Members JoelR Posted February 12, 2012 Members Report Posted February 12, 2012 Earlier thread prompted this question. Been thinking of building a dedicated box but I'm not sure if I will gain anything as my fan dried holsters are pretty stiff as they are. Quote By the end of the show you start telling them you keep a few head of steers behind the house and go out and carve off a strip when you need it, it grows back in 5 or 6 weeks. - Art JR
Members NoName Posted February 12, 2012 Members Report Posted February 12, 2012 Only for rush items. Not for additional stiffness. I will reinforce with another material if stiffness or rigidity is required. I believe that the leather will break down and soften the same with time and usage whether heat dried or not. Quote Diapers and Politicians should be changed often... Both for the same reason!
Members Reaper Posted February 13, 2012 Members Report Posted February 13, 2012 don't see a point in it, imo Quote No sir, he fell into that bullet
Lobo Posted February 13, 2012 Report Posted February 13, 2012 I am in final finishing on 38 items now, and have completed well over 200 pieces since the first of the year. What I gain from heat drying is keeping production moving. For those making one item at a time there is little to be gained. For those with 10 to 12 (or more) pieces in progress at all times there is much to be gained. I am presently working on a new drying cabinet to accomodate up to a dozen pieces at once. The time savings will be considerable. Quote Lobo Gun Leather serious equipment for serious business, since 1972 www.lobogunleather.com
Members camano ridge Posted February 13, 2012 Members Report Posted February 13, 2012 Would you please post a picture of the drying cabinet when completed? Thanks Scott Quote https://www.facebook.com/CamanoRidgeCustomLeather?fref=ts
Members Steven Kelley Posted February 13, 2012 Members Report Posted February 13, 2012 Yes, I heat dry. I'm with Lobo on this one. It saves a huge amount of time when working on multiple items. My heat box is basically a plastic storage bin with a hole in one end and a small space heater with fan. I have an oven thermometer in it and it keeps the temp at a constant 120°-125°. The fan also keeps the air moving so the pieces dry very quickly. I would estimate it takes about 40 mins to completely dry a holster in the box. Mine is large enough to have at least 10 items in at once, but I seldom have more than 5 in at a time. At some point I'll make something a little nicer, but what I have works very well for now, and it was cheap. Quote
Members Eaglestroker Posted February 13, 2012 Members Report Posted February 13, 2012 I am in the process of building a cabinet similar to this: http://advancedsurvivalguide.com/2010/11/03/diy-build-a-forced-air-food-dehydrator/ I have tried the oven, heat guns, etc and all have worked well (minus the one time I friend one with a heat gun). I prefer to work in groups so being able to mold 10 holsters at the same time is the end goal here. Quote
Members woodandsteel Posted February 14, 2012 Members Report Posted February 14, 2012 I heat dry in a countertop convection/toaster oven. It does seems to harden the holsters a bit more than just air drying, but I could be imagining it. The bigger factor for me is dry time. I live in the humid south, and it would take days to dry otherwise. Quote
Members Dwight Posted February 15, 2012 Members Report Posted February 15, 2012 I only heat dry in the winter time, . . . over the wood stove during the day, . . . above the propane furnace at night. In the warmer months, . . . it all gets hung in the sun to dry. I will probably build a cabinet next fall, . . . but only if I am successful at building business more than it is now. May God bless, Dwight Quote If you can breathe, . . . thank God. If you can read, . . . thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a veteran. www.dwightsgunleather.com
Members Reaper Posted February 16, 2012 Members Report Posted February 16, 2012 Maybe I should clarify. I don't heat dry, I live in Florida and do much of my work in the Sun. That is why I do not see what use in using a drying box. Quote No sir, he fell into that bullet
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