Members brmax Posted December 19, 2016 Members Report Posted December 19, 2016 Many times the last minute decisions are a winner if choosing a tool tested by the masses, my opinion try a CS Osborne for this go round. Their most times affordable readily available and they do work, If one of the pro tool guys like B King, Beard and J Watts has a punch available well then you can bet its ready enough out the box to do work. I know this because as an old one and yet new to this going with pro equipment when able or critical always results in many points ahead. good day Floyd Quote
Members malabar Posted December 21, 2016 Members Report Posted December 21, 2016 Gents, There's just not going to be any comparison between the custom punch and the Osborne. Don't misunderstand -- I've got at least $1,000 worth of Osborne tools, and they are professional-quality tools. They are lightyears ahead of the crap from Tandy, and there is a noticeable difference in quality from other consumer-tool companies products -- General, Stanley, etc. The problem is that their bag punches, like everyone else's, are just too damn narrow. My heavy-duty belts are 3/8" thick. I have to either punch the slots with the Osborne bag punch and then open the slot up with a Foredom and a tungsten bit, or punch half-inch round holes and connect them via chisel. Quote
Members CaptQuirk Posted December 21, 2016 Members Report Posted December 21, 2016 @malabar- I think that after punching, sanding and burnishing, the slot should open up a bit more. If not, maybe burnish and sand a little more aggressively? You can always remove more, but you can't put it back. I have a small pile of holsters to prove that last point. Quote
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted December 21, 2016 Contributing Member Report Posted December 21, 2016 On 12/17/2016 at 10:30 AM, HBAR said: As far as curved slots, I think its more of someones gimmick. ...Im sure somebody thinks they look cool, Yeah, you got it. 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 malabar Posted December 23, 2016 Members Report Posted December 23, 2016 On 12/21/2016 at 9:26 AM, CaptQuirk said: @malabar- I think that after punching, sanding and burnishing, the slot should open up a bit more. If not, maybe burnish and sand a little more aggressively? You can always remove more, but you can't put it back. I have a small pile of holsters to prove that last point. That's certainly true, but who wants to spend 30 minutes making belts slots on a $75 holster? Punching to the final size is a world easier. Quote
Members CaptQuirk Posted December 23, 2016 Members Report Posted December 23, 2016 2 hours ago, malabar said: That's certainly true, but who wants to spend 30 minutes making belts slots on a $75 holster? Punching to the final size is a world easier. I spent a lot more than 30 minutes on a pair of slots, and yeah, it would be easier to just do it with a punch the size you want. If you have the money, get it, Texas dies, will make it the size you want. I personally don't do enough holsters with them to buy the punch yet. Quote
Members malabar Posted December 24, 2016 Members Report Posted December 24, 2016 Yeah,that's the thing. We turn out 12-15 pieces a week -- but very few have slots. tk Quote
Members CaptQuirk Posted December 24, 2016 Members Report Posted December 24, 2016 I have done 7-10 holsters in the last year. It is about 50/50 between belt clip and either snap down or sewn loop. 1 of those had slots, curved slots no less. And I used curved slots, not because they looked pretty, but so the guy could adjust the angle of draw on his small of back holster. I can't tell you how much time I spent on those slots, but it was too much. But, the slot punches are about $40-$130. That is my leather budget. So, for the time being, when I have a straight slot to do, I'll punch 2 holes, and use my knife and straight edge to do them. But yeah, it would be nice to just whack a punch and be done! Quote
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