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Posted (edited)

About two years ago I bought a single 8/9 oz. shoulder from Tandy. It sat in my closet since then. Anyway, I pulled the shoulder out about two months ago and started to make holsters, which turned out pretty good. I soon ran out of the Tandy leather and bought a HO single 7/8 oz. shoulder from Springfield. I was less than thrilled with the HO leather from Springfield. When I ordered the HO leather from Springfield I specified a "clean B grade" shoulder. Between the two shoulders Tandy had a better tanned surface, but the Springfield HO leather had better backing. Overall the Tandy leather was a better piece.

Here's my issue!

I wet formed and dried both Tandy and the Springfield HO leather the same way while making my holsters. The Tandy has held its form better and the holsters are harder. The Springfield HO stuff is not as hard (more supple) and does not hold its form as well.

My question is could the difference in 1 oz. in leather be the difference between the hardness and form issues between the two shoulders? Or, is it the difference on how each shoulder was processed?

Thanks, Paul

Edited by Rocket6R
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Posted

Leather is a natural product and each piece can vary quite a bit, even if they are tanned at the same place. Sometimes you find a really nice hide from Tandy and sometimes you run into a not so good Hermann Oak hide. The stiffness is most likely in how the hide was tanned or the nature of the leather itself.

In my experience 9 times out of 10, maybe even 99 out of 100 I'm happier with HO over Tandy's products. But that's just me.

Best regards, Josh

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Posted

I agree with Mr. Ashman. I'll admit to only being a hobbyist and do very little leather work anymore but I don't even consider Tandy's tooling leather for any of my projects.

Posted (edited)

Leather is a natural product and each piece can vary quite a bit, even if they are tanned at the same place. Sometimes you find a really nice hide from Tandy and sometimes you run into a not so good Hermann Oak hide. The stiffness is most likely in how the hide was tanned or the nature of the leather itself.

In my experience 9 times out of 10, maybe even 99 out of 100 I'm happier with HO over Tandy's products. But that's just me.

Best regards, Josh

X2, I went to Tandy today and looked through some of their leather. For the most part it was not very good, I would put iy at a D grade if there was such a thing. Hermann Oak has lost some of its quality in my opinion over the last few years but still way ahead of Tandy. I asked for some samples from RJF and they were beautiful. I asked out here and everybody raved about them that answered. I placed a sample order (a side and a shoulder) they will be here next week, I'm anxious to work with them. I was a little surprised thar they don't have a PayPal account or take credit cards, it's either check or money order, but I can work with that. They seem to cater to the holster trade and that suits me fine.

Chief

Edited by Chief31794

"Life's too short to carry ugly leather"

Posted

About two years ago I bought a single 8/9 oz. shoulder from Tandy. It sat in my closet since then. Anyway, I pulled the shoulder out about two months ago and started to make holsters, which turned out pretty good. I soon ran out of the Tandy leather and bought a HO single 7/8 oz. shoulder from Springfield. I was less than thrilled with the HO leather from Springfield. When I ordered the HO leather from Springfield I specified a "clean B grade" shoulder. Between the two shoulders Tandy had a better tanned surface, but the Springfield HO leather had better backing. Overall the Tandy leather was a better piece.

Here's my issue!

I wet formed and dried both Tandy and the Springfield HO leather the same way while making my holsters. The Tandy has held its form better and the holsters are harder. The Springfield HO stuff is not as hard (more supple) and does not hold its form as well.

My question is could the difference in 1 oz. in leather be the difference between the hardness and form issues between the two shoulders? Or, is it the difference on how each shoulder was processed?

Thanks, Paul

Are you heating your holsters after they are molded to make them stiff or just going with how they are after they dry? 10-30 minutes at about 150-200 degs really helps them stiffen. The object is to get the leather temp up to 135-140 for a few minutes. How long and what temp you use depends on the thickness of the leather and your oven.

Try it on some scrap if you are not doing this yet. Watch it as it can burn pretty fast if you are not careful.

The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.

Bruce Lee

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Posted (edited)

Are you heating your holsters after they are molded to make them stiff or just going with how they are after they dry? 10-30 minutes at about 150-200 degs really helps them stiffen. The object is to get the leather temp up to 135-140 for a few minutes. How long and what temp you use depends on the thickness of the leather and your oven.

Try it on some scrap if you are not doing this yet. Watch it as it can burn pretty fast if you are not careful.

I have been drying the leather in a toaster over. I do 100 to 110 degrees for 60 minutes and then let the holster air dry for 24 hours.

I spoke to a friend of mine who knows more about leather work than I do and explained the issues to him. I think he may have found the problem. These shoulders have some part of the neck on them. I used part of the neck on the shoulder to make this IWB holster. He said that was the problem. He told me if I had stayed away from the neck portion and used the actual shoulder I would have been fine.

Paul

Edited by Rocket6R
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Posted

Chief, I hope they are good. I ordered four double shoulders from Roger today.

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Posted

RJF Has the best leather i have used yet, and roger is a great guy to deal with.

Posted

I have been drying the leather in a toaster over. I do 100 to 110 degrees for 60 minutes and then let the holster air dry for 24 hours.

I spoke to a friend of mine who knows more about leather work than I do and explained the issues to him. I think he may have found the problem. These shoulders have some part of the neck on them. I used part of the neck on the shoulder to make this IWB holster. He said that was the problem. He told me if I had stayed away from the neck portion and used the actual shoulder I would have been fine.

Paul

That would explain it. I've made that mistake too.

Michael

The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.

Bruce Lee

Posted

Chief, I hope they are good. I ordered four double shoulders from Roger today.

RJF Has the best leather i have used yet, and roger is a great guy to deal with.

Red Cent,

Me too. I liked the samples a lot.

Samalan,

I agree on Roger being great to deal with and have high hopes for the leather.

Chief

"Life's too short to carry ugly leather"

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