Dyeing Holsters

[Aaron B]

What about coating the thread with paraffin wax? I don't know much about holsters or stitching, but I did work in a shoe repair shop. The wax helps get a nice shine, but it also acted to seal in (or out) dyes and polish.

[particle]

How do you guys keep your thread white? I have been dyeing my holsters last and most of my holsters to date have been black/black thread or just natural oiled with white thread. Now I'm getting into some different colors so I've experimented with dyeing first, then glue together, then stitch, then wetform but after wetforming my dye is visible on the white stitching. I only left the dye dry about 24 hours, this maybe part of my problem if I were to guess. I'm using Fiebings spirit dyes.

I'll try letting it dry longer, but any other tips or tricks?

I dye before any assembly too. When you say your dye is visible on the white stitching - how much dye transfers? Does the thread go from white to brown and/or gray? Or from white to maybe "natural" thread color? I get slight transfer, but not so much that I worry about it. Usually my white thread turns out looking like natural thread (or maybe a slight grayish tint on black holsters). But you have to hold the two (white and natural) side by side to tell the difference. I also use Fiebings, but I buy the Pro dyes. I can't wax the thread because I'm machine stitching.

[billymac814]

I dye before any assembly too. When you say your dye is visible on the white stitching - how much dye transfers? Does the thread go from white to brown and/or gray? Or from white to maybe "natural" thread color? I get slight transfer, but not so much that I worry about it. Usually my white thread turns out looking like natural thread (or maybe a slight grayish tint on black holsters). But you have to hold the two (white and natural) side by side to tell the difference. I also use Fiebings, but I buy the Pro dyes. I can't wax the thread because I'm machine stitching.

My thread turns about natural, It's not too bad, I can deal with it if thats the way it's going to be. It's fine up until I wetmold the holster. I haven't tried it with the oil dyes, I have some but the smell of it really bothers me when I airbrush it on so I usually just use the spirit dyes. It doesn't sound like it would make much of a difference anyway if ours turn about the same color. I think letting it dry a little longer may have more of an affect than anything else although I haven't tried it yet. I did get another order for white thread so I'll give that a shot. I'm using the Boss as well now so I don't wax my thread anymore either.

[olliesrevenge]

Have any of you Boss users tried the 'Tippmann Lubricant Box' , w/ their silicone thread lubricant?

I haven't, I'm just curious if it improves stitch quality and/or helps prevent dye transfer to the thread.

[billymac814]

I haven't tried it, I thought about it but I thought I remember hearing that it wasn't really needed but I don't know the reason. I doubt it would hurt.