I'm going to start making holsters, belts, and magazine holders

[Randy Cornelius]

Holy Cow! I just checked the price on the Ron's edgers and almost had a heart attack. What is the advantage to Ron's vs Tandy? Between the Artisan 3000 and Ron's edgers my future business name might be Poor Mans holsters. LOL

Yes you can do edges with a Tandy, I used one for years. But there comes a time in your life where you like the feel of a good professional tool. The the Ron's edger you will not have to sharpen it very much, it will not drag, snag or leave rough edges like a Tandy. Tandy tools are great for someone just starting out. I still have several on my bench. If you ever have a chance to use a Ron's tool or any other Professional grade tool you will see and feel the differnence.

I agree that most leather work can be done with entry grade or tools with very good results, just don't go all out at first. Buy just want you need and the grade you can afford. Buying leather tools is a disease, my wife says it'a an addiction and she has sought professional help for me but it has not done any good. I am an addict!!!!!! I love tools, I have to have them...LOL

Randy

[mliebs8]

I spent most of the day checking out some prices and trying to figure out what I need and along the way thought about the Rons edgers you recommended and decided to go ahead and buy them. I figured if I'm only buying two and they last forever then it's worth it, worse case I can always sell them if this doesn't pan out. I agree with tools being an addiction that's why I want to get a solid foundation laid out before I go out and just start buying everything that looks like it could be used in the next 10 years. I really appreciate everyones help, this is totally new to me so every bit of information is very helpful.

[papabear]

Tinmann seams to have some nice small clickers. I recommend getting one after you work up a few patterns and start making multiples. A good leather knife is esential. A wooden or aluminum strap cutter works well for belts. A selection of good edgers #2 thru #5 in standard edgers and at least a #3 in french. You might start with one of the hand operated Boss machines for holsters and maybe go electric later. I wish I had started with the Boss instead of my Adler. You will need a good sander to shape the edges after you trim them and small finisher wheel to buff the edges with wax. You will also need a good setter for snaps and rivets. Some aluminum and galvanized thin metal for reinforcements and some tools to cut and shape them. A really good Osborne rotary punch (don't scrimp buy the good one). Get extra tubes for it too. Oh Tinmann will make your clicker dies for you too. You will need a good stitching awl and thread as well. Leather, dye, hardware, finish, etc. If you have any questions post them you'll find lots of experianced holster makers here. Good luck and Merry Christmas. Dave

[richclickerdies]

4 to 6K for a good sewing machine

1500.00 to 3000.oo for a good clicker

[richclickerdies]

I have about $25,000.00 tied up in my leather shop ,an see thing every day I want to get, it has taken me over 20 years to put my shop together, so hand cutting is all right but you will need a good clicker to make money out of it , I can not tell you, how much I have tied up, JUST, in my hand tools.

You would be better off finding some one getting out of the leather bus"""and you MUST have a good sewing machine ,like a Artisan 3000< I have one an it has never fail me , The tippman BOSS ,you will have a hard time keeping it in time, an lot of gun hostlers you will need both hand ,when sewing them, I just want you to know a leather shop take time putting it together , Just start out slow an build to it . good luck.

[Doc Reaper]

I agree with Rich, I have my shop in a 16x20 shed and found that I quickly out grew it. Taking care as you go to test hand tools before you buy them, I still install hardware by hand, just purchased a Cowboy 4500, I'm 55, started when I was 12, the old tools are the best, I have made many tools that work better than purchased ones! Get the tools that you need not the ones you think you should have, always shoot for quality over quantity and you should do fine