Stich spacing for holster?

[Lobo]

As already noted, 5 or 6 stitches per inch works well with most projects.

I will add one consideration, and that is the danger of stitches pulling through the leather, especially during wet forming. A lot of stretching goes on during the forming process, and this can cause the thread to cut through the leather between stitch holes. The closer the stitch holes are, the more danger there is of this occuring.

I have switched over to machine sewing (and my machine is set at 6 per inch), but if I were hand-sewing now I think I would stick with 5 or 6 stitches per inch.

[Billsotx]

Seven is all I've even used on gun leather - but I'm old fashioned.

[Art]

I only have a 6 overstitch wheel, guess that answers that. When I see some of the English tack, I can only think, someone needs a life or a machine or both.

Art

I went to Tandy this past weekend and got a 7 SPI overstitch wheel because that's what most of my factory holsters appeared to be. (Duh, idiot, they're all machine sewn.) I came home to practice some stitching and quickly decided 7 SPI might have been too tight for a rookie. In hindsight I think I should have bought the one with 5, 6 and 7 SPI wheels. I think it would look really nice at 7 SPI but obviously taking time awling the holes is key for appearance. What are you handstitchers using? Should I switch to a larger stitch?

[Tac]

6 spi for my hand sewn items....

[woodandsteel]

I've got a 5 and a 6 for my handstitched holsters. Lately I'm using the 5, but I might go back to the 6.

[Blackey Cole]

G-o back to Tandy and get these three Diamond Hole Punches they are designed for sewing or stiching leather. The saingle pounch is 8065-00, the 4 prong 3/32" spacing is 8066-00 and the one you will use the most is the 4 prong 1/8" spacing is 8067-00. I tried using the round or scratch awl, the diamond awl, 1/16" drills, and the 4 prong stiching punch is the fastest and best way for most flat things I have found. I wish I could mount it in a press and lower it somehow for better results than hitting it with a hammer but with the limited space I have that will not be happening. Otherwise I use a 5 spi wheel. The three in one isn't as good as the individual wheels.

[Nooj]

I don't really use a stitch marker, I just eyeball it stitch by stitch as I go. I actually had no idea how many stitches per inch I was doing until just now- I measured one of my recent holsters. Turns out I'm right at 6 spi.

It seems 6 is the magic number for most. But, nothing wrong with going tighter or wider.

Nooj

[TwinOaks]

It's a 2 year old thead.....I don't think the OP is still looking for answers.

[rickeyfro]

You may want to try the wet molding without the nails, it'll keep the extra holes out of the picture, I wet mold all my holsters and have never nailed them down. Rick

i use the nails to secure the leather down to a board while wet moulding.

this is for when you are moulding leather around a folding knife or clip for a gun.

soak leather in luke warm water for about 20 mins. pull out of water let sit for about 10 mins.

place leather over the gun clip/mag and then start pushing the leather down to the board around the clip/mag, securing it to board with nails.

i use shoe nails.

rdb posted a pic of some leather wet formed / molded leather with nails here http://leatherworker...showtopic=15226

[woodandsteel]

It's a 2 year old thead.....I don't think the OP is still looking for answers.

Didn't see that! Sorry to resurrect the thread.