Members J Hayes Posted March 16, 2012 Members Report Posted March 16, 2012 I'm new to this and have used Nyltex white, the wax on it turns real dark and dirty. I like the contrast of the white on dark. What do others use for hand stitching their holsters? Thanks Jeremy Quote
Members rkleather Posted March 16, 2012 Members Report Posted March 16, 2012 I've been using the white waxed thread from Tandy. It comes in a 25 yard spool. I also wear gloves that have been rubber dipped to save my fingers, also keeps thread pretty clean. I plan on getting a Boss, that should eliminate the thread from becoming dirty. Quote
Members katsass Posted March 16, 2012 Members Report Posted March 16, 2012 I'm new to this and have used Nyltex white, the wax on it turns real dark and dirty. I like the contrast of the white on dark. What do others use for hand stitching their holsters? Thanks Jeremy From the grumpy old guy; I hand stitch all of my work. I use dark brown, black, natural and white waxed linen threads for my work. For white I have found that the biggest problem comes from the darker (brown and black) dyed leather when stitching. The first thing to make sure of is that the dye job is dry! Like 24 hours to 48 hours (depending on your climate) dry. Then buff the hell out of the area to be stitched (if not the whole thing). Use a good sharp awl and go to town. A couple of holsters of mine done that way. Mike Quote NOTE TO SELF: Never try to hold a cat and an operating Dust buster at the same time!! At my age I find that I can live without sex..........but not without my glasses. Being old has an advantage.......nobody expects me to do anything in a hurry.
Members J Hayes Posted March 20, 2012 Author Members Report Posted March 20, 2012 Katass, Nice looking work! I really like the inlay one. Is using wax necessary? I have a new Bianchi that has twisted thread and there appears to be no wax at all. Jeremy Quote
Members katsass Posted March 20, 2012 Members Report Posted March 20, 2012 Katass, Nice looking work! I really like the inlay one. Is using wax necessary? I have a new Bianchi that has twisted thread and there appears to be no wax at all. Jeremy Well, it's just MHO, but I feel that waxed thread will not abrade as much while stitching (sort of acts as a lubricant),; will resist oils, moisture etc. which can ultimately degrade the stitching (rot it), and, since I was taught to stitch by an old WWI cavalry soldier (back when i was a kid) that said that the Army (back when) wouldn't accept any leather goods NOT hand stitched with waxed linen, I have stayed with it. The Bianchi holster was (most likely) stitched by machine, and waxed thread will gum up most machines --- so they don't use it. Most commercial makers use a synthetic thread like Nyltex. I've used it but went back to waxed linen for my stuff. Mike Quote NOTE TO SELF: Never try to hold a cat and an operating Dust buster at the same time!! At my age I find that I can live without sex..........but not without my glasses. Being old has an advantage.......nobody expects me to do anything in a hurry.
Members J Hayes Posted March 20, 2012 Author Members Report Posted March 20, 2012 Well, it's just MHO, but I feel that waxed thread will not abrade as much while stitching (sort of acts as a lubricant),; will resist oils, moisture etc. which can ultimately degrade the stitching (rot it), and, since I was taught to stitch by an old WWI cavalry soldier (back when i was a kid) that said that the Army (back when) wouldn't accept any leather goods NOT hand stitched with waxed linen, I have stayed with it. The Bianchi holster was (most likely) stitched by machine, and waxed thread will gum up most machines --- so they don't use it. Most commercial makers use a synthetic thread like Nyltex. I've used it but went back to waxed linen for my stuff. Mike What is it about the linen that you like? About the nyltex you dislike? What do you do to clean up the wax after stitching? I'm new to this so the help is much appreciated. Jeremy Quote
Members katsass Posted March 20, 2012 Members Report Posted March 20, 2012 What is it about the linen that you like? About the nyltex you dislike? What do you do to clean up the wax after stitching? I'm new to this so the help is much appreciated. Jeremy Well Jeremy, I don't clean it up AFER stitching, I do it prior to. I take a small piece of brown paper bag, (why this seems to work better than other paper I have no idea, but it does) I fold it in half, place the end of my thread into the crease and draw it through between my fingers. I do it twice, rapidly enough to feel a bit of warmth, and 'bingo', no excess wax. As to the nyltex, I just generally stay away from the synthetic theads of all kinds. I have found that under certain stresses, the synthetic threads will cut the leather much more quickly than will the natural linen. I'm just kind of a traditionalist in some ways I guess, but if waxed linen will hold up in holsters (what I generally make) for up to a hundred years or more, (as exeplified in the book "Packing Iron") well, it's good enough for me. Mike Quote NOTE TO SELF: Never try to hold a cat and an operating Dust buster at the same time!! At my age I find that I can live without sex..........but not without my glasses. Being old has an advantage.......nobody expects me to do anything in a hurry.
Members J Hayes Posted March 20, 2012 Author Members Report Posted March 20, 2012 (edited) Well Jeremy, I don't clean it up AFER stitching, I do it prior to. I take a small piece of brown paper bag, (why this seems to work better than other paper I have no idea, but it does) I fold it in half, place the end of my thread into the crease and draw it through between my fingers. I do it twice, rapidly enough to feel a bit of warmth, and 'bingo', no excess wax. As to the nyltex, I just generally stay away from the synthetic theads of all kinds. I have found that under certain stresses, the synthetic threads will cut the leather much more quickly than will the natural linen. I'm just kind of a traditionalist in some ways I guess, but if waxed linen will hold up in holsters (what I generally make) for up to a hundred years or more, (as exeplified in the book "Packing Iron") well, it's good enough for me. Mike I bet the paper bag has more absorbency, thanks for the tip, I will try it! I like your outlook on the thread too. Everything else is natural why not use natural thread too. Is there a size to the linen thread you use? Jeremy Edited March 20, 2012 by J Hayes Quote
Members katsass Posted March 20, 2012 Members Report Posted March 20, 2012 I bet the paper bag has more absorbency, thanks for the tip, I will try it! I like your outlook on the thread too. Everything else is natural why not use natural thread too. Is there a size to the linen thread you use? Jeremy I use 4 cord (strands) 5 and 7 cord, depending on what I'm stitching. 7 cord for the welt side of most holsters. Mike Quote NOTE TO SELF: Never try to hold a cat and an operating Dust buster at the same time!! At my age I find that I can live without sex..........but not without my glasses. Being old has an advantage.......nobody expects me to do anything in a hurry.
Members J Hayes Posted March 20, 2012 Author Members Report Posted March 20, 2012 (edited) I use 4 cord (strands) 5 and 7 cord, depending on what I'm stitching. 7 cord for the welt side of most holsters. Mike The holsters you did above, 7 cord at 6 stitches per inch? Jeremy Edited March 20, 2012 by J Hayes Quote
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