Type Of Leather

[keplerts]

Does anyone use bridle leather to wet mold their holsters? Can you use this type of leather for this? Or, is veg tanned leather the best? Is Bridle leather veg tanned?

Thanks,

Tom

[c2369zulu]

I have used Bridle Leather a little bit, but not for wet molding. Bridle leather has been impregnated with waxes and tallows for hard use. My guess is that it would not react well to wet forming, but that's just a guess..........Rory

[chiefjason]

I use it for other things. I have made one holster, and tried another. That was enough to let me know it does not take water well to wet form it by hand. With a press, maybe. By hand, not unless you are going for a more generic non detailed look.

[keplerts]

Thanks for the replies! It seems to tool very well so I thought maybe wet forming would work also. I love the flexability of this

leather.

Tom

[camano ridge]

Keplerts, no offense but are you sure it is bridle leather. Bridle leather is normaly stuffed with grease and wax, this make it hard for the leahter to take water and there for does not normaly tool well. Do yo havea picture of the leather. Take a small piece of scrap wet it wrap it around something and let it dry. if it holds it's shape then you can probably use it for wet molding a holster.

[keplerts]

Camano,

No offense taken! I have attached a few photos of the leather before and after tooling. I haven't tried to wet form anything yet. (Thought I ask before wasting my time). It seemed to tool very well without much trouble getting water to soak in. The leather is SUPPOSE to be Wicket and Craig bridle leather. I say suppose in caps because I got it at an auction and it came it what looked like the original wrapping from Wicket. I guess i'll just have to see about it wet forming.

Tom

[chiefjason]

Before you go all out, take a large scrap if you have one and just try to wet mold it over a firearm. That should answer your question. And keep you from putting in the time to make an entire holster. It's certainly pressed on the back and looks a lot like the bridle I use.