HandyDave

First off nice work as usual sir. I bought a case of these same pistol cases several years back and did hydrographic finishes on most of them and sold them off. But after seeing your work it gives me something to do with the last few I have laying around.

I use freezer paper. Not the waxed kind. But the one with a shiny side and a paper side. If I draw my pattern on the paper side then put the shiney side on the cased leather the freezer paper doesn't get all wet like regular paper. And i can get a couple uses out of the pattern using a stylus. And I prefer the green frog tape for holding smaller patterns down doesn't leave any residue. For larger patterns I use weights most times.

The work you posted looks really nice. And on alot of the "cowboy" style gear you don't have a tight form fit like more modern gear. But you mentioned a 1911 and glock 19 something like these pistols are way different and my opinion you could never get a very good holster that would fit 2 guns that are that different. You don't necessarily have to buy a new prop pistol for every holster though. Like with 1911 style pistols you could probably get by with just having a full size prop and could allways make the holster shorter for commander or officer size pistols and mold it with the barrel stuck out from the full size prop. And that's because the main workings of that style pistol are all the same size generally speaking. Same with glock alot of them will snap into the same holsters because the main areas are similar. If your wanting to get into custom holster work you will eventually have to just buy more and more prop pistols.

I like it. As much as I do enjoy doing crazy carving and tooling jobs it is hard to go wrong with a simple classic look. Another beautiful job sir.

Like has been said usmc black needs alot of buffing to reduce the amount of rub off. Also if your looking for a dark black usmc want give it to you. It's more of a super dark blue. Use fiebings pro dye black with a couple coats. Less rub off and a much darker pure black finished project.

If you scroll down on the homepage you'll find an adult section. Tons of info on every freaky leather item you can think about and maybe some items you didn't even know about. There will probably be a mod come along and move this to that section anyway.

It really depends on the hide. I usually take a new side and cut me a few belt blanks from the back section. And by doing this with every new side I get I keep a good storage of belt blanks on hand. Then I just work from the back down toward belly cutting out as many good projects as I can get then whatever is left that I don't want to use for my main projects gets used for smaller pieces or test pieces. Specially if I have some new techniques or something I want to try out I reach for a piece from scrap bin.

Thank you sir. Having that strip around it ads for decoration and acts as a stiffner. I enjoy doing alot of wild carving and tooling projects but it's hard to go wrong with a good classic look.

Thanks guys. It don't ever take much of a reason for me to make another holster. And I honestly have the most fun when I'm making pieces as gifts. If I was a filthy rich billionaire I'd make every piece I do for free. But unfortunately I do have to charge for pieces as well from time to time. As for the little skully guy stamped on back. It was one of first stamps I made myself with a bolt and a dremel tool. And I put it on a few pieces years ago and it pretty much became my makers mark. The USA goes on everything I make along with my little skully guy.

I love seeing the stuff you create. You don't think outside the box you smash the damn box and go wherever you feel like it. if your thinking of a complete woven style bag maybe look at crochet type bags or basket weaving techniques might give you the inspiration and some ideas to use to figure out just how you want to finish it. I look forward to seeing whatever you come up with.

My dad has been going to Lithuania for last 6 or 7 years on mission trips with his church. One of the guys they met this past summer who was helping them get supplies and help translate and other stuff is military/police officer as well. Him and my dad was talking about guns and such and my dad was showing him my website and some other pics of work I've done. He mentioned how he would love to have a custom holster for off duty use for his glock 17. So I built him one and the preachers wife is taken it over to him as a gift when she goes next week to deliver a Christmas care package to the families they help. I didn't go to over the top decided to keep it classic with a nice 2 tone black and brown. 7/8oz for main body. 6/7oz for the decorative stiffner/belt loop. And it's lined with some thin pig I had laying round.

Beautiful work on the sling sir. It just matches the classic look of the lever gun perfectly.

