Members grumpyold Posted June 22, 2015 Members Report Posted June 22, 2015 I've searched through all the posts and have not found what I'm looking for.I want to try my hand at a pancake holster, outside waist band for my 1911. I've found lots of info here and else where on the net that shows how to make patterns and illustrates how to make the holster start to finish. These holster are all very nice and the info was informative, just one problem, when wet molded to the pistol shape protrudes out the face and back. I'd like to have the back stay flat and all the shape out the front. I realize I can wet mold the front panel around the pistol before hand, but all these, I saw, are not full double panel., I'm thinking that there has to be some way to figure out how much extra dimension to add to the front panel so once stitch up the front panel will form an open pocket that when I go to mold it the back can be laid flat and the pocket bulging out the front can then be molded. I'm stuck on trying to figure out how much extra to add to the front panel. Hope someone has done this or can share some ideas. Thank you. Quote John Wayne "Life's hard it's even harder when your stupid."
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted June 22, 2015 Contributing Member Report Posted June 22, 2015 Surely there's one guy "out there" makin em like ya done said. I could git er done, but I got like 5 other designs to do ... Jon from AR gonna start pitchin rocks up this way if I don't finish that Ruger shortly ... Quote "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Members Josh Ashman Posted June 22, 2015 Members Report Posted June 22, 2015 Grumpy, Due to leather being a natural material that stretches and depending on how thick it is, what part of the animal it was cut from and where it was tanned the amount of stretch can vary a huge amount. if you want a flat back holster that will fit and work decently you should mold the front piece tot he gun first then figure out your belt slots and the outside shape. Then you can use that to cut out the back piece. Glue it up, sand your edges, stitch it and you're all set. Or, somebody might have a pattern they'll give you. I don't worry about getting flat backed holsters, so I do not have one to share. Good luck! Josh Quote
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted June 22, 2015 Contributing Member Report Posted June 22, 2015 Plus, whatsa "full double panel"? Quote "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Members Jon P Posted June 23, 2015 Members Report Posted June 23, 2015 (edited) Now, now... No rocks... I'll just throw this very badly designed holster of mine... lol Edited June 23, 2015 by Jon P Quote
Members chiefjason Posted June 23, 2015 Members Report Posted June 23, 2015 I make mine like Josh is describing, and all I do are flat back holsters. The closest you will come to a pattern is how Dwight does them. He has a pattern where he stitches one side, the slide side IIRC first. Then molds the holster. Maybe he will be along to expound on that one. I have a pattern for the back and a rough pattern thats larger for the front. Wet both. Stamp my mark on the back piece, mold the front, dry both. Then align, adjust, glue, trim, sand, stitch lines, punch holes, dye, stitch, finish. Now, if by "double panel" you mean lined holster there will be a lot more work involved. Mainly figuring out how to stitch the mouth and toe of the holster and integrate those stitch lines into the later stitch lines. Quote
Members grumpyold Posted June 23, 2015 Author Members Report Posted June 23, 2015 I guess my description went off the rails a bit. A better way of saying would be full back panel and full matching front panel. I've seen lots of holsters done with a back panel with belt slots etc., and a molded pocket that's just basically a pocket for the pistol, think Alien type holsters. Quote John Wayne "Life's hard it's even harder when your stupid."
Members grumpyold Posted June 23, 2015 Author Members Report Posted June 23, 2015 Chiefjason, your post is following along what I'm trying to come up with. You state sized back panel and a larger rough front panel. This is where I'm stalled. My thoughts were;-Make a pattern of the pistol, deciding where to stop on the muzzle and trigger guard and mark these,-Use that pattern to design the back panel , cant, belt loop slots, stitch lines etc..This where I'm stalled. If I measure the width of the slide do I double it and add thickness of leather? My thoughts , when doing the front panel,were if I get it to large it will be sloppy, if I get it to small when I go to form it it's go to need space to fit gun in and that's going to push it out the back panel which is what I'm trying to avoid.Once again thanks all for your thoughts and posts.- Quote John Wayne "Life's hard it's even harder when your stupid."
Members chiefjason Posted June 24, 2015 Members Report Posted June 24, 2015 I start by figuring out the shape of the back panel, which is close to what I want the final shape to be. This takes into account cant too. Once that is done I cut it out. I use that to establish the top of the front panel, and add the necessary extra to each side and a little on the bottom. Pro tip, edge color and burnish the top of the front panel before starting. Easier flat than molded. Figure out where you want the gun on the back panel, mark it. Lay top panel on it, flip gun and pane over. Mark it. That gives you a starting point. Wet and case leather. Put makers mark on back piece, I use the sweat shield. Then mold the front. Force dry in dryer on shoe rack. Place gun on marks for back panel. Lay front panel on top. Adjust if needed. Hold them together, flip over and mark outside edge for glue lines. Take out gun. Put back together and mark inside lines for glue lines. Glue. Trim excess. Adjust final form as desired. Sand edges. Mark stitch lines. Set belt loops. Stitch. Quote
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted June 24, 2015 Contributing Member Report Posted June 24, 2015 (edited) I don't recommend videos usually. First thing out of some folks, "buy a book", "check utube".. blahhlahblah. There are thousands of other [supposedly] holster making videos "out there", but the vast majority of them - free or paid - are a complete waste of time and generally filled with marketing crap. This guy is a bit gabby, my opinion, but he DOES show what you're talking about. Stitched together (including a lining) and THEN formed ... Edited June 24, 2015 by JLSleather Quote "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
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