JamesR

BOOMSTICKholster, Those are some beautiful holsters. Are they rough side out? How do you get that finish? Thanks

Twinoaks, Thanks for the info. Please excuse my ignorance but "IWB" and "OWB" means? I am an amateur who is trying to come up to speed. The first step to learning is to find out how much you do not know and for me regarding leatherworking its a lot. I see your point about function first because I am of the same opinion. Thank again for any help.

Chuck, I checked campbell-bosworth's site and see Barbours #5 cord. Do you know if this is a "S" twist thread?

Jim, Thank you for the good info, I have been working with leather and synthetics for a few years but I have a lot to learn. You say I should use "S" twist but what about direction, left and right twist? I am lefthanded does the direction of twist matter? Thanks in advance. Jim PS I a "dead sailor" the result of the leather being sliced through by the stitching?

Does anyone know if Barbours #6 cord is the same size as Maine Thread .040 #6 cord? Also I have some Barbour #415 Nyltex, is this #6 cord? Thank You this is getting very confusing.

Twinoaks, I guess you mean that the sheath or holster is "lined" with another layer of leather grain side out? I will have to try that. Thank you.

Lobo, So do you not use chrome tanned leather for sheaths and holsters at all? Is this leather OK for carrying and not storage? Most of the people I have made sheaths for prefer the feel of veg retan latigo to any other leather I have used. I have been told the vegtan leathers are too stiff and feel like cardboard on the flesh side! Thanks for the reply. Jim

Celticleather, I always wondered about that. It seems that synthetic would be more suitable to heavy nylon fabrics or webbing. I do pull my stitches tight and I probably have cut into the leather and weakened it. I guess this issue of rot keeps coming up in my mind, although I wonder which rots first the leather or linen. The other thing is resistance to abrasion. If you can not set the stitches deep enough in a stitch groove than maybe the synthetic holds up better?

It seems that everyone I build items for (mostly archery related equipment) prefer Veg-retan latigo in burgundy. I have shown people nice samples of bridle leather and have been told that the flesh side feels like cardboard or its just to stiff in general. I think the latigo is very nice stuff myself but (and correct if I am wrong) you can not carve, stamp or dye it. What do you think of this leather and do you use it for anything. Jim

Does veg retan latigo (chrome tanned and also veg tanned) cause corrosion on metal? Should it not be used for knife sheaths? Thanks Jim

I am new to this site so let me say "Greetings to all." I am an amateur leatherworker and would like to get better at hand stitching. So far I have only used synthetic threads. I see that many of you use linen. Could someone tell me what are the objective reasons for using linen. I understand it can rot, but so can the leather. I would like to just buy a large roll of 5 cord (that is another question) and be done with it. I make quivers, knife sheaths, armguards. Any advice as to the pros and cons of linen would be most appreciated. Thank You. Jim