It Is Not Easy But Boy Is It Fun

[Southernbeau]

Well that is my first attempt....boy oh boy do I have a lot to learn!

That said I am hooked I am already trying to figure out what to try next and how to make belts etc etc etc.

I made this "holster" with borrowed tools from a guy who made a leather knife sheath for a customer. He normally makes kydex sheaths, and said I could used the tools as long as needed. I didn't want to lay out cash on tolls only to find out I couldn't make a holster if my life depended on it. I am very aware I have a long way to go with lots of practice before I can even think about making something as beautiful as I have seen you guys/gals post here, but my intent is to try!

That said I have TONS of question such as what got you all started in leather work, and why holsters? I have always been of the opinion that you should "buy once cry once" so I want to get myself some good tools and good leather to keep on learning. The leather pictured above is terrible quality with all kinds of scars and rough spots, but again this was a trial run. I have been looking and reading and searching for a few weeks on this forum and am on page 59 of post in this section so far. What advice would you give me on beginning materials, tools, etc...? My wife and I have a few firearms and I want to attempt to make multiple style holsters for each. I have no illusions of selling these creations like many of you because I just don't think I have the artistry in me to achieve some of the results you all get. I would however very much like to be able to one day make something I'm proud to wear or give as a special gift.

I know I will not need the specialized Leather sowing machines and such, but I would very much appreciate some direction on what I should consider purchasing tools and materials wise. I know the basics like overstitch wheels, awls, edge bevelers, stitch groover, and __________???? The real question is where do I source quality tools? What do you wish you had when you got started?

Thanks

Best Regards

Joshua

[TacticallySharp]

Nice looking first holster, mine was not showable. I do mainly knife sheaths. Barry King tools are of high quality and worth every penny. They will keep their resell value should you later decide to sell them. LOL

I have also started a collection of about 150 or so Midas stamping tools, very good quality.

Burnishing is a key point most folks starting out kind of leave to the end. Get a good burnisher and learn to use it. Burnishing is the key to producing a product that is truly professional looking.

I use this one: http://www.leatherburnishers.com/Burnishers_for_Drills.html

Keep up the work, practice makes you better. You should see my "and I called this leather crafting box" keep your mistakes, I mean early creations gone bad items, it's fun to look at them as you get better at this. I still occasionally added a piece to the box.

Best wishes with your new hobby.

[katsass]

From the grump: Your questions take me back in time; The first piece of dead cow skin I ever messed with was when I needed a holster for my first handgun -- an S&W K-22. That was in the early '50's. I was 13 or 14. We had some skirting leather on the ranch and I saw some pictures of holsters in (probably) the American Rifleman. Started figuring and messing around and came up with sort of a pattern for a Mexican skirt holster. I had a good knife (needed in leatherwork) , ungainly and ugly, but it holds an edge. I still have it and use it. With that knife I cut the pattern, wet the hide down and folded things where they needed to be folded. I marked hole spacing for lacing (didn't know how to stitch, but found a spool of leather lace) with a table fork and punched holes with a nail. Laced that puppy up and carried that rig 'till I left the ranch -- and a step father -- at 17, when I graduated from High School. In the meantime I had learned to stitch and repair horse tack, still with very basic tools; a knife, an awl, needles, a gouge -- that was about the extent of things. What all this story says is that you CAN use some pretty rudimentary stuff to get a basic, usefull item done. My advice is to get a few books that cover the basics of construction with leather. Learn to stitch well, and how to 'work' leather. After that, if you wish to go on to tooling, stamping and carving, you can get books on that area. Each area of endeavor will require different tools, and the books by Al Stohlman (for example) will list those needed items better than a bunch of us can try to put together a list for you. Each of us do somewhat different things in our work, and rely on somewhat different tools, and each of us have our favorites well as favorite (and differing) methods. AND, if you are a southpaw like I am, that can really foul things up too. JMHO Mike.

[chiefjason]

I needed to get a holster for my wife's carry gun. I made a hybrid holster for it. Then moved into leather. I've only made about 6 all leather holsters and a ton of hybrid beltslides. I get all my materials from Springfield Leather at this point. I've been happy with the service from them. The thing I like best is you can order smaller pieces of leather instead of forking out a lot of money on a large piece. It's good for getting started. And yes, it's quite an addiction. I'm headed to work on some here soon.

Oh, and don't discount making your own tools. I've made a stitching pony, kydex press, several boning tools, a drying rack, and probably more. You don't have to buy everything. Try to understand what the tool does and how, then see what you have around. My boning tools are a deer antler and a few toothbrushes that have been sanded into shape. I've bought a few others since but the homemade one's find regular use still.

And that's a nice looking first holster.

And here is the tutorial that got me started. Lots of great info here. I was pointed here later.

http://www.shanewhitlock.com/photo/v/leather/holsters/tut/

[sgb]

Looks like you're off to a good start. I, like you spent a lot of time here reading and then just dove in with both feet. I'm learning as I go.

[Southernbeau]

Thanks for the responses, advice, and stories guys!!! I really like hearing how people got their start in hobbies and professions I have always found it interesting to hear how people get to where they are. I have decided to go slow and use what I can find around me until my skills (assuming they develop) surpass the capability of homemade or found implements. I did however place an order for a couple of horse butts from Springfield to keep me in material to mess around with for now. While I'm waiting on that to arrive I had enough scrap to make a matching mag carrier to the holster I made above. I see progress in the amount of time it took to complete and the finished product. I still have much to learn and practice though. Burnishing the edges of my work is still a huge weak spot, and I have been reading and re-reading the burnishing post here to get ideas and advice. I'm going to try and find what combo will work for me.

I think the next couple holsters I attempt will be a few pancakes for my 1911s, and another avenger style for my wife's PT111 millennium pro. If and that's a big if, those turn out I'm going to attempt something IWB.

