Prices Seem Too High

[woodknack]

Id like to get into making some stuff out of leather. Originally wanted to make a holster for my Ruger Single Six. But after I look around on the net for holsters for my S S , it seems like I can buy one far more cheaper then making one. Just the price of leather sometime is the cost of a new holster? I don't get it. I'd like to get into this hobby but not sure if it is worth it if I can just buy one a lot cheaper then making it myself. And I am sure if I bought a holster it would be 10 times better then anything I could make right off the bat. I'd have so much time and money in leather and tools that I don't think it is worth it? Or am I missing something? For example: Can you build a holster like this and sell it for this kind of money? Or even buy the materials for that price?

Cabelas holster

Or check this one out

another one

Unless maybe there is a place you can buy leather cheap??

In today's economy Im looking for the most cost effective way to do things. No more throwing my money away.

So can someone tell me how making your own holster without breaking the bank? Or am I just better looking around for the best deal and buy it already made?

Thanks for all and any help..

Woodknack

[JLSleather]

I think you're on to something here. Those of us who work with leather already have most of the tools we need, so our "cost" for a new holster is a chunk of leather, which is likely less than $20 for some really nice cowhide ('course, we buy $125 and cut it out).

If leathercraft is something you're interested in, then there is alot of information and assistance around here. If what you want is one holster, then you probably want to purchase a finished one. I'm not familiar with the ones you displayed. They certainly look good, but I have no idea about the quality. One note from the "odd" guy ... while I LIKE hand-crafted, I will NOT say that hand-made is necessarily better than "commercial". I cut with a knife, "they" cut with a die -- doesn't really matter.

[woodknack]

What got me into this, was a guy from work that had some tooling he has had for years and does not use anymore. So he gave them to me. I got onto Tandy's site and almost fell over when I saw some of the prices! If you priced everything out I would probably have close to $100.00 worth of tooling he gave me. Id still need more basic stuff to do what I want. Leather needle thread (to do holsters) etc... And after I looked at the cost of leather I got another shock! I don't want to fall into another hobby that cost me more money then I can get out of it. And seems like a long time before you get back your cost. Just erks me because when times are tough seems like stuff just gets more expensive. Its got to go the other way here soon I would think. Maybe I should just sell the tools and buy a holster!!

Edited April 5, 2010 by woodknack

[rdb]

There's no way to buy into leathersmithing on the cheap. As a hobby, it's like any other, you'll spend more money every week. I would not want to turn away anybody from taking it up, but there has to more than a desire to save money on products you see. Most foreign made stuff (probably that holster) is made from leather they get before us, and twice as cheap, and from labor paid well below our minimum wages. If they made it here in the US, they buy leather at the pallette price, click everything out on their expensive machinary, and sell so many they can reduce labor cost.

Now if you were resourcesful, you could make that holster by hunting for some leather scrap, picking up a couple needles, and some waxed thread, and using the tools given to you. After you made a posterboard pattern, cut it out, sew it by hand, and stamp your designs. Your cost then would only be your labor and thread. But sooner or later, you'll have to invest. There are plenty of vendors here to find leather a bit cheaper (some sell scraps, too), and better than a local Tandy, but you'll have to invest some research time on the Board, here, to see what you might want out of this as a hobby. You can save money AFTER you have invested. Takes money to save money. Most people in leatherworking, just have a deep down desire to make things. Things they can't buy elsewhere, or to make better versions of those things. What do you want to say: "I saved $10.", or "Look what I made." To say both means you spent a lot more money than it actually costs at the store.

just my 2 pennies, and I can barely afford them....lol

[woodknack]

There's no way to buy into leathersmithing on the cheap. As a hobby, it's like any other, you'll spend more money every week. I would not want to turn away anybody from taking it up, but there has to more than a desire to save money on products you see. Most foreign made stuff (probably that holster) is made from leather they get before us, and twice as cheap, and from labor paid well below our minimum wages. If they made it here in the US, they buy leather at the pallette price, click everything out on their expensive machinary, and sell so many they can reduce labor cost.

Now if you were resourcesful, you could make that holster by hunting for some leather scrap, picking up a couple needles, and some waxed thread, and using the tools given to you. After you made a posterboard pattern, cut it out, sew it by hand, and stamp your designs. Your cost then would only be your labor and thread. But sooner or later, you'll have to invest. There are plenty of vendors here to find leather a bit cheaper (some sell scraps, too), and better than a local Tandy, but you'll have to invest some research time on the Board, here, to see what you might want out of this as a hobby. You can save money AFTER you have invested. Takes money to save money. Most people in leatherworking, just have a deep down desire to make things. Things they can't buy elsewhere, or to make better versions of those things. What do you want to say: "I saved $10.", or "Look what I made." To say both means you spent a lot more money than it actually costs at the store.

just my 2 pennies, and I can barely afford them....lol

Thank you. I do love making stuff with my hands. Just money seems really tight right now. I'll keep combing the site looking for a good deal on some 8/9 leather to make the holster I want to try.

P.S. wouldn't you stamp your design before you sew it? Im new to this. but you wrote "After you made a posterboard pattern, cut it out, sew it by hand, and stamp your designs."

