Puzzling Problem

[MsDragonfly]

I am completely puzzled with this problem and for the life of me can not figure out why this is happening.

I can cut out three holsters from the same pattern; however, when they are all finished no two have the same measurements and it is noticeable. I just did two holsters and the one came out 1/4" longer and wider than the other and the fit is looser than the other one. Does anyone have any suggestions how this could happen?

I trace and hand cut all of my patterns. Could it be happening during this process?

Any help would be much appreciated. ***Lisa

Edited January 16, 2009 by MsDragonfly

[Casey Jordan]

Lisa,

If they are tooled they can stretch during tooling. You can tape (Packing tape) the back to avoid this. Or even glue thin cardboard to the back to keep it from stretching.

Hope this helps. Casey

[MsDragonfly]

Lisa,

If they are tooled they can stretch during tooling. You can tape (Packing tape) the back to avoid this. Or even glue thin cardboard to the back to keep it from stretching.

Hope this helps. Casey

Thanks for the response Casey; however, the holsters are not tooled, but we are wet molding after they are sewed. Can the stretch happen during that process also? ***Lisa

[jbird]

You are geting this all in the molding prosses in my opinion I have done a ton of wet molding and it happens every time not sure how to fix it other than to ask where you have goten your leather and is this happening before or after staining hope some of holster makers chime in best of luck.

Josh

[MsDragonfly]

If it is in the molding process, I wonder if you should make your pattern smaller to compensate for the stretch.

We have done away with staining our leather. We purchase the skirting leather from Wickett and Craig already dyed. I am wondering if maybe a firmer leather would help because when we were staining/dyeing our leather (we used the same skirting leather) it seemed to harden the leather and it was a littler harder to mold. I didn't notice a stretch in the leather when we were staining/dyeing. But we don't won't to go back to that hassle.

Is there maybe a product that can be applied to the leather before molding it that would harden the leather? ***Lisa

Edited January 16, 2009 by MsDragonfly

[jbird]

I have gone to a smaller pattern and that's worked for me how ever the alcohol was the hardning agent if I am not mistaken.

Josh

[gloomis]

Every part of the hide will have more or less stretch in it,if one pattern is lower down on the belly it will have more stretch.I only use patterns to get close and then tailor make each one.