Using A Press To Mold Holsters?

[hestes]

Hey, all! I have seen it mentioned a couple of times that some people use a press to mold their holsters. For those of you that do that, what does your setup look like?

Thanks!

Haley

[PappyUSA]

2 pieces of 3/4" plywood matching your foam.

4 large C claps will do but the cheap clicker press that Weaver sell is best. About 300.00 bucks.

I've also done small holsters with just a bench vice.

Edited July 17, 2013 by PappyUSA

[Jeff L]

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-shop-press-33497.html

[Jeff L]

I use a couple of pieces of plywood with some 1 inch neoprene foam in the above harbor freight 12 ton press.

[Dwight]

I quit using a press, . . . use a vacuum system now that I like better, . . .

But here is my old press that worked fine.

I quit using it because I'm getting so many of these plastic guns, . . . and I figured that some day I'd smash one, . . . takes a bite out of the old profit margin.

The press is made of 2 x 4's bolted together, . . . and an 8 ton jack, . . . was way more than necessary for the job.

The key is the two brown layers, . . . gum rubber, 1 inch thick, 40 durometer hardness, . . . cost me about a hundred bucks from McMaster-Carr (goggle em).

All in all, . . . I had something like $130 in the first holster I pressed out with it. If you are only using steel guns or "blue" guns, it is OK, . . . but if you are doing Glocks or XD's or some of the other plastic fantastic shooters, . . . just be careful.

May God bless,

Dwight

[olds cool]

That's a nice little press Dwight and I've got everything but the rubber sitting in the garage. You think some of the closed cell camping mats would work? I've got one that a little harder, not like those soft Yoga mats or wrestling mat softness.

[Jeff L]

This is the foam I use. I get the 1 inch thick stuff in the 1/4 sheet = 6 squares about 11 1/2" square. for like 3 bucks they will cut it into 6 squares for you... Stuff lasts a long time. I use 2 pieces on each side of the holster.

http://foamforyou.com/neoprene.htm#Neoprene High Quality

[Eagle Crest]

i use a couple of pieces of closed cell foam. get the holster wet put the gun in and i sandwich it between the two pieces of foam and sit on it. very crude but it works. obviously if you are girth challenged it might not work as well. i have also used a couple of slabs of wood clamped together instead of using my body weight.

[cgriff54]

Warning!! Newb Question:

Is this an alternative to hand forming a holster with a boning tool? What are the advantages / disadvantages of press forming. Would this work for a flat back holster? I have no experience with leather working unless you count my Boy Scout years, many moons ago.

[Dwight]

Warning!! Newb Question:

Is this an alternative to hand forming a holster with a boning tool? What are the advantages / disadvantages of press forming. Would this work for a flat back holster? I have no experience with leather working unless you count my Boy Scout years, many moons ago.

Yes, . . . a good alternative.

Advantage: much quicker, and deeper detail, . . . disadvantage, you can ruin the gun if you get heavy with the press.

Yes it works with flat backed holsters, . . . just put something solid under the back.

And be careful of the medium you use. I tried some open cell foam, . . . wound up with a holster that looked like open cell foam instead of leather.

The faces touching the holster need to be as smooth as the leather, no lines, no blemishes, etc. Lines, blemishes, marks, . . . they will all transfer.

There is a learning curve in using a press. Bad decisions will gain you experience with a press, . . . experience you only learn from bad decisions.

Good luck, . . . !!!

May God bless,

Dwight