would this work?

[Drac]

let's see if I can describe this correctly now. here's what I'm thinking and want to know if it would work. if I take a 1x6, trace around the pistol and cut that out and mount the pieces to another piece of would (doing it twice so the pistol would be in a pocket), then tack the leather to the wood (after wetting and some light stretching) across the pocket area, then place the pistol (that's been placed in a plastic bag) in the pocket area and clamp the whole thing together, would it work?

[WaG35]

If you do that, I would round over the edges that are going to touch the leather with a router and then smooth them really well. I would think that if you don't do that you would scar up the leather pretty good. Beyond that, give it a shot. The worst that could happen is you could screw up 2 small pieces of leather.

[Beaverslayer]

You will also have to make the cutout in your wood a bit bigger to accomodate the thickness of the leather, and be sure to cut your leather a fair bit bigger than needed to allow for the bends and such.

I made the same type of press for Zippo Lighters, I used Maple becuase it is a hardwood, and didn't soak up as much water, making the press last a whole lot longer and there was not softening of the wood when I was clamping them together. Spruce, Pine and such will get very moist and soft, thus cuasing the impression to not be very distinct.

Ken

[Drac]

Ken, yep, was planning on cutting the pocket a little larger to accommodate the leather. just forgot to mention that in the idea post. thanks for the tip on the maple.

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

Drac, I'm not sure you will get much retention that way. There are so many abnormal surfaces on a handgun that the areas like the takedown lever or safety will bottom out against the wood before the thinner parts like the dust cover might not even get touched. Do you plan on making the pocket deep enough to mearly stretch the leather over the surface of the whole gun? That might work, but a moldeing press is a lot simpler solution. You only have to build it once and you can use it on any pistol. This other way it seems you will have to make a set of blocks for every different pistol. If I'm missing something here let me know.....that has been known to happen.

[Drac]

molding press? do tell! and nice work on your holsters, btw.

[broncobuster]

just an idea what i do is wrap the gun in seran wrap it forms to the gun you get better form to the gun that way if you use the gun to make your pattern.

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

molding press? do tell! and nice work on your holsters, btw.

Thanks. Let me show you a condensed version of how I mold my holsters.

1. Cut the pattern out, glue it, edge it, and mark the stitch lines.

2. Stitch the lines.

3. Wet the leather to prepare it for shaping and insert the dummy gun.

4. Place it in the molding press (mine is a twelve ton hydraulic jack with two 3/8" steel plates holding 1" thick peices of 40 durometer natural gum rubber)

to be continued......

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

5. SQUISH!!

6. Now you can see the basic lines of the gun. Some people stop right here.

7. If you want a sharper look, chase the lines with a boning tool.

8. Dry and finish your holster however you normally do.

The end

[Drac]

sweet! thanks! I'm sure everyone else will appreciate the tutorial too.