Edited April 5, 2010 by woodknack

[rdb]

Of course stamp then sew, sorry for my thought processes...I type faster than I think...lol

Call some of the vendors, they have scrap bundles, or pieces left over from their manufacturing. Work out a pattern, then just ask for a piece big enough...say as an example, 8" by 32". 8/9 oz leather is probably heavier than you need for a holster, more like 6/7oz.

I'm sure there's a lot of people here who will help out, once you decide to go for it.

[woodknack]

Of course stamp then sew, sorry for my thought processes...I type faster than I think...lol

Call some of the vendors, they have scrap bundles, or pieces left over from their manufacturing. Work out a pattern, then just ask for a piece big enough...say as an example, 8" by 32". 8/9 oz leather is probably heavier than you need for a holster, more like 6/7oz.

I'm sure there's a lot of people here who will help out, once you decide to go for it.

Thanks again. I was looking at one of the cowboy holsters on here. Says they made theres out of 8/9 ounce vegetable tanned leather. Looking to make something for my Ruger Single Six.

[Johanna]

There's no way to buy into leathersmithing on the cheap. As a hobby, it's like any other, you'll spend more money every week. I would not want to turn away anybody from taking it up, but there has to more than a desire to save money on products you see. ...Most people in leatherworking, just have a deep down desire to make things. Things they can't buy elsewhere, or to make better versions of those things. What do you want to say: "I saved $10.", or "Look what I made." To say both means you spent a lot more money than it actually costs at the store.

just my 2 pennies, and I can barely afford them....lol

Well said. Many people have said to me. "I'm not a professional- I just make things to finance more tools and leather." When a customer comes into the shop and wants a $100 item for $15 because that's what it costs at the Mart of Wal, well, drive down and get one. If I went to rdb's shop and said, "I want a holster to match my other gear, with a certain cant, an extra feature or two, and my name in neon." I'd get it. You can't get custom work from mass manufacturers, which is why some of us can still pay the bills on Friday.

If you want to take this up as a hobby, nah, it ain't cheap. It is satisfying and productive, and it feels good to combine function and form, like woodworking. If you want to be a professional, you have to work twice as hard at sales as the plumber or the electrician because the customer can go buy a nylon cheapie mass-produced boring item at a fraction of the cost, and the house isn't flooding or dark, so the customers are not as desperate.

I encourage you to explore leatherworking. You have a start on tools, and an interest, and you always have us if you have a question. We're the unofficial "leatherworkers support group", all bitten by the leather bug, and we have meetings every night in the chat room. We know we're addicted, so we just try to help each other improve our work. When we figure out how to save money at it, we get all excited. Click the retailer ads at the top of the page to get more info. They are known for working with their customers above and beyond the call of duty.

When you start making things that please you, you'll be hooked. But don't worry, you're in a good crowd.

Johanna

[joet]

Id like to get into making some stuff out of leather. Originally wanted to make a holster for my Ruger Single Six. But after I look around on the net for holsters for my S S , it seems like I can buy one far more cheaper then making one. Just the price of leather sometime is the cost of a new holster? I don't get it. I'd like to get into this hobby but not sure if it is worth it if I can just buy one a lot cheaper then making it myself. And I am sure if I bought a holster it would be 10 times better then anything I could make right off the bat. I'd have so much time and money in leather and tools that I don't think it is worth it? Or am I missing something? For example: Can you build a holster like this and sell it for this kind of money? Or even buy the materials for that price?

Cabelas holster

Or check this one out

another one

Unless maybe there is a place you can buy leather cheap??

In today's economy Im looking for the most cost effective way to do things. No more throwing my money away.

So can someone tell me how making your own holster without breaking the bank? Or am I just better looking around for the best deal and buy it already made?

Thanks for all and any help..

Woodknack

If and when you do decide to stay with leather crafting, you could save money in the long run if you apply for a wholesale club. There is at least a 10% savings on most items, and sometimes you can get even more, depending on what you buy. Tandy has two prices for their wholesale club; the gold card is $35.00 a year and then there is their wholesale club - Elite that costs $150 a year. If you get the Elite card, there is a 50% savings on merchandise. Check your nearest store or go back on-line and apply there. Springfield Leather Co. also has a wholesale club.

[woodknack]

Well said. Many people have said to me. "I'm not a professional- I just make things to finance more tools and leather." When a customer comes into the shop and wants a $100 item for $15 because that's what it costs at the Mart of Wal, well, drive down and get one. If I went to rdb's shop and said, "I want a holster to match my other gear, with a certain cant, an extra feature or two, and my name in neon." I'd get it. You can't get custom work from mass manufacturers, which is why some of us can still pay the bills on Friday.

If you want to take this up as a hobby, nah, it ain't cheap. It is satisfying and productive, and it feels good to combine function and form, like woodworking. If you want to be a professional, you have to work twice as hard at sales as the plumber or the electrician because the customer can go buy a nylon cheapie mass-produced boring item at a fraction of the cost, and the house isn't flooding or dark, so the customers are not as desperate.

I encourage you to explore leatherworking. You have a start on tools, and an interest, and you always have us if you have a question. We're the unofficial "leatherworkers support group", all bitten by the leather bug, and we have meetings every night in the chat room. We know we're addicted, so we just try to help each other improve our work. When we figure out how to save money at it, we get all excited. Click the retailer ads at the top of the page to get more info. They are known for working with their customers above and beyond the call of duty.

When you start making things that please you, you'll be hooked. But don't worry, you're in a good crowd.

Johanna

Thanks!