A Couple Of New Holsters Kimber Solo

[Denster]

How do you guys get such clean accent lines on your holsters? Are you using something akin to a stylus? How do you get such a clean "V" shape like on that avenger holster without burnishing?

I use a vacuum bag to form the holster and bone the details through the bag while it is under vacuum. The tools I use most are a polished deer antler tine, and a rounded end bent tip real bone folder. Detail boning through the bag reduces the amount of pressure I have to use to bring up the detail and there is no problem with burnishing.

Without useing the vacuum, the way I used to do it, was to dampen the leather and when the natural color started to return open the holster and insert the gun and form the gross details with my thumbs. Then I put it between two gum rubber pads in my shop press and pressurized it. This brought up some of the finer detail that I accented with the same tools I mentioned. If the leather is still too damp you will have burnishing. Most folks use way to much moisture and that causes a lot of problems. No matter the method when I wet the leather I have a sink full of warm water with a couple of drops of dish washing liquid to breeak the surface tension. With leather under 8OZ I just give it a one second dip. Heavier leather gets two seconds and drum dyed gets five seconds. I then let it sit for four or five minutes until the surface color comes back. The soaking that a lot of folks do may have some use in molding for cases over forms and such but not for holsters. YMMV

[mattsh]

Nice Job Denster