Vacuum bag for forming holsters

[Denster]

Just curious if anyone other than me used a vacuum bag and pump for molding holsters. Wondered what your experience good, bad, or indifferent was. I've had pretty good luck with it myself after working out a few bugs.

[MBOGO]

I was just thinking about this the other day. Also thought that it could be used to seal the sidearm to make a mold, to cast a replica.

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

Could we see some pics of your results? I have heard of this before, but I've never seen the results. Thanks!

Edited March 27, 2009 by BOOMSTICKHolsters

[MBOGO]

Yes please, and bugs and pointers...

[Denster]

Hadn't thought of that. Might work with one of the seal a meal devices. What I was refering to though was one of the vacuum presses as used to glue veneer to a base wood. Basically mine is a 2ftX2ft heavy vynal bag.The bag has a closing device on one end and a air evacuation connection in the center. I use a 2.5cfm vacuum pump and can pull 30mhg. This size bag can do two holsters at once and really puuls the leather down.

Boomstick: I'll get some pictures in the morning of the results and of the outfit.

[woolfe]

I found this on using vacuum bags. It's reply # 14

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=5106.new

I may have to try it out.

[TwinOaks]

The only downside to using a 'seal a meal' type device is that if you're not careful, you end up with little grid marks all over the leather. The commercially available bags all have little micro channels for air passage in one side of the bag.

If you try this, be dang sure you have a dowel taped in place for a sight channel.

[rdb]

If you go up to the right hand corner of your window, and click on search "vacuum", you will find a page full of discussions similar to this, including pictures of some molding setups.

[Jordan]

I have used the foodsaver to mold a couple, it works except for the crosshatch marks from the bags, solved by using a ziploc inside the foodsaver bag.

[Denster]

Boomstick: Here are the pictures you requested. That is if I did this right. One is a Sig226R holster finished the detail is just as it came from the bag. The two pocket holsters just came out of the bag at a reduced vacuum as i did not want a real tight mold on a pocket holster. There are a couple of pics of the bag and pump.

rdb: I did the search you refered to before I tried this. No one had mentioned this type of outfit basically it related to seal-a meal and a few post on a vacuum table. Different animal same principal.

Jordan: I originally started heading this direction after a post I read of yours regarding your use of a foodsaver. I tried that and it works after a fashion. Big drawback is the bags with their air channels, lack of power, etc. Think of this as a foodsaver on steroids. Read that lots of steroids.

I'd really like to see some photos of holsters that have been hydraulically pressed as they came out of the press to compare the amount of detail brought up by each method. One plus I hve found with this method is that some fine details can be worked through the bag while it is still under vacuum whithout any chance of marring the wet leather.

If anyone is interested I'll post some tips and tricks with this method later. Ig I don't get to the shop and get some work done my btter half is going to KA.