How Much Pressure To Apply To Holster Mold

[hatcreek]

I have the same press. I use 3/4" 40 gum rubber on the bottom and 2 - 1" pieces on the top. I pump it until I hear the frame on my press start to groan. That's not actually what I use to gauge it, more feel, but that coincides with what I am doing. If I go to hard it can ruin the nice grain look on the leather.

The only time I've broken a mold is when (I think this is what I was doing,quite a while ago) I had the mold on a hard surface with rubber on top. With nothing to support the trigger guard underneath it cracked it.

It does a pretty good job of pressing it down close to the slide, though I don't leave a lot of room with my stitch lines.

I'm anxious to try vacuum forming someday. Time and money.

You have the type of forming that I am looking for around the edges. I will keep trying to increase pressure. How wet is your leather when you are forming it. Mine was wet, then set to dry until it dry to the touch but still cold and very flexible.

[Denster]

Okay, here are a few photos of what I did the night before last.

One is before any pressing and the other is after pressing. The last, is the holster in the press to try to show the force.

I did not put alot of pressure on it, just untill it got tight.

I am only using 1/2 inch rubber on top and bottom.

Another possible issue is that my top steel plate is not mounted to the ram. I am not sure if this is good, bad or does not matter.

Thanks for the input,

Jim

I am suprised they did not give more detail, guess it is a case of CYA.

Thanks for looking into it for me, i appreciate it!.

Those appear to be 1" thick pads not 1/2". The setup you are using will work fine but better if you center the thickest part of the gun under the ram. It will come down more evenly . You have exposed the lines of the gun on the exterior and that is about as much as you can accomplish with the pads and press. You then have to chase those lines with your boning tools.

[hatcreek]

Those appear to be 1" thick pads not 1/2". The setup you are using will work fine but better if you center the thickest part of the gun under the ram. It will come down more evenly . You have exposed the lines of the gun on the exterior and that is about as much as you can accomplish with the pads and press. You then have to chase those lines with your boning tools.

Yep, you are right they are 1 inch. Cool, looks like I am one the right track then.

[BigRiverLeather]

You have the type of forming that I am looking for around the edges. I will keep trying to increase pressure. How wet is your leather when you are forming it. Mine was wet, then set to dry until it dry to the touch but still cold and very flexible.

I wet the leather under HOT water from the faucet for 5-10 seconds, depending on the weight of the leather. I usually don't wait too long until it goes in the press, usually a couple of minutes, long enough for me to get my things together and let the water set in the leather. After it comes out of the press (I only leave it in the press for a minute or two) then I let it sit for a while until the surface shows signs of drying, then I do my hand boning.

I think having 2" of rubber on top and 3/4" on the bottom helps. I also cut my top piece of leather larger than my bottom piece which creates a "hump" of leather for the pistol to slide in. This also helps keep the back of the holster flatter.

Edited August 7, 2011 by BigRiverLeather

[PHIPPS CRAFTED LEATHER]

I have a question about pressure moulding too. I have always just used my hands and I like the results, but have been wondering about making a vacum press using a small vacum pump and a homemade chamber. If you look at modeling web sites you can make a vacum chamber easily. My question is I realize it will remove the air from the chamber and I assume suck the water out of the leather, but my concern is that it may really shrink the leather to much. Anybody else have this idea?

[Denster]

I have a question about pressure moulding too. I have always just used my hands and I like the results, but have been wondering about making a vacum press using a small vacum pump and a homemade chamber. If you look at modeling web sites you can make a vacum chamber easily. My question is I realize it will remove the air from the chamber and I assume suck the water out of the leather, but my concern is that it may really shrink the leather to much. Anybody else have this idea?

A vacuum chamber will not serve for molding holsters. You need a bag made of poly preferably for it's strength and flexibility. When the gun and holster are placed in the bag and it is sealed and a vacuum establilshed the outside air pressure forms the bag around the gun and holster effectively pressing it. With the polybag I can bone the details into the holster right through the bag with a lot less pressure as the bag conforms to hold the detail so there is no danger of burnishing the leather. Some moisture is removed fro the leather during this process but not enough to amount to anything.

In a chamber there is nothing forming the leather around the holster it will just be the same, maybe a little drier when you remove it.

With the bag the outside air pressure is the force, roughly 17.5 lbs /sqin depending on your locations altitude above sea level.

[hatcreek]

I think I will try the Hot water next and see what that does for me, but not to Hot.

Once, I tried to soak the leather in Black tea before a vinegron bath. I guess I was a little anxious and did not let the Tea cool enough. It was like a shrinky dink, the leather shrank up it 1/4 of the original size. It was about 2 minutes after boiling the Tea. Lesson learned.

Any idea on where to get 2 inch rubber for a better price?

Thanks for the help.