QUESTION: Do any of you guys make your own dyes? I am obsessed with Will Ghormley's work and read through the step by step on his "Hand of God" rig and saw where he used rust permeated water to give that rig it's unique finish, and that got me wondering if anyone experiments with similar things or makes their own dye.

Another question I have is what kind of finish I should try if I want to seal the work but DO NOT want the "glassy" shinny look to the finished product? I'm looking for more of a satin finish if that makes sense.

Here is the mag carrier I made. And I'm completely open to advice, suggestions, criticism, etc...so please feel free and encouraged. (the dark spots in the tan coloring are just some areas that are still wet from forming it is not dry and those spots are gone...)

[chiefjason]

Something that really helped my burnishing was getting a round edger and getting the plastic bone folder/edger combo. The smooth finish on them really helps. Some of my tools were too rough edged to finish well. I also started mixing my own wax 50% paraffin from a block of it and 50% beeswax from a toilet seal. I might cut it 60/40 next time, the beeswax is still a bit too sticky for my liking. I also wet a bar of soap, put some on my finger, and rub it over the edge before applying the wax.

I make Vinagroon to color my holsters black. There are several great threads on it here. This is where I learned about it. For a mild tan you can use Neatsfoot oil. I want to look into using black walnuts at some point, I just need to get some.

IIRC, you can get some finishes in matte. I use mop and glo cut 50/50 with water and it's not terribly shiny. But I would not consider it matte either.

A couple of tools I am glad I purchased specifically for leather; an edger, harness needles, the round burnisher, and the plastic bone folder. I really like my dremel work station and variable speed dremel too.

[renegadelizard]

Thanks for the responses, advice, and stories guys!!! I really like hearing how people got their start in hobbies and professions I have always found it interesting to hear how people get to where they are. I have decided to go slow and use what I can find around me until my skills (assuming they develop) surpass the capability of homemade or found implements. I did however place an order for a couple of horse butts from Springfield to keep me in material to mess around with for now. While I'm waiting on that to arrive I had enough scrap to make a matching mag carrier to the holster I made above. I see progress in the amount of time it took to complete and the finished product. I still have much to learn and practice though. Burnishing the edges of my work is still a huge weak spot, and I have been reading and re-reading the burnishing post here to get ideas and advice. I'm going to try and find what combo will work for me.

I think the next couple holsters I attempt will be a few pancakes for my 1911s, and another avenger style for my wife's PT111 millennium pro. If and that's a big if, those turn out I'm going to attempt something IWB.

QUESTION: Do any of you guys make your own dyes? I am obsessed with Will Ghormley's work and read through the step by step on his "Hand of God" rig and saw where he used rust permeated water to give that rig it's unique finish, and that got me wondering if anyone experiments with similar things or makes their own dye.

Another question I have is what kind of finish I should try if I want to seal the work but DO NOT want the "glassy" shinny look to the finished product? I'm looking for more of a satin finish if that makes sense.

Here is the mag carrier I made. And I'm completely open to advice, suggestions, criticism, etc...so please feel free and encouraged. (the dark spots in the tan coloring are just some areas that are still wet from forming it is not dry and those spots are gone...)

+1 on the mop and glo...it works well for me...another thing I figured out after my first couple of holsters was simple, yet often overlooked...clean..like surgically clean hands when molding your leather...if its on your hands when you start, it will be on your holster when you finish...that and fingernails...cut them to nubs or you will leave nail gouges in your leather...good looking rig overall...and beware, before you know it, your whole house will smell of leather and you will have dreams (sometimes nightmares) of stiching...its really addictive...

[mlapaglia]

Feiblings "Leather balm and Atom wax" make a less than shiny finish. Kiwi neutral shoe polish rubbed in well with your fingers and then buffed with sheep skin wool is not as shiny. Satin Sheen is a satin finish from Tandy. THey also have a new Eco-Flo Professional Matte Finish that works well but really stinks. The smell goes away but I only use it outside. Very chemical smell.

I used to use Carnuba wax on leather years ago. We used Simonize car wax. I wouldnt use the new stuff but a goog carnuba wax should do the job. Carnuba is a very hard wax so if you can get the pellets you mix it 1 part carnuba, 1 part bees wax and 1 part neetsfoot oil. Melt it together and then rub into the leather with a hair dryer getting it warm as you go. Does a great job.

[UberSquid]

Feiblings "Leather balm and Atom wax" make a less than shiny finish. Kiwi neutral shoe polish rubbed in well with your fingers and then buffed with sheep skin wool is not as shiny. Satin Sheen is a satin finish from Tandy. THey also have a new Eco-Flo Professional Matte Finish that works well but really stinks. The smell goes away but I only use it outside. Very chemical smell.

I used to use Carnuba wax on leather years ago. We used Simonize car wax. I wouldnt use the new stuff but a goog carnuba wax should do the job. Carnuba is a very hard wax so if you can get the pellets you mix it 1 part carnuba, 1 part bees wax and 1 part neetsfoot oil. Melt it together and then rub into the leather with a hair dryer getting it warm as you go. Does a great job.

Getting ahold of Carnuba wax has been difficult but I've used a recipe that I got here on the forum with good results. Basically the same thing only using plain canning paraffin in place of the carnuba wax. The only drawback is that it does need to be retreated periodically. I picked up several small one ounce screw top tins from eBay and filled them with the mixture to give out with anything I treat with the mixture. I've also passed it out to friends and family.

It's cheap and easy to make, I just went to Goodwill and picked up every potpourri crock pot that they had and each one is used for a different wax melting task. I got one that holds a whole quart for mixing up beeswax paraffin and neetsfoot oil since I don't make it very often and fill as many tins as I can at a time.