, and found the prices a bit high for my level, even the $100 ones. Actually, it was the top of the line plow gauges on his site that dropped my jaw. I'm not sure I'll ever reach that level.

I've looked through posts, and found most folks saying that Tandy is no longer a decent choice. Lots of folks swear by their plow gauges, but just glancing at the prices gave me a pucker that won't be going away soon. So, where do I start? Osborne? Something else? Be gentle on my wallet

For those who use tape, do you apply it before or after casing?

That is really cool! I wish I didn't have to give up cigars, that would be nice to have. I can't imagine how frustrating the end plugs and side stitches were to do.

Isn't stamping kinda hard to do on a curved surface, like after wet molded?

I can vouch that wet forming+tooling=mush. I wish I could find a suitable solution to that.

@Red Cent- Thanks for the review, but its a little late, as I had to make a judgement call and went blue. I could not really find anything on their site, as it looks like it was half done, under construction. I found one site that had some negative comments about the aluminum gun, and took the chance on BlueGun. I also had some concern about how they looked, and worried it might not be as accurate based on that too. Maybe next time, the site will be up and I'll give them a try.

Buy a belly and a strap cutter? A "good" belly should give you at least 2-3 straps, more like 4-5.

A lot of folks like their semi autos. And the plain basic pancake holster suits them fine. But that really isn't any fun at all. I loved the look and style of the western rig I made for myself. Couldn't find one in a hundred that share that. There is the one up there

When I was being treated in Oklahoma, my wife sent me a care package. She paid the postage, THEY put the stamps on it. By the time it got from Georgia to Oklahoma, the stamps fell off. So of course, the post office there wouldn't release it to me until I paid the postage again. I'll take UPS any day. Besides, I have a sweet Chocolate Lab I'm trying to push on the UPS driver, since they color coordinate. I think its a perfect match

Yeah, thats it! I'm also confused because of the posts coming quickly... yeah, thats the ticket Sorry. The wife says I'm confused because I'm an idjit. It has nothing to do with the posts.

Yeah, mail prices go up, and yet the mail man won't deliver to my home, and often can't figure out how to put a small package in the mail box. What a waste of money! If I need something, UPS is the way to go... Go Brown!

See the post above yours

@billybopp- I need a new awl anyways. The first thing my Osborne did, was sink the blade into the handle, and bend the blade a bit. Should have gotten 2, one to practice with and one to use when I had more experience.

I need one of those flat handled awls, really bad. I'm tired of the awl rolling off the table and trying to impale my feet. Being a Florida cracker, I wear flip flops 95% of the time, and that leaves a lot of open flesh to hit.

@darkmatter35- Out of curiosity, where are you located? Again, the closer you are, the less it costs to ship, and the quicker it gets to you. @Everyone else- I understand that mistakes happen. Its just that it has happened the last few times I ordered, making my experience with them almost 50/50. I think much of it has to do with the fact that as a customer, you don't have a salesperson. You call up/ order online, and it is like Russian Roulette who takes the order, who fills the order, who checks the order and who ships the order. Way too many hands, too many opportunity to mess it up. I liked them, and still do, but too many mistakes cost me time, money, and customers don't want to hear about shipping issues. Blame it on microwaves and instant gratification, gotta have it NOW.

@JLSleather- The additional cost for "Leather specific tools" isn't new. Back when I was doing videography, you would find places selling cheap tripods, lens filters, etc., and by adding "HD" (For High Def), they would almost double the price. Of course, the stuff was the exact same stuff used with standard def cameras, and had absolutely nothing to do with the video definition. All just a trick to lure the cash out of the pockets of the novices.

I think my biggest problem, is trying to set line 20's in leather that is too thick. I sand and I skieve, but not enough. Pull the snap and try again... and again... and it finally takes. Going to start using line 24s now.

It's like this for me- I live in the middle of the woods, near a small town most folks in the next county over don't even know about. The closest Tandy is almost 3.5 to 4 hours away. The closest Hobby Lobby or Michael's is about 1.5 hours away. I can sometimes get Chicago Screws, but most hardware store don't even know what they are. Rivets and snaps? Not a chance. The only way I can find leather, is if I jump a fence and grab a cow. So now I have a guy, who has seen one of my holsters on someone else, or the pawn shop recommends me (They think my work is "Jam up", which means they like it). Said guy now wants a holster, and he wants one fairly quick. I go through my supplies. Leather, check. Got enough to do the work. Then I notice I'm low on thread, or I bust my last needles (Have gone through half a dozen in a night), or run out of snaps (Again, gone through half a dozen trying to set one). It costs twice as much to ship as it costs to buy, and the wait is 3-5 days depending on where I order. Or, drive to Macon to find the Hobby Lobby is out... or closed. So I order from Springfield, and half my order isn't right. "We'll send the right stuff out, but some of it will be a while, we are out and don't know when it will be in. Coulda said something WHILE I WAS ON THE PHONE. That would have given me the option to get it somewhere else in time, instead of waiting.

Ok, I guess I'm just over reacting then. It just seemed like a lot has gone wrong with the last few orders, and shipping is an issue with me, when it costs as much or more to ship as the stuff I just bought.

I started with Tandy, because that was a name I knew as a kid. After a while, I heard about Springfield, and gave them a try. The prices were pretty good, and so was the selection, but what set them apart, was a flat rate shipping offer. Oh yeah! I was on board for that! Well, the past few orders started costing more, and that is when I found out that they no longer had a flat rate. Ok... Then I placed an order, and it was so screwed up. Stuff I didn't order, stuff I did order wasn't in there. Some of that was on back order, some of it was just not sent. I finally got the stitching wheel, and then got charged for it. Never got the snaps. And to top it all off, they screwed up and sent it on a net 30, and I just got the bill for that. Not sure I want to go back to them. Am I wrong?

@bikermutt07- Yeah, loading them isn't fast or fun, but... even when empty, those hog legs are fierce weapons. You just beat the person to death with them

Hobby Lobby is fine for beginning, that is where I went when I was near one. Problem is, it is almost a 2 hour drive to the closest one. They sell veg bellies for maybe a bit less than Tandy, without the shipping. Another source that nobody mentioned, is right here. There is a for sale section that could get you started with many of the basics, even leather.

I started shooting with a Super Blackhawk, just couldn't find one I could afford. Thus, the Uberti .357. Not a bad gun, it always goes bang when I need it to.

Where you buy your leather makes some difference. Lots of folks carry the Herman Oaks, at different prices. The location of where you buy can make a bigger difference when you figure in shipping. That said, while I was searching for leather sources, I found Panhandle Leather, located somewhere in Texas... don't remember where exactly. The thing is, they are likely closer to you than many of the sources mentioned here, That means the product will get to you sooner, and cost less to ship.