Question About Tandy Pistol Caddy Pattern

[johnggrg]

I have the Tandy Pistol Caddy pattern and have a question for anyone who may have built one. The instructions call for a 24 inch gusset. There is a pattern for the gusset but doesn't say proper size of zipper to use. So wanted to know what is the correct size and type of zipper to use? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. John

[JLSleather]

Not sure what pattern you have,but for a zipper that size I would stick to brass and put it in a leather gusset. If the zipper ever wears out, it can be replaced without tearing up the case. I dont like nylon (or poly) zippers.

About anywhere you shop should have #5 zipper tape (and you'll want 'pulls', bottom stops, top stops). Aluminum available also, if the color matters. Hobby stores often carry pre-fab zippers in different lengths, but it's not worth my time to "hope" they have the right length.

[johnggrg]

Thank you for the reply. The gusset pattern that goes to it is 24 in long with a 23 in slit for the zipper. Do they sell 23 in zippers? I have never messed with a zipper before this would be a first. I have black zipper with 2 pulls on it that's 24 plus inches long. But brass would be the best?

I would like to hear from someone who may have made one of these to see what they used for it if possable. The pattern came in a pattern pack for holsters. If anyone can help me with this it would be a great help to me. I am stuck at this point and not sure how to procede from here. John

[johnggrg]

Also what to line it with to give it padding? John

[JLSleather]

Thank you for the reply. The gusset pattern that goes to it is 24 in long with a 23 in slit for the zipper. Do they sell 23 in zippers? I have never messed with a zipper before this would be a first. I have black zipper with 2 pulls on it that's 24 plus inches long. But brass would be the best?

I would like to hear from someone who may have made one of these to see what they used for it if possable. The pattern came in a pattern pack for holsters. If anyone can help me with this it would be a great help to me. I am stuck at this point and not sure how to procede from here. John

You'd buy a 24" zipper, then remove the teeth from a bit of each end - so the tape actually goes PAST the slot and gets stitched on the ends. I don't know that brass is "best", but it's what I like, and I can't say anything about your zipper, as I don't knw what you have.

I DO know the pattern you're referring to. Haven't made one of those in years. Simple enough, though. You can line with about anything you care to use. Shearling always a favorite (don't know why). You'll see them at times with chrome tanned pig lining, but this has been known to react with some gun finishes, so I've never personally tried to use it (plus, Ive always thought it was ugly, and doesn't offer any protection).

[johnggrg]

You'd buy a 24" zipper, then remove the teeth from a bit of each end - so the tape actually goes PAST the slot and gets stitched on the ends. I don't know that brass is "best", but it's what I like, and I can't say anything about your zipper, as I don't knw what you have.

I DO know the pattern you're referring to. Haven't made one of those in years. Simple enough, though. You can line with about anything you care to use. Shearling always a favorite (don't know why). You'll see them at times with chrome tanned pig lining, but this has been known to react with some gun finishes, so I've never personally tried to use it (plus, Ive always thought it was ugly, and doesn't offer any protection).

I have never messed with a zipper before. So I would remove the stops and tuck the ends under the leather gusset and sew them ends down? Another thing does it matter if it is an open end zipper or a closed end zipper? It seems like an easy thing to put together but a few things are unclear to me.

1. Size of zipper to use

2.where do you sew the linning in at? under the zipper? at the edge of the zipper? John

[Colt W Knight]

When I made my gun case

I used shearling as a liner. I glued it to the leather using DAP contact cement. I glued everything except for 2 inches around the perimeter.

Then I sandwiched the zipper between the leather and the shearling

I really like how it turned out, and I think I learned a lot in the process. The next one I make I will have a better idea on how to get the aesthetics right.

[johnggrg]

Colt w Night. Thank you for sharring. That looks great. Would like to use shearling but would have to buy a whole hide to get a piece big enough. That would be perfect for the padding looks like at least 7/8 thick very nice. I would need a piece 14x14 to fit. But would more then likely need a whole hide to get that piece. Can't buy that right now but would be nice.Still not sure about the zipper thing. John

[Colt W Knight]

Yeah, that shearling was expensive. I think it was 80$. If I make another, I am going to try to use cotton badding/matting like they sell at the fabric store for making quilts. Then use either some pig or lambskin to do the lining. I know a few guys who use Flannel.

[WinterBear]

You might also try fabric or home decor supply stores for brass zipper by the yard. I can get zipper for $2/yard, and a box with two stops and two zipper pulls for a buck. I buy zipper a couple of yards at a time, and keep a couple of pulls and stops around. When I need a strong zipper, I just cut off what I need. Instructions for using zipper by the yard are online all over, as are instructions for shortening zippers, so if you want a colored zipper that's 23 inches, you can buy a bigger zipper and use it if you need to.

For shearling where you don't need to buy a whole hide, you might look into these links and see if any of what they have will work:

http://www.chichesterinc.com/SheepskinShearlingScrap.htm

http://springfieldleather.com/32947/Wool%2CPieces/

and for whole sheep hides, you might try http://www.theleatherguy.org/ (there is also an ebay store). The hides run around $45, plus shipping. No orange, but black, creams, browns, and grays are usually on hand.