SouthernCross

Mr. Ingle, How do you trim the 2.0" wide piece so that it's straight? I'm assuming that you roughly center the 1.5" piece on the 2.0" piece?

Thanks for the responses, gentlemen.

How do you typically sew the various pieces of leather together for your holsters? Hand sew, Tipmann Boss type machine, electric machine, etc.? I've done a couple just for myself by hand-stitching only and it's miserable going....

I'm looking for a simple, yet classy looking 1-1/2" wide belt made from good quality leather and just haven't been able to find the right combination of color, buckle, and leather that suits me. So, I was wondering who on here makes belts that I could take a look at.

I have a cheap leather shoulder holster (Barsony) that I picked up for pocket change a while back, and wet molded it to fit a single-action revolver that I no longer use very much. The leather isn't very stiff or finished. Can I re-wet and re-mold it to fit another gun? I didn't want to risk messing it up and thought I'd ask here first.

Thanks, guys. I'll put my next one in the convection oven

I've been tinkering with trying to make some holsters for some of my guns and I'm curious as to how the pros get theirs to maintain there stiffness over time. Do they soak them in something or perhaps spray something on them? I've got one (from Lobo Gunleather) that's so stiff you'd think it was made of kydex or something...it really holds the gun well. So, how do they do that?

Thanks for the tips, gentlemen. I think my local Tandy store just wants to sell me stuff, as they insisted that gum trag was a necessity and the best thing going for finishing edges....

I plan to stain and finish my latest project with Tandy's All-In-One stain & finish. Am I supposed to burnish my edges before or after I stain/finish? Also, I plan to use gum tragacanth on the edges to help with the burnishing.

Well, shoot - I just noticed on Fiebings' website that they already have a true "burgundy" color. My local Tandy store told me they didn't - that's why I was asking for a recipe. Thanks, guys!

Can anyone help me with mixing up some Fiebing's leather dye to make a burgandy or wine-colored stain? Maybe "maroon" is a better term....

My little girl wants me to make her an armguard with a "kitty" on it. Seems everything she's got has a kitty or a princess on it...... Does anyone know where I might find a pattern for a cat or kitty?

Thanks, y'all.

Am I supposed to case my leather before I use a stitching groover?

Are there any recommended hand stitching awls other than Tandy's?.

What thread do y'all recommend I use when hand-sewing 5 oz. leather for holsters and other items of general use (armguards, etc.)? In Stohlman's Art of Hand Sewing book, he recommends "unwaxed 5-cord linen". I didn't find any such thing in the Tandy store today - in fact, the number of cords was not specified in any of their selection. I ended up picking up a small bobbin of "cord" that is used in their hand-sewing awl.

You guys better be careful!

That's exactly what I'm after.

I'm thinking that a holster should be glued up and formed while on a curved surface to account for the body's curvature. I'm envisioning something with a curve along the lines of a 5 gallon bucket. I'm thinking about maybe first using rubber cement to glue the inner portion to the bucket, then place/tape the handgun over it to aid in determining the fit of the outer piece of leather. Fit it up, glue it with contact cement, and then remove it to do the sewing and wet-forming. What do y'all think.....or recommend?

So far, all of my hand-stitching looks like I was well-imbibed on adult beverages....

Just wondering whether it's more common to hand-stitch or use a machine....

Thanks, Bobby - that makes perfect sense. If I were to clamp between two pieces of wood, for example, how much of the edge to I need to leave exposed? 1/8" or so?

How can I finish or burnish the edge ot a single layer of 5-6 oz. leather, such as on an archery armguard? I can't really burnish it with a piece of cloth with wax, etc. because the edge is to "floppy" and will fold over. Any guidance on how I should proceed?

Please put my name on your list too. I already have the Dremel post - just need the wood piece.

Thanks, Lobo - I'll grab that very pair next time I'm in Lowe's.