Holster Process

[gunstocker]

My order is a little different:

1) Cut out pattern

2) Light sanding of edges

3) Cut stitching groves

4) Stain leather

5) Sew areas that can't be sewn after gluing.

6) glue and clamp

7) Re-touch edges by sanding

8) Sew

9) Wet mold

10) Apply finish

11) Sell

JR

[Boriqua]

I think you have everything you need. Definitely bring the stitches in closer to the gun. Everyone has their way but I measure the thickness of the gun then split the difference cheating in a scootch, which is immeasurable and done by eyeball, on either side. If I am using the same color thread as the body then I will usually dye after wet form but if I want to do contrasting stitching I will stain before stitching. If I am going to tool then I stain before stitching but antique after wetmold. It all depends. My process for a brown holster with brown thread is usually

Cut out pattern

Dye insides

Apply glycerine and slick insides well ( I dont apply dye or glyserin to the areas that will be glued )

Glue (once I glue I put it under some books and weights and it sits over night.)

Sand edges

Stitch

wetform

Dye body

After its good and dry I do a soft secondary sand to the eddges. ... Wet molding and bending and drying can move the edge around or swell it just enough to make burnishing a mess so although I already sanded I go in now and tighten it up.

Dye edges

Burnish

Seal with sealer of choice

I dont like edge coat much. Maybe I havent found the right brand. I have taken to applying a coat or two of Super sheen just to the edges as my final step. I usually use resolene 50/50 as the body sealer so the super sheen on the edge is a nice contrast.

If you dont want to spend the money now for a belt punch you can always use a regular hole punch in the size you want, make the holes the distance apart you want and connect the two holes with a razor. Works wonderfully and its neat if not the most time efficient. You probably already have the hole punches.

Your dye looks like you are applying with a dauber and doing it linearly. Dont be afraid to use the dye and when applying if you are using a dauber make circles but dont be stingy. After years of using those damned daubers I realized I get much better result using pieces of rag and started just using pieces of old tee shirts. Put on a glove .. wet the piece of rag really well and making circles rub it in to the leather. Makes for nice effects. but again be generous.

Edited November 9, 2015 by Boriqua