Hildebrand

If you can order it with a regular door instead of the double doors they usually put on the front of those it will seal much better. As to sealing it I would get a spray foam insulation kit and spray foam all of the walls and ceiling prior to any other insulation or interior drywall or paneling. That will go a long ways to keeping drafts as well as critters out. Todd

I have no experience with rifle slings but I would definitely plan for it to be 2 pieces. Getting a piece of leather 72" is going to be tough, getting a quality piece 72" will be nearly impossible. Todd

I use a 4-5 oz or 5-6 oz doubled for holsters. This makes a 8-10 or 10-12 oz holster. They are really firm and I have no issues with the tops collapsing back in when you unholster a gun, these are OWB only. I have not tried and IWB I don't think they would collapse even with the belt going over it. Like @Frodo said its your holster so you can do what you want. I like the lined holsters as there is no visible flesh side of the leather and there is some discussion that the flesh side may trap dirt and grit off the gun and possibly scratch it as it is pulled in and out. Guys that I have made holsters for have never seen the lined version and seem to really like that idea. Todd

Without seeing pictures everything is just a guess but even for a seasoned leather worker it would be difficult to add a liner and sew it in. Since it is well seasoned you would probably run into issues getting the glue to stick to the existing belt even with contact cement plus using the old holes to sew would be difficult at best. Best advice I can offer is if it is a keepsake then put away and only wear it on special occasions and get a new belt for everyday wear. Todd

The latest holster. Made for a friend. Herman oak 3-5 oz lined. Dark brown Fiebings die. Comments and critics welcome. Todd

Texas Custom Dies. I ordered a slot punch from then not long ago and it showed up when they said it would the size I asked for and sharp. All you can ask for plus they are a advertiser on this site. Todd

Very nice, its always nice to give a handmade gift in appreciation. Todd

Looks good, your tooling held up well to the forming. Todd

Don Gonzales has a great utube video that explains this perfectly. Todd

@chrisash it was never meant to be a compromise. It was designed from the ground up to do what it does. Having shot my share of deer, antelope and 1 elk with one they lack nothing. In skilled hands that pistol can put rifle shooters to shame in terms of accuracy. Todd

It’s been said here frequently. Make sure your skills are not the limiting factor in your final results. Honestly until you have been tooling for quite awhile the Tandy tools will serve you fine, it’s only when your skills reach a point where you can’t improve without better tools that the more expensive tools are warranted. Just my .02 Todd

I always thought that looked like a likely place for something to catch the thread and potentially cut it allowing the stitches to unravel. Seemed cleaner and safer for the thread to all be on the belt loop. Todd

Nice.

No expert but best guess is the leather is tipping into the hole in the sewing machine as the needle pushes down, and it is doing this in varying amounts. I have to be very careful when I sew holsters that are double thickness plus a welt down the seam or the back doesn't match up with the front and it will vary like yours does. Todd

Nice job @chuck123wapati that looks great. Perfect engineering to get an unavailable tool. Todd

@leather20 I have started using one of the circular light/magnifier combos when I tool. It is on a movable arm andI can position it so I am looking through it or it is above just lighting the project. It makes it much easier to get the tool exactly where you want it. Also makes the swivel knife cuts easier. Todd

@Loquai as someone who had a Tippmann Boss, pretty much like the Outlaw, I don't recommend it. It did a good job sewing but I spent a ton of time fiddling with tensions and was constantly afraid to even change out the thread color for fear of something going out of tune. The second part of that is you only have one hand to hold what you are sewing with the Outlaw, while you crank the handle with the other hand. it was amazing to me how much easier it is to sew certain things since I can use both hands to guide them. Todd

Looks great I am getting ready to make myself one for a 1911 10mm. Todd

Depends on the end use of the belt. Very few single layer belts will hold up to carrying a holster daily without stretching. Todd

Looks really good Frodo. Luckily we don't have that big of a snake problem around here, its enough to just be cautious and watch where you walk. Todd

@Paultalks in reading this thread maybe back off just a hair. You have been beating on these people pretty hard. Given they blocked you on social media I am not surprised you haven't gotten responses to your emails and letter. Maybe take a step back, order online for a bit and see if things slowly return to normal. Like it or hate it businesses have to operate under the state, county and city guidelines until this pandemic is over. Todd

Another impressive piece Josh. Todd

To prevent any chance the metal from the back of a snap contacting the gun in any way. In most cases it is the back of a snap on a thumb break. You can't really predict where the snap goes on the piece which crosses over the gun, this leaves the back of the snap exposed once you set it in place. I place as many snap backs between layers of leather as I can but occasionally you have one end up exposed. Todd

Thank you Josh I appreciate the kind words. Todd

I use the little plastic screw covers the Home Depot sells. I just glue them on, I think they come in different colors. Store SKU #583539 Todd