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Thanks everyone - I'll try afew of your methods.

rdb, Then when do you burnish? Those that dye the liner & the belt has it alot easier.

What has everyone found to be the easiest/best way to put on "edge dye/ink" on the edge of a double layered belt? I have tried felt, Weavers roller, dauber & tapered sponge. But it seems I cannot keep it off my my undyed belt liner. I really don't want to dye my liners because I have heard stories of the dye coming off onto clothing during the hot summers even with a sealer applied. Does anyone have the magic solution?

Its funny you should ask that. My next door neighbor has just started making knives & has asked me to make him a sheath. Very simple pattern 4" blade & that damn knife has been setting on my work bench for almost a month & I have no idea of how to "get er done". I think it's the "plug" (I think it's called) and the placement of it thats got me confused. He buys them from some outfit for $13 and I opened my mouth one day and tried to save him a couple of bucks and there she sits. I've got to get on it. Maybe next week.

Those of you who make dual layer belts (belt with a liner), when are you cutting the tips? I use a Osborne English Point Strap punch & I cut the belt & liner in two seperate operations. At times when the tips don't match up correctly - the old belt sander is necessary. Should I be cutting both straps in one (1) operation? And if so, when? I've tried cutting both at the same time but find it difficult since they are not glued together yet. And invariably one strap will move & thus a screw up. Now we're talking a "custom order" ending up on a rack of seconds/IR's. Is there a better way?

Larry, U have PM...

PM sent.

Mike thanks for your help. TwinOaks, I was hoping that's what you would say. That center line your talking about appears on several of my holsters and it just didn't make sense to me. Have a great week end and again thanks guys.

Another holster question: Do you bevel both edges when making a holster? I know you bevel the slick side but do you also bevel the flesh side? The flesh side is alot harder to bevel and it does not burnish well. What am I doing wrong. Thanks for any and all help.

It looks great.....

hidepounder, Thanks for the fix....

What is the best way to remove Barge "all purpose cement" from raw leather? I keep getting it on belt liners. I guess I'm putting too much on - maybe just a small amount in the middle of the liner is all it takes prior to sewing. I have tried several things to remove it but the dye ect will not take the same way on that area.

Why can you not buy from Weaver? I have purchased several items (including the imbosser) from them (too many if the truth be known) and I do not have a Tax ID # but do have a bus. Lic. This is all that is required.

Well, I can get the Blue Guns for $34. Duncan is higher than that. Might be a nice business to get into. There is a member on this forum that claims to be a Dist for Blue Guns & he would reduce the price for anyone who is a forum member but I contacted him & nothing. And then another member was going to do a "group buy" & again nothing that I know of. If anyone needs my contact, just let me know.

Lobo, Great lookin stamp. Nice idea....

I called Ring to order several dummy guns & their prices were high. (I forgot what I was quoted). I told them I was a mfg with a Business Lic and was told to get a reduced price I would have to become a Dealer & the min order was $750. I found them else where for $34. Has anyone got a better deal? I need several more.

I'm looking for a "crossdraw" pattern for a S&W model 60 357, 2" barrel. I would like to have one with a sweat shield but it's not mandatory. Does anyone have on that they will share. I have made 2 attempts and both have come out ready for the trash can.

I was thinking of a very gradual taper. But I get your point. The dividers would work very well. Why didn't I think of that.

I am going to try to make a tapered belt. One that goes from an 1 1/2" to 1" in front. How do you manage to get the tapering exact on both sides? I'm sure it's not "rocket science" but I've tried to do it free hand and it doesn't look good so far.

Art, what is the reason you use an oversize liner? If I am making a 1 1/2" belt I cut the strap & cut another the same width for the liner. Just trying to understand all my options. I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to leather work. I just hope it's not a train.....

Grunt, You must then dye both the belt & liner....I dye only the belt and leave the liner natural. In the hot summer I have had black dye rub off on clothing. But I do have to come up with a better way. If there are any suggestions, out there, I would like to hear them.

I'm having a difficult time matching up the belt tip with the liner tip (I cut them in two seperate operations) when I glue them together. If I'm off any at all when I cut the tips, they won't match perfectly thus a long sanding ordeal, down the line, and possible distortion of the tip. I punch all holes for the belt tip as well as the buckle end (tongue slot & chicago holes). Measure and cut the liner. Dye the belt & then glue the two together then sew, ect. I was thinking of cutting the tips (belt & liner) at the same time thus matching perfectly. Then seperate the liner and dye the belt. Is this something any of you have tried. Holding the two tips together as you cut them might be a problem. Any suggestions? If you do not cut the belt tip before you dye it you will have a raw tip as you glue the two together and cut both tips together. So I think that method is out the window. Is there a better way to skin this cat?

Thanks for your suggestions. Tim, if I wet the entire belt I'm affraid the entire belt will be 20 shades darker and thus goes my light brown color. I've just never had it come out this way. So we'll just start all over. What a hell of a learning curve.

Nice holsters and the shooters are bad either.

I'm getting ready to put the hardware on a belt and have used the above Dye in the color of Light Brown. I just dampened the buckle end to make my fold and noticed the color has changed to a dark brown. It has been setting for a couple of hours now, so I don't think it will come back to the Light Brown color that I wanted. Is this normal? I will have to re-dye the entire belt with black including the liner, which I never dye. Thanks for any and all comments.