Playing around with different finishes

[mliebs8]

Here's a pic of one of the holsters I did this weekend. I've been playing around with different finish<center>

<a href="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/mliebs8/DSCN2106.jpg" target="_blank">

<img src="<A href='http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/mliebs8/th_DSCN2106.jpg">http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/mliebs8/th_DSCN2106.jpg"></a>

<a href="<A href="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/mliebs8/DSCN2105.jpg">http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/mliebs8/DSCN2105.jpg" target="_blank">

<img src="<A href='http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/mliebs8/th_DSCN2105.jpg">http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/mliebs8/th_DSCN2105.jpg"></a>

</center>es and really like this one alot. Thanks to Boomstick this stuff is starting to come around.

[TracyMoss]

Only the top link is working.

[mliebs8]

For some reason my pictues never work on here, they always work on other websites. <center><img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/mliebs8/DSCN2106.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"><br><br><img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/mliebs8/DSCN2105.jpg" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"><br><br></center><center><a href="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/mliebs8/DSCN2105.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k56/mliebs8/th_DSCN2105.jpg"></a></center>Ok last try.

[TracyMoss]

Edited March 9, 2008 by TracyMoss

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

Hop you don't mind if I take the liberty of reposting your pics for you. Try copying the text from the bottom line only when you post on this forum with photobucket.

So what were the finish types you tried this time, and how did you apply them? I also noticed the different stitch pattern on these two. What inspired the change?

Edited March 9, 2008 by BOOMSTICKHolsters

[mliebs8]

Well the finish I used this time was Angelus acrylic 600 (recommended by you). The interior was applied with a dauber but the outside was applied with an air brush. I'm extremely happy with the finish inside and out, this will be the only thing I'm going to use from now on. The edges were dyed then burnished with yankee wax (also recommended by you) and as a final treatment I did a light coat of edge coat. You can't tell from the pictures but my edges have never looked so good, this is the way I'll be doing them from now on. I stitch after I mould so I wanted to get close to the trigger guard and frame. I should have completed it around the trigger guard but I wasn't thinking.

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

I think it looks good. I think every holster you show us looks a little better than the last. What color brown is that?

BTW, I think the stitching pattern looks and works fine. I just wondered how you came to the decision to do it that way. Are you using an Artisan 3000 for your stitching? If you are going to stitch after you mold you may want to get brave someday and cut your presser foot smaller so you can get closer to the stitches.

Well, I tried to make a diagram of how it was shown to me to cut and round the edges of the presser foot, but it wouldn't show up right. If I were molding then stitching, I would also look into a holster plate.

Edited March 10, 2008 by BOOMSTICKHolsters

[Randyc]

Mike

You did a real nice job on your holsters. The finish looks great. I want to try Angelus dyes myself because I haven't been real happy with the results using Fieblings dyes.

I was also wondering how your IWB holsters rode? I've tried to build IWB holsters for short barreled, butt heavy Glocks. Because not enough of the holster is inside the waistband, they start to work themselves out of my waistband. I'm working on a new design. I plan to close off and stitch just below the barrel then, extend the length of the holster so more of it is below the belt. Perhaps I will use a duckbill shape towards the holster bottom to better conform to the hip.

Randy

[mliebs8]

Yes I'm using the Artisan 3000. I cut about 50% of the press foot off but it's still a pain to sew when it's moulded. I really need to grind the bottom of the inside presser foot off so it doesn't make marks on the corners, I'm putting a piece of felt under it now but sometimes I forget to do it. I get nervous sewing it at the end because I've been so close to being finished a couple of times and ended up making a mistake. Randy, I'm only using the Angelus finish. The leather I'm using is drum dyed so I don't have to die the exterior at all. The way it rides really depends on the gun, for the G26 if you go to deep you can't get a grip on the gun to pull it out of the holster because the butt is so short. I've made a few for my 3" 1911 and was able to have it deeper because of the bigger butt. Almost forgot, the color is Chestnut

[Srigs]

Good looking holster. I know what you mean on the 3000 and the walking foot leaving marks. I have only had my 3000 for a week and now have the tension right for the most part so it is working well now.

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

You can order a presser foot from artisan without the stitch groove built into it if you ask them about it. The "Tim Taylor" complex in me says I can make all the modifications myself, though......