Members Dorado Posted January 28, 2016 Author Members Report Posted January 28, 2016 If I stitch last I don't think I can get the edges to match. Besides my holes are already punched. My next holster I think I'll try stitching last. I ruined one holster trying to gouge out the stitch lines. I couldn't get the points very well and I messed up really badly. Quote
Members Dwight Posted January 28, 2016 Members Report Posted January 28, 2016 If I stitch last I don't think I can get the edges to match. Besides my holes are already punched. My next holster I think I'll try stitching last. I ruined one holster trying to gouge out the stitch lines. I couldn't get the points very well and I messed up really badly. Do this: Use contact cement, . . . glue the edges together so they cannot move. Sand the edges until they are all nice and rounded, smooth, and the contour of the holster is appropriate. Bevel the edges Gouge the stitch line Mark, punch, stitch (or in my case, . . . sew). Works a whole lot easier that way, . . . believe me. May God bless, Dwight Quote If you can breathe, . . . thank God. If you can read, . . . thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a veteran. www.dwightsgunleather.com
Members Dorado Posted January 30, 2016 Author Members Report Posted January 30, 2016 I had already punched the holes for the stitching. Next time around I'll glue it together first then do what you suggest. I'm already planning on making me a black gun rig. But that'll be in another year or so. Quote
Members Dorado Posted February 10, 2016 Author Members Report Posted February 10, 2016 Alright well I have my holsters looking great. I wanted to thank y'all for all your help so far. Now I have another question. I'll be starting on the belt part soon. I have two strips of 2 1/2" 6/7oz leather for the main belt and I have a 1" strip of 4/5 oz for the cartridge loops. I'm shooting .357 mag out of these and I'm wanting to do the single hole woven loops. I have a slot cutter for the holes and I know roughly how to do it. My question is to how far apart should I space the slots. I've heard 1/2" but also 3/8". What would be better? I'd like to maximize the number of loops. Quote
Members Dwight Posted February 11, 2016 Members Report Posted February 11, 2016 (edited) Alright well I have my holsters looking great. I wanted to thank y'all for all your help so far. Now I have another question. I'll be starting on the belt part soon. I have two strips of 2 1/2" 6/7oz leather for the main belt and I have a 1" strip of 4/5 oz for the cartridge loops. I'm shooting .357 mag out of these and I'm wanting to do the single hole woven loops. I have a slot cutter for the holes and I know roughly how to do it. My question is to how far apart should I space the slots. I've heard 1/2" but also 3/8". What would be better? I'd like to maximize the number of loops. You have to "figger" this one. Two cartridges, .375 (+/-) in diameter, . . . with two pieces of 5 oz leather between them. We're talking "center to center", . . . so we can start out with the .357 diameter being the minimum distance (if you laid two of them side by side, and if there was no rim on the cartridge. Add to that the two pieces of 5 oz leather which must go between the two cartridges, . . .that equals one piece of 10 oz leather, . . . which equals 10/64ths of an inch. The decimal equavelent is .156 inches. .375 plus .156 equals .531. That will give you a belt with loops right together when it is laying flat on the table. Hanging off your body, . . . there will be slight air gaps between them. Set your set of dividers at maybe .550 or so and you won't get in trouble. Look at the little drawing, . . . notice the two lines, . . . they are the top and bottom of the cartridges LOOPS, . . . I prefer mine fixed so the cartridges are actually centered on the belt, . . . some folks like em up a bit higher, . . . it's your choice, . . . it's your belt. Scribe a line that goes from one end to the other of your line of cartridges (multiply .550 by the number of bullets you want to put in there to get the length of that line). Again scribe that line, . . . and then take your dividers set at .550 and make marks on the TOP line, . . . the one closest to the top of the belt, . . . make your punches at each of those points, . . . thread your loops, . . . and you are good to go. I start out with the left end (I'm right handed) and work my way around, . . . having riveted the left end about an inch or so to the left of the first cartridge. Dampen your loop leather (don't soak it, . . . just a moderate dampening), . . . pull it up, . . . push it back down, . . . put a bullet in the loop, . . . pull it TIGHT. Do the next one the same way, . . . I leave the bullets in until about an hour after I finish weaving the loops, . . . while the leather is still a tad damp, . . . and then I very easily, . . . very gingerly, . . . take the bullets out. Hang it up to dry. Come back tomorrow, . . . you got a cartridge belt, . . . well, . . . almost anyway, . . . add the buckle and the tongue billets, . . . I contact cement the two pieces together, . . . sew the edges, . . . now you got a cartridge belt. Have fun, . . . may God bless, Dwight Edited February 11, 2016 by Dwight Quote If you can breathe, . . . thank God. If you can read, . . . thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a veteran. www.dwightsgunleather.com
Members Dorado Posted February 11, 2016 Author Members Report Posted February 11, 2016 Dwight, that is exactly what I wanted to know. So about how many loops can I get out of a 72" strip? 24-26? Quote
Members Dwight Posted February 11, 2016 Members Report Posted February 11, 2016 I try to look at reloads, . . . not bullet count. Also, . . . are you making a belt, . . . or a bandolier? A 72 inch belt is a pretty BIG guy , . . . but just figure out how much space you want to put bullets in, . . . divide that by your .550 spacing, . . . you'll know then how many you can do. My personal rig for my .45 LC, . . . has 20 loops, . . . 4 reloads of 5 each, . . . also space on the right hand side for the holster, . . . and a space on the left side for a knife, . . . another holster, . . . canteen, . . . possible pouch, . . . May God bless, Dwight Quote If you can breathe, . . . thank God. If you can read, . . . thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a veteran. www.dwightsgunleather.com
Members Dorado Posted February 11, 2016 Author Members Report Posted February 11, 2016 No it's a 47" belt total. I have a 72" strip of 4/5 oz leather for the bullet loops. I'd like to get as many as I can on the belt as I sometimes forget to bring enough ammo and what I've had on my belt made just enough for me. My current belt has 15 loops but I'd like to double that. I think I can get 32 out of it according to what I've read. If not then I'm in trouble I just finished cutting the slots for them and that's how many I cut. I guess if push comes to shove then I can try skiving two strips together to make up the rest. Quote
Members Dwight Posted February 11, 2016 Members Report Posted February 11, 2016 OK, . . . that's an easy one, . . . I've had to do that on occasion or two, . . . pull your leather through the hole while you still have 3 or 4 inches on it, . . . cut it so it is half the distance to the next slot, . . . skive it and the new piece so they will lay flat, . . . use a little dab of contact cement to hold them together, . . . put a staple through both pieces or sew a couple of stitches, . . . just to hold them together. Go on and pull it through the rest of the slots, . . . and when you put the belt together, . . . MAKE SURE, . . . that area gets good cement. It'll work, . . . been there, done that. May God bless, Dwight Quote If you can breathe, . . . thank God. If you can read, . . . thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, . . . thank a veteran. www.dwightsgunleather.com
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