Mag Holder Problem

[steelhawk]

I made a magazine holder for a 9mm double stacked mag. It was tight at first, but now has loosened up more than I like. How do I make one that stays tight enough that the magazine doesn't slip out. Maybe I allowed too much extra leather, but I am not sure.

[Ferg]

I made a magazine holder for a 9mm double stacked mag. It was tight at first, but now has loosened up more than I like. How do I make one that stays tight enough that the magazine doesn't slip out. Maybe I allowed too much extra leather, but I am not sure.

Did you wet form?

ferg

[steelhawk]

I did wet form, and I thought it was a good one, but it has loosened up. That's why I was wondering if I used too much leather, or maybe didn't do something in the process after wet forming.

[Dwight]

You may have some luck if you wet it down again with very hot water, . . . and heat/force dry. Stay below 130 or so degrees though.

Sometimes it is just enough shrinking to make the project work again.

Sometimes it don't work.

Sometimes it ruins the project beyond salvaging.

May God bless,

Dwight

[NoahL]

I would follow Dwight's advice--when I force-dry my work I usually just stick it in my car in the sun, which works quite well here in Phoenix because it gets to just the right temperature during the summer. You might have similar luck there in Utah if you are near the desert.

By the way, is DefensiveCarry down for you? I haven't been able to get to it for days!

[katsass]

I made a magazine holder for a 9mm double stacked mag. It was tight at first, but now has loosened up more than I like. How do I make one that stays tight enough that the magazine doesn't slip out. Maybe I allowed too much extra leather, but I am not sure.

steelhawk, I agree with Dwight.......IF your finish will allow it. I live in a desert area where the temp of the sandy ground surface can hit 140 degrees frequently. I force dry my stuff just by sitting it in the sun on a small block of wood just off the ground, but the average humidity here is in the low teens up to about 20%........not quite like Phoenix is anymore. (I was there in the early 60's and it was hot and DRY in the summer......not much of the monsoon was evident back then, and there was desert between Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Scotsdale etc. back then) If you are in the western portion of Utah, you may be able to do either my way or NoahL's way, otherwise you may need to make a drying cabinet of some sort. I suspect that you allowed a little too much for the thickness of your leather however. I make 'em pretty tight, wet mold and force dry. They will also loosen slightly, but not enough to worry about. Mike

[steelhawk]

Thanks. I will re-wet it in hot water and stick it in the car to dry out and see what happens. It looks like I will need some kind of drying cabinet as well. I'll search the forums, but if anyone has plans or a source, I would appreciate a link.

[katsass]

Thanks. I will re-wet it in hot water and stick it in the car to dry out and see what happens. It looks like I will need some kind of drying cabinet as well. I'll search the forums, but if anyone has plans or a source, I would appreciate a link.

A drying cabinet can be as easy as a fair sized cardboard box with a hole in it to allow a blow dryer or heat gun (on low heat) to put hot air into it. You want the air to circulate so a couple of small holes to allow the air to exit is a good idea. Just don't direct the hot air directly on the project. You can go from there to as fancy as you want. Mike

Edited August 3, 2010 by katsass

[steelhawk]

Well, I soaked it in hot water and put it in the oven briefly, monitoring the temp so it didn't get too hot. It is definitely tighter. I also did an old holster at the same time, but haven't found out the results yet for it.

I'll definitely be making or buying some kind of oven or drying cabinet in the near future. Today I am going to buy a round knife using the money from my first holster sale.

Edited August 4, 2010 by steelhawk

[Rayban]

A retired LEO tells me he had much better luck with a pancake style mag holder, rather than the type we're discussing here. The tightening of the belt seemed to tighten the leather around the mags too.