Holster Thread size(s)

[Regis]

What thread size is everyone using on your holsters. I have been using 346 and them bobbins sure empty quick. Is there a difference on IWB, OWB, Western, etc? I know I can drop down 1 size for bobbin but, it is prett convenient to sew from either side, top or bottom (as long as the stitch is adjusted equal). Is 207 too light? Wear & safety is my primary interest.

Appreciate any discussion/input.

Regis

[Luke Hatley]

What thread size is everyone using on your holsters. I have been using 346 and them bobbins sure empty quick. Is there a difference on IWB, OWB, Western, etc? I know I can drop down 1 size for bobbin but, it is prett convenient to sew from either side, top or bottom (as long as the stitch is adjusted equal). Is 207 too light? Wear & safety is my primary interest.

Appreciate any discussion/input.

Regis

HEY REGIS...277 works great for me on my Sewmo and in the Bobbin

if i need it.most of the time 277-top 207-bottom

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

Regis, I like using 277 top and bottom on all of my holsters, whether OWB, IWB or pocket. I know of several makers who use 346 on top and 277 in the bobbin. I would say since you already use 346 to try that first, and work your way down if you find it's necessary.

[Regis]

Luke, Boom,

I searched thread, size, 207, 277, 346 one at a time in holsters and sewing but did not find anything until finally I searched for "thread size". Then I found where this had been discussed before. Yours seems to match the conclusion in the other posts. Thanks as I may never have gotten the search right.

Thanks,

Regis

Edited February 18, 2008 by Regis

[esantoro]

Regis, I like using 277 top and bottom on all of my holsters, whether OWB, IWB or pocket. I know of several makers who use 346 on top and 277 in the bobbin. I would say since you already use 346 to try that first, and work your way down if you find it's necessary.

Boom, are you hand stitching with 277/277? For the life of me I can't get my 441 cylinder arm machine to pull up the lockstitch into the leather, but than I'm not stitching two layers of 10 oz veg tan either. I'll give that a try.

Mainly I'm working with two sometimes three layers of 5/6/7 oz chrome tan, veg tan, latigo, and bridle leather.

ed

[Art]

Hi Regis,

For cowboy, I have been using 346/277 and have been threatening to go to 277/207. However with 346/277, I have to dig a pretty deep stitch groove to get 346 to lay low enough that the buckle doesn't wear the thread (this is for the D/S billet). Campbell is always 5cord/4cord, which looks a lot like 277/207.

Art

What thread size is everyone using on your holsters. I have been using 346 and them bobbins sure empty quick. Is there a difference on IWB, OWB, Western, etc? I know I can drop down 1 size for bobbin but, it is prett convenient to sew from either side, top or bottom (as long as the stitch is adjusted equal). Is 207 too light? Wear & safety is my primary interest.

Appreciate any discussion/input.

Regis

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

Boom, are you hand stitching with 277/277? For the life of me I can't get my 441 cylinder arm machine to pull up the lockstitch into the leather, but than I'm not stitching two layers of 10 oz veg tan either. I'll give that a try.

Mainly I'm working with two sometimes three layers of 5/6/7 oz chrome tan, veg tan, latigo, and bridle leather.

ed

When I hand stitched I used much heavier waxed thread and locked the stitch by hand (which got pretty rough on my hands and fingers after a while). I'm using a Toro 3000 to stitch these days. I don't really have any problems with the stitches not locking where they are supposed to. Maybe you need to increase the tension on the top stitch? Another thing you might try is to brush warm water where the stitches will run on the back of your work before you stitch it. I do this when I am using denser hides and it works pretty well to sink the thread into the surface of the leather.

[esantoro]

When I hand stitched I used much heavier waxed thread and locked the stitch by hand (which got pretty rough on my hands and fingers after a while). I'm using a Toro 3000 to stitch these days. I don't really have any problems with the stitches not locking where they are supposed to. Maybe you need to increase the tension on the top stitch? Another thing you might try is to brush warm water where the stitches will run on the back of your work before you stitch it. I do this when I am using denser hides and it works pretty well to sink the thread into the surface of the leather.

ooooh, that's a nice idea with the water.

If you can and you have the chance could you post pictures of the primary and secondary tensioners on your 3000? I'm curious to see how many threads are exposed on those tensioner bolts. I've had both ratcheted to about nine threads showing, which made pulling out top thread with the tensioner discs apart a bit difficult. This was telling me that my top thread was plenty tight and that I should look elsewhere for the fix.

Thanks again for the water idea.

Thanks

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

I actually don't have my tension that tight. Maybe you have too much tension to your bobbin? If you don't get it figured out soon I'll try to get a pic for you. You're welcome for the water trick. That's actually something I figured out all by myself.

You know what they say: "Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while".

[esantoro]

I actually don't have my tension that tight. Maybe you have too much tension to your bobbin? If you don't get it figured out soon I'll try to get a pic for you. You're welcome for the water trick. That's actually something I figured out all by myself.

You know what they say: "Even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while".

A few weeks ago I did start slacking off on the bobbin tension, but it still does seem that the advice floating around out there is to go 277/207 and 346/277, which suites my situation, though I do wish still to have same top and bottom sizes.

Ed