Newbie Holster Pics, Please Critique

[Bronson]

1) The holes end up appearing too close together compared to other holsters I've seen.

Doesn't the 7 spi overstitch wheel correspond to the 1/8" four prong diamond punch? I can't remember right now and am away from my workbench but I think that's what I was using.

2) I can't see the indentions made by the overstitch wheel very well, but a guy at Tandy recently told me that wetting the groove will help make the indention deeper. Will this cause waterstains on the leather though? How do I deal with that?

Over the course of building the holster you'll be spot wetting it a few times. Grooving, marking with the overstitch wheel, bevelling the edges, burnishing, forming, etc. I usually avoid water spots by re-moistening the entire holster before I dye it. I don't know how others are doing it but that's what's working for me.

the only way to do this seems to be to fold it over, glue it, then hammer the awl through both sides of the leather in a single punch.

Yup.

However, I have problems with the awl going through the first layer straight, and coming out the other side crooked, which makes my stitching lines look kinda raggedy.

Sounds familiar What helped me was more practice. I glued up a bunch of scrap pieces and practiced punching them. I did the same thing when I switched to using the diamond awl.

Another guy recommended using a drill press to make my holes, so there's no danger of getting it crooked.

Wasn't an option for me since I don't have a drill press so I just had to get better with the punches

And by the way I'm just finishing up using the last of the leather I got from Tandy. That stuff really is junk. Boomstick pointed me to this leather from Zack White which I'll be ordering soon.

I'm new at this whole thing and would take just about anybody elses opinions/advice here on LWDN over mine .....just so ya know.

Bronson

Edited May 28, 2009 by Bronson

[carljc72]

And by the way I'm just finishing up using the last of the leather I got from Tandy. That stuff really is junk. ...to this leather from Zack White which I'll be ordering soon.

Zack White customer service is A1. I will continue to order from them. Be careful you know what you are ordering because their single shoulders are tannery runs (ungraded). You could get a flawless peice of leather or you could get the opposite. No matter what, they want to serve their customers and will go above and beyond in my opinion. Just my $.02.

Carl

[Bronson]

they want to serve their customers and will go above and beyond in my opinion. Just my $.02.

Carl

Thanks Carl, that's good to know.

Bronson