Pricing Holsters

[katsass]

Charles, as to thread I use only waxed linen thread. I also use #1 sized needles and my stitch holes are no bigger than 3/64". Been using that stuff for 35+ years. You are using the Eco Flo dyes which, if I'm not mistaken, are water based dyes. When you apply a water based acrylic finish such as Super Sheen with a wool dauber, shearling swatch, foam paint brush, or a chunk of an old T-shirt, you are re-moistening the dye(?) and moving it around as you do your best to apply an even coat of finish. I only use a solvent based dye - Fiebing's or Angeles dyes are most likely the best. It appears that you are stuck on Tandy's for the purchase of your supplies. A suggestion, Call or e-mail Springfield Leather and get one of their catalogs. Then you can see what a true leather supplier looks like. Mike

[charlescrawford]

Mike - thanks for the info yes the Eco flo dies are water based. The reason I stay with those has been because of my asthma. When I say it's sensitive I mean it. Last winter I got a new pair of cowboy boots for Christmas. Before I wear cowboy I always waterproof spray them usually Justin brand since all my boots are Justin's. It was 10F outside so I waterproofed them inside in our big bathroom with the exhaust fan on door open and a floor fan. Within 5 min I was in an attack and spent the next month doing breathing treatments every couple hours. Now fumes and anything like that send my lungs into a fit. So that's why I have to be careful. The ecoflo dyes have no fumes.

[camano ridge]

Charles, the Eco Flo Professional Waterstains are on page 140 of the 2014 Tandy catalog. The matte or Gloss is on their finsh not the dye. The Ecvo Flo Pro waterstains are water based and dilute with water. The resoline is Fiebings however the Tandy that I shop at carries it.

[Red Cent]

I just bought this from Zack White Leather in Ramseur, NC. Works very well. Gives a semi gloss to leather. A little shine but not glassy. Some customers like the shine and it is a sealer.

http://www.zackwhite...art_p_2012.html

[GrampaJoel]

Charles, I'll post a couple of pictures to indicate the points I'm trying to make.

The saddle in the picture is of basic Sheridan carving style. See the circles that encompass the flowers? That's the pattern style of the Sheridan style of leather carving. It gets pretty complicated sometimes.

The holster to the left of the saddle is of a old 1880's style holster. Nice flower pattern, but not Sheridan style. More turn of the century style.

As this next holster is viewed. Notice how it's carved style is similar to your pattern. Basically a Al Stohlman west coast style. A very easy on the eye style, but again, not Sheridan style. Usually incorporates west coast acorns somewhere in the design.

Look these items over and I'll be back later.

Edited October 22, 2013 by GrampaJoel

[charlescrawford]

Charles, I'll post a couple of pictures to indicate the points I'm trying to make.

The first picture is of basic Sheridan carving style. See the circles that encompass the flowers? That's the pattern style of the Sheridan style of leather carving. It gets pretty complicated sometimes.

The next photo is of a old 1880's style holster. Nice flower pattern, but not Sheridan style. More turn of the century style.

As this next holster is viewed. Notice how it's carved style is similar to your pattern. Basically a Al Stohlman west coast style. A very easy on the eye style, but again, not Sheridan style. Usually incorporates west coast acorns somewhere in the design.

Look these items over and I'll be back later.

So I have the book Sheridan style carving by Likewise and several things by Chan Geer. I also have Bob Parks book and a bunch of Stohlman books. I understand about the circles and so forth but I was under the impression that Under sheridan there were different sub genre if you will like northwest. I always thought what Stohlman did was a variation of within sheridan. I guess I have been way off. Thanks for explaining things I never knew this stuff

[Josh Ashman]

Charles,

You're getting some great advice and I pretty much agree with everything Mike, Grampa Joel and Camano Ridge have already offered you. I'll throw in a few thoughts of mine regarding dyeing and finishing as food for thought.

You can get some very nice color in your projects without dying at all. Consider putting several light coats of neatsfoot oil on your work with a few hours of sunshine between each coat. If you do this and have your leather cased right when you stamp/carve it you'll have darker impressions and a nice golden brown color. You also won't have any fumes or dye bleeding onto your thread. Put a seal coat of Resolene or Mop & Glo cut 50/50 with water on it to protect it or you can also put on a coat of Aussie Wax or Sno-Seal on it and put it back in the sun to let the grease soak in. The wax/grease finish isn't as durable as an acrylic finish and it'll soften the leather but for a western type holster or range type holster that may not be an issue, it could even be desirable. If you're making a concealed carry affair I'd stick to the acrylic.

This is an example of how this finish process can look. This has several coats of oil (I forget how many but probably 3 or so) about two total days in the sun and Aussie wax for a bit of a sealer. The blacked edges and marks were made by dunking the rig in a barrel of water and rubbing around the wet leather with rusty horseshoes (wet, black slimy rusty, not dry rusty).

Another "natural" option is vinagroon if you're going for black. I personally haven't used this but there are some excellent and informative threads on the subject if you look around for them.

Good luck and have fun,

Josh

[charlescrawford]

Thanks for all the great info guys! I really appreciate it. Now with the Resolene is there a strong odor to it like say with the Justin's waterproofer spray or will is it pretty low and I should be OK? And by Mop & glo I don't mean to sound dumb as a turd but is that a sealer name or are we talking about the stuff mama (great gramma) used on the kitchen floors in the 70's....lol If it is that stuff does it really hold up? I have also heard about Wyosheen. Has anyone used that before what are your thoughts?

Edited October 22, 2013 by charlescrawford

[Josh Ashman]

I don't notice a smell with Resolene and yes plain old Mop and Glo from the cleaning isle of your local general store. It works great cut 50/50 with water. Diluting Resolene with water makes it work better in my opinion also. I haven't used Wyosheen but I've heard good things about it from those who have.

Good luck, Josh

[camano ridge]

esolene does have a n odor however to me it is not a strong odor, you may have more sensetivity to it. I t does not seem to bother my wife who has asthma. Yes Mop & Glo is floor wax. Does it hold up, think about it you wax floors that people walk on. I think Katsass uses it exclusively. THere are some others that use it regularly. I make mostly western stuff and I pretty much use Skidmores Leather Cream. On my modern stuff I use resoline and have used mop n glo and it does seem to hold up. I haqve not used Wyosheen as far as i know it is only available from Sheridan Leather it is $20.00 for a quart and the shipping is $23.00. I checked into it and decided not to try it at this time.