Planning Stage for my First Holster

[Boriqua]

Yea I had a fairly cheap camera and a much better one both bug out when I tried to photograph on top of that cutting board if the frame is filled with nothing else. seems the camera sees all that green and wants to make everything else red.

When I bend mine I do it slightly and I do it right at the the sew lines. Just a wee bit .. here is an example

 

 

 

Edited June 1, 2016 by Boriqua

[bob21804]

Got it. Man, that's nice. Purty basket weave!

[JLSleather]

5 hours ago, Boriqua said:

I use a specialized tool to preopen ...Hookey but it works... a little curve to help match the curve of the body makes em start out nice.

 

Yep, that's it.. doesn't matter what the tool is if it works. Sounds like what I do... fingers opening while it's still in teh water (specially on a lined holster), bone folders, modeling tools, whatever.  Teh gun forms the final shape, but I got it open and close to size before I even pick up the gun.

As for 'curving', I have about a 18" (or maybe 20", whatever) piece of "belt" that I actually put through the slots when forming... pulls the leather right where it needs to go.

And Alex is right.. I see worse offered for sale all the time. Truth is, a lot of those "pro" videos about making holsters are making stuff that doesn't look as good as yours

Oh, being that I marked the slot location, I admit it.. I punch 'em out (straight on through from the front side) after allowing the glue to set and before sewing.  Then when I sew, I sew the perimeter and along teh slots all continuous.. only stop is to move to the other side of the holster.

 

Edited June 1, 2016 by JLSleather

[Boriqua]

jeff broke out a gif!!!! Dude!

Now it doesn’t get better than that. I usually go with the one thread all the way around like in Jeff's gif but I end just under. The only reason I used two pieces on the holster above is I wanted different color thread. I didnt love the biege thread in on the body and wanted it just at the edges and considered just not doing the stitch to the inside of the belt loop. Just a shmancy thing and I dont know if I like it any better but ??.

[bikermutt07]

Gosh, I learn so much just reading ya'll's comments.

[klaykrusher]

That looks real good Bob!  I like it!

[JLSleather]

Yeah, I figgered ya was gittin all fancy on me with the twotone stitchin' Alex.  Looks GOOD that way, actually.

 

[Boriqua]

12 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

Gosh, I learn so much just reading ya'll's comments.

Yea when You have a master leatherworker put up a gif on how to sew up the holster ... your in the right place!

 

Oh and I dig the belt strap idea. I will have to try that on the next one.

Edited June 1, 2016 by Boriqua

[JLSleather]

Well, 'master' is generous, but it seemed like a giffy in 20 seconds was better'n'a fella showin up tell ya watch a hour long video somewheres...

 

[bob21804]

I was out with my granddaughter for a while, but peeked in from time to time. Thanks, Dave and everyone, I appreciate the compliments - so glad I asked for advice before starting. (and during the build, Jeff set me as straight as he could, numerous times) I know it all made a huge difference. . And I like the fancy gif too (as well as the belt strap idea)  - that's a help... I punched and cut out the belt slots (all from the front) towards the end and sewed them separately - obviously now, not the best method.

Alex, I'm kind if afraid if I tried my slots like you do (punching 3/4 thru from the front, then finishing from the back), I'd mess up and misalign about 2 1/2 scootches,  one way or the other, and end up screwing the whole thing up. But I bet you have a system for that.