First Post

[SooperJake]

I've found the best variety of real bone tools can be found through book binding suppliers. They won't just have one or two, but many shapes and styles.

Here is one company for example http://www.hollanders.com

Go to their bone folders section under "small tools".

Interestingly, I see many of these sites have bone folders made out of teflon. I want to try one of these but one site says they are "teflon- like ptfe".

Jake

Edited September 1, 2012 by SooperJake

[SooperJake]

Okay, got it dyed. I think it looks better. As katsass stated, I know the first picture made the stitching look rough. It's not as bad as it seemed. I do think it needs more stitching though. Looks pretty bare.

dyed holster

tooling on the wings would be cool...

Jake

[JeffChastain]

Thanks for the link, Jake. Those are alot cheaper than I had expected.

I bought a tooling kit a bit ago, and figured out quickly that tooling is harder than it looks. I can't decide if I want to put belt loops on this for IWB, or if I want to punch out slots for OWB. If I did it OWB, I could tool on the wings a little.

I noticed in particles video where he is boning the 1911 avenger that he uses the pear shader to work the trigger guard area. What I didn't notice is, is that pear shader smooth on the bottom? The only pear shader that I have is textured.

[particle]

Yes, my pear shader is smooth.

[dickf]

Looks like a really nice start, Jeff!

Loads better than my first...or second!

[JeffChastain]

Thanks for responding, particle. I reckon I should look for one of those. I've been pressing the butt of my edging tool into the trigger guard area.

Thanks, Dickf. I'm going to try a more traditional OWB pattern tomorrow, and I'm hoping it'll look alot better than this one does.

Also, I decided to punch out slots on this one. The stitching around the slots definitely look like an afterthought. But, I'm fairly happy with the first attempt on real tooling leather.

Particle, one more question and I swear I'll stop picking your brain. In your videos, is that a single oblong tool to punch out belt slots?

[particle]

No problem - yeah, that's a punch from Texas Custom Dies. Weaver carries some nice ones that have a high polish and are sharp when they arrive (but the slots are pretty narrow). My TCD punches took a lot of work to sharpen, and the shoulders are still way too thick to easily punch through thick leather. Maybe they've gotten better since I bought mine a couple years ago.

Edited September 1, 2012 by particle

[dickf]

I use the press for the tcd punch - smooth slots every time.

Best $60 I've spent on a single tool.

[SooperJake]

I use the press for the tcd punch - smooth slots every time.

Best $60 I've spent on a single tool.

Does TCD make their punch oversize? I know Shooter had his custom made through Weaver's, so the slot was wider and a smidge longer than a 1.5" belt width. 3/8" x 1.6" I think he told me. I have the Osborne. I was hoping the inside was tapered so I could grind it back to open it up, but it isn't.

Jake

[dickf]

Does TCD make their punch oversize? I know Shooter had his custom made through Weaver's, so the slot was wider and a smidge longer than a 1.5" belt width. 3/8" x 1.6" I think he told me. I have the Osborne. I was hoping the inside was tapered so I could grind it back to open it up, but it isn't.

Jake

They make them to your specs. I had mine made slightly larger than 1.5 x .25.