Any Tips To Stiff Up My Holsters?

[Sixer]

Just like the title says... I'd like to get my holsters a bit stiffer than what i've been able to accomplish thus far. Not rock hard... but I've handled a few cowhide holsters from other commercial / custom makers that just feel more solid or rigid.

Any ideas or tips?

Thanks!

[particle]

While the holster is still damp from forming, but after you're done forming it.... place it in an oven at about 130 degrees for about 30-40 minutes (I place mine on parchment or wax paper on top of a pizza stone - do not place it directly on the metal rack in your oven), then remove and place in front of a fan to air dry overnight. I have been using Satin Sheen for a finish on my holsters - I've noticed if I apply it quite liberally so it soaks in pretty deep, I get an added amount of stiffness in the final product.

[rustyriggin]

This will be of no help what so ever, but there is a trick using denatured alcohol, that for the life of me I can't remember the dilution ratio of, but if anyone can tell you more about it, it does work.

[Lobo]

This will be of no help what so ever, but there is a trick using denatured alcohol, that for the life of me I can't remember the dilution ratio of, but if anyone can tell you more about it, it does work.

I don't know about denatured alcohol, but I have experimented with isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol, available just about anywhere for less than $2.00 per quart). This can be used in lieu of water for the wet forming process. Drying time is very short, so the molding and boning work needs to be done rapidly. Alcohol appears to have an effect on the collagens similar to heat (as described by Particle), resulting in a very rigid finished product.

Most recently I used this method to complete a rush order of 17 holsters and pouches for a federal agency. That order needed to be delivered in less than two weeks, including transit time. Working with two quarts of isopropyl alcohol in a bucket I got all the forming work done in about 3 hours, then I was able to proceed with finishing work almost immediately. That order went out the door 3 days after starting it and was delivered several days before the new pistols arrived, resulting in a happy customer.

Soaking a belt in isopropyl alcohol lets us get a good firm result easily and quickly. My drying cabinet won't accept belts (unless they are coiled up, which results in a permanent curvature), while the alcohol method allows hanging to dry in under an hour.

A word of caution: do not attempt to form with alcohol if you intend to use forced drying with heat; alcohol is flammable. Use one method or the other, not a combination of the two methods.

[katsass]

Just like the title says... I'd like to get my holsters a bit stiffer than what i've been able to accomplish thus far. Not rock hard... but I've handled a few cowhide holsters from other commercial / custom makers that just feel more solid or rigid.

Any ideas or tips?

Thanks!

I agree with Lobo. I've had good results with regular rubbing alcohol when needing to finish a project in a hurry, or in the winter. I don't force dry per se, (because I'm old and lazy and haven't made a proper drying cabinet) and in the winter I normally use the wood burner I use to heat the house to dry my stuff. I hang it from a beam up high above the stove. Up high it gets pretty warm. The 'magic' temp for drying a very firm holster is around 130 .... much over that and you'll toast your leather. Summertime I use old Ma Nature....here in the desert the ground temp will reach 140+ with no humidity. Holsters dry well a little off the ground with a desert 'therapeutic breeze' blowing. Mike

[Sixer]

I agree with Lobo. I've had good results with regular rubbing alcohol when needing to finish a project in a hurry, or in the winter. I don't force dry per se, (because I'm old and lazy and haven't made a proper drying cabinet) and in the winter I normally use the wood burner I use to heat the house to dry my stuff. I hang it from a beam up high above the stove. Up high it gets pretty warm. The 'magic' temp for drying a very firm holster is around 130 .... much over that and you'll toast your leather. Summertime I use old Ma Nature....here in the desert the ground temp will reach 140+ with no humidity. Holsters dry well a little off the ground with a desert 'therapeutic breeze' blowing. Mike

Thanks for the help! I have a few holsters that I'm making for myself over Thanksgiving break, so I'll give both the rubbing alcohol AND oven treatment a try. (Not at the same time of course )

I'll let you know how they turn out and which method gives me the best results. Happy Thanksgiving!