If you go further down the list of threads on home page there's a whole section on nothing but sharpening leather tools. Tons of info for everything we use with an edge. To answer a couple of your questions is strop regular atleast everytime you are going to use the swivel knife. I don't think you can over strop. I mainly use a good 3/8" straight blade for allmost all my carving. But I've got a couple cheaper blades from tandy that are smaller or angled that helps with certain carving tasks and you can feel a drag or a kinda skipping when a swivel blade ain't running as smooth as it should. And always make sure your leather is cased good while carving cause dry leather will dull an edge quick. Hope this helps

Some nice work frodo. If you can't find a horse or bike to throw them on you could always grab your six gun and throw them across your shoulder and become a old time bank robber. I'm sure they would hold plenty of loot.

Remember Chuck it's just scouts now the term boy is apparently offensive. But yet there still allowed to have girl scouts and you don't see no boys over there selling cookies. This poor world is so screwed up.

I enjoy doing my made to order builds for paying customers. Well I enjoy making every piece I do. Since starting Leatherwork it has become a true passion. But I have the absolute most fun when I'm building pieces as gifts for friends and family. It's when I can cut loose from the general constraints of customer projects and go outside the box a little more.

Ive had the same issues with white paints yellowing after finish is applied. Leather sheen and resolene both was yellowing my white painted pieces. I use regular craft acrylic paints from the hobby lobby by the way not "leather specific" paints like angelis. What ive found fixes all my yellowing issues is i add a couple drops of a light beige paint into my white and mix it real good. It still comes out really white colored but i dont get the yellowing after adding a top coat. Hopefully this helps.

Finished another critter and went for a little extra scare factor on this one. Its goin to one of my older nieces. Instead of the more simple plain button style eyes i went with some glass eyes i had layin around. They kinda follow you around the room. And made a little leather bloody butcher knife that sticks to hand with velcro. Hope yall enjoy.

Very nice i like the simpler rustic style. Really matches the old bowie well.

Ive just been playing these pieces by ear. Whatever colors pop in the head is what they get. Probably some purple and pink or orange. Who knows. Ill deffently post some pics once i get the others complete. The 2 i got done so far are gonna go to sisters so i wanted keep them similar so theres less options for them to argue over who gets what.

Thanks guys. I was able put another bear/critter together in between workin on some customer projects. Kinda the same as first with slightly modded pattern to make it easier to turn right side in after sewing it up inside out. I learned on the first my neck was to small and it made pulling the lower half of body through very tough. So i widened the neck a little more and i added just a little taper to arma and legs so they would be easier to roll right side out. Heres the second critter. And only have 2 more to make and my nieces will be covered for christmas presents.

Thanks everyone. Figured instead of running to the store and buyin mass produced crap toys for my little nieces and nephews i would make them some cool stuff that would be unique and last awhile. Im workin on patches for hats for the boys and some stuffed critters for the girls. Heres what one of the hats looks like that the boys will be getting.

Made me a quick template and built a kinda bear shaped stuffed animal for one of my little nieces. I used some embossed gator leather i had layin around with some chartreuse colored leather for fringe hair. Its deffently not your typical plush kids toy.

I mostly do made to order custom work. So when i get someone asking about making a piece i tell them let me crunch the numbers on there piece and i let them know a hard price within a day or 2. But i give them a ballpark when first speaking. And tell them depending on leather used and detail and hardware used this is the range of price variation. Then of course you get the people who say i seen this online for this cheap price can you make same thing for close to the cheap price. My simple answer is no i cant make it that cheap and want make it that cheap. But i allways tell them once there cheap bought item guves up on them to call me for a quality piece. And i do have alot of regular return customers that do get a little better deal then some cause there allways wanting more stuff. Im not gonna try to compete with the mass produced "handmade" crap that is flooded all over the interwebs. Just cause your hands touch the machines that do all the work doesnt in my opinion make it handmade.

I second leatherstampmaker.com ive used them several times for custom stamps for a few businesses i do regular work for and they work great and the first pieces i got from them has made several hundred impressions with no sign of slowing down. And with there brass stamps you can get there heating iron and use the stamps for branding as well as stamping. Ive got smaller stamps that work great with heavy handle and a hammer. And ive got bigger stamps i use in my press with equal quality results. I wouldnt hesitate one bit about goin back to leatherstampmaker for any custom stamps i need or want in the future.