Going To A Production Shop?

[George B]

Not really sure anyone will have the time to give advice, but figured I'de ask.

I have been doing gun shows for the last 3 or so months and came to a sad realization.

I cannot make replacement inventory as fast I am selling it no matter how many hours a day I work.

As an example, I have been making 20 to 25 a week and I am still behind.

I could raise my prices, but in my mind that would be a huge step backward as I would rather increase production.

Everything I have done to increase my production has worked well. Such as a 12 ton press, oscillating belt sander, drum dyed leather, convection oven and such. But I find my biggest eater of production time is in the cutting out leather using patterns and edge work.

I am considering using clicker dies instead of hand cutting but feel the need to be able to make the die myself and eventually have one for every holster in my line up. Is this a stupid idea? I can get the flat metal bender and make room in the shop for it but cannot find the pre-sharpened steel ruler stock on line or locally.

I now use a pro edge dressing for my holsters, unless a customer requests otherwise, but applying it with a q-tip is time consuming and wasteful at best.

In a nutshell I guess I am asking if there is anyone here with a small, one man, production shop that has the time to correspond with me about the process and items I would need to do this.

I have currently had to shut down to custom orders to catch up with regular line and gun show sales so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

George

[marine mp]

George, a few suggestions, take them for what they're worth.......on edgeing, I use water and a deer antler and just rub it smooth, then rub some glycerin saddle soap on it and quickly rub that in to seal it. The edge is usually dyed the color of the holster when it is dyed. I know you talked about not raising your prices, but do a study to see how much you are paying yourself, plus supplies, and the sech and figure how much profit you want to make. You may be selling yourself way short. Also, I still cut patterns and sew by hand so the clicker-intel is out of my league. JMHO. Semper-fi Mike

[camano ridge]

You might get a hold of Lobo, he went from a one man shop to having help. He may be able to give you some insight. lobogunleather.com he is also on these forums although I have not seen him on here for a while. As to making your own clicker dies, you might figure how long it would take you in man hours to make one dye (during which time you could be making a holster) add the material costs then call Texas Die company and compare their price to what it would cost you to make your own.. Also figure in the time you will spend locating and rounding up materials and tools you would need to make the die. Tandy has an edge dressing aplicator that actually works pretty well (at least for me). I m some what headed in the same direction you are.

Edited March 6, 2014 by camano ridge

[knazim]

Not really sure anyone will have the time to give advice, but figured I'de ask.

I have been doing gun shows for the last 3 or so months and came to a sad realization.

I cannot make replacement inventory as fast I am selling it no matter how many hours a day I work.

As an example, I have been making 20 to 25 a week and I am still behind.

I could raise my prices, but in my mind that would be a huge step backward as I would rather increase production.

Everything I have done to increase my production has worked well. Such as a 12 ton press, oscillating belt sander, drum dyed leather, convection oven and such. But I find my biggest eater of production time is in the cutting out leather using patterns and edge work.

I am considering using clicker dies instead of hand cutting but feel the need to be able to make the die myself and eventually have one for every holster in my line up. Is this a stupid idea? I can get the flat metal bender and make room in the shop for it but cannot find the pre-sharpened steel ruler stock on line or locally.

I now use a pro edge dressing for my holsters, unless a customer requests otherwise, but applying it with a q-tip is time consuming and wasteful at best.

In a nutshell I guess I am asking if there is anyone here with a small, one man, production shop that has the time to correspond with me about the process and items I would need to do this.

I have currently had to shut down to custom orders to catch up with regular line and gun show sales so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

George

I can suggest a crazy solution: Buy a laser cutter! I use it everday and its fantastic tool to have.

KN

[Josh Ashman]

George,

I don't know that you'd want to but you could sub out your clicker work. I picked up a sewing machine from SLC a few months back and their machine sales man wasn't in so they had me talk to one of their guys in the back. I was surprised to find several sewing stations and a large clicking machine that run non-stop. They make parts as well as finished products for various "makers" all day everyday. I know Weaver will also clicker cut parts.

Good luck whichever way you go, it's good to be busy!

Best regards, Josh

[Steven Kelley]

Clicker dies are one of the best think I ever invested in. They run from $50 - $75 each and really make quick work of cutting leather. Another good thing is the pieces are all exactly the same size, so sanding and finishing the edges is much faster as well. Making them yourself is a waste of time. Cut out a pattern from thick paper and send it to a pro, such as Texas Custom Dies. I have quite a few from them and they are all perfect. You can have a die for each patter/gun combo, or you can have one pattern that will work for several. For instance, I'm only making holsters for 1911's at the moment. I have one die to fit each of my holster models. If I'm making the holster for a 4.25" 1911, I just trim the die cut pieces of leather to the correct length. I waste a little leather to not buy a bunch of dies, basically. So you might be able to get by with less dies than you think. At a minimum, buy a few dies for you highest volume models as a start. Once you start using them, you'll have a hard time cutting leather by hand again.

On edging, I do a "pre-burnishing/forming" step during the molding process. I have a multi grooved burnishing tool that fits in a drill press. After dipping the holster in water, and before molding, I run the edges along the burnishing tool. This is just to smooth out the fibers and give the edges a nice round shape. Since the leather is soaked, it is extremely easy and fast. Then I mold and dry. When I get to the edge finishing step, the edges just need a quick final burnish and wax, and they are done. If I didn't do that initial pre-burnish/forming step, it would take a lot longer to get the edges finished.

How do you dye? Dipping is about as fast as it gets. I generally dip dye after molding. If a customer wants a certain color stitching, or something else that prevents that, I'll dye the piece before molding. I have gallon buckets of each dye color and just do a quick dip as soon as the molded holster comes out of the hot box, while it's still warm. They go on a drying rack overnight, then straight into an acrylic bucket the next morning. Dipping everything saves a lot of time, if that fits your needs.

Pricing. If you are doing this as a business, do what benefits your business. If competitors are selling similar holsters for twice as much as you are, then you need to get more competitive on pricing. I'm not talking about gouging your customers, but as a "business", you need to find out what the market will support and get your prices in line with that. Starting out with low pricing is a great way to get your name out there and get the business started. Once you get overloaded, you can gradually increase your prices to get more in line with the segment of the market you want to compete in.

Hire an apprentice. Let them do some of the grunt work (so to speak). If you can increase your volume and not have to work more hours yourself, that can lead to more income.

A lot of people start holster making as a hobby, and turn it into a business, but don't change their "hobby" mentality. They want to do everything for everybody and charge way less than what their time/product is worth. You can have a "business" mentality and still offer a great product at a fair price, along with great customer service.

[electrathon]

Hire an apprentice. Let them do some of the grunt work (so to speak). If you can increase your volume and not have to work more hours yourself, that can lead to more income.

Everything in this post was great info but I have a specific suggestion along the lines of this one.

Find a mom nearby whose kids are in school and hire her for a few hours a day to assist you. No leather knowledge needed, just have her do what you tell her to do, dying, burnishing etc. I know a guy that ran a machine shop this way. He was a very skilled machinist. He set the machines up and told the moms to hit the stop control, turn lever and repeat. Ran a large shop this way for years.

[troop]

I have been thinking that a laser cutter was the way to go as well. I've been hoping the technology comes soon to harbor freight. can I ask what model cutter you have?

Tony

[paprhangr]

check out Billy, he is a one man holster shop

mccabescustomleather.com

[triage1998]

Great advice here. For those with clickers. What machine are you all using?

I am ready to step up to a clicker real soon. I spend one whole day a week just cutting leather and I really need to streamline that. It is probably the most time consuming part of my business.