Foam press for leather holsters?

[SouthernCross]

Does anyone here use a foam press to mold their leather holsters?   I ask because I was talking to a holster maker at today's gun show in Raleigh and the guy said that he uses a foam press to mold his holsters.  I know that foam presses are typically used for kydex holsters, but I didn't know about them being used for leather. 

[OLDNSLOW]

they do, but, I don't think it is the kind you are think about?  a lot will take a 12 to 20 ton press and get some gum rubber to use to form the holster.

[Sanch]

24 minutes ago, OLDNSLOW said:

they do, but, I don't think it is the kind you are think about?  a lot will take a 12 to 20 ton press and get some gum rubber to use to form the holster.

Hmmmm let's put a 4 figure Kimber in that lol!! For blue guns maybe but this dude will stick to vacuum molding my hide, haven't had any issues to date and that's been in every thing from motorcycle tanks to Zippo lighters do those with gum rubber and 20 ton!

[SouthernCross]

Yeah, I think I'll go the vacuum bagging route.

[RockyAussie]

15 minutes ago, Sanch said:

Hmmmm let's put a 4 figure Kimber in that lol!! For blue guns maybe but this dude will stick to vacuum molding my hide, haven't had any issues to date and that's been in every thing from motorcycle tanks to Zippo lighters do those with gum rubber and 20 ton!

Little things like the zippo lighter pouches and vacuum moulding and such it can be worth after getting your first one right doing a vacuum moulded outer with a thermoplastic. After that you can do multiples and just stick down in a normall press. Pics below shough give you the idea.

[SouthernCross]

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a link to a DIY vacuum former? 

[OLDNSLOW]

google that same question and there should be a lot pop up, that is what I did when I built my vacuum press.  they really aren't hard to build once you have an idea as the which way you want to go.

[LumpenDoodle2]

Try this forum - www.tk560.com.  

I found it very useful for info on biulding my little vacuum former (made from an old foldup picnic table, some wood, an old hoover, and a George Foreman grill.   Thank you Blue Peter).    

 

 

[RockyAussie]

2 hours ago, OLDNSLOW said:

google that same question and there should be a lot pop up, that is what I did when I built my vacuum press.  they really aren't hard to build once you have an idea as the which way you want to go.

That is a good answer. If you can narrow the what and how method down then you may find a way that best suits your abilities. Here's a link that to me is an easy one perhaps by just drilling the holes instead of the fancy laser stuff.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPxCPwRxzZg

The one I built for myself was many years ago out of a lot of scrap like shopping trolleys and stuff I had laying around. I built it to be able to do a lot of different vacuum operations and I had the advantage of seeing a couple of other presses that I thought I could improve on such as not using individual clamps for holding the frames together.By pulling the handle down on the right the frames come down and lock in and then the Vacuum starts. I did not have cad software then and was sort of just made on the run as a lot of my stuff is. I think it is a bit elaborate for most but it may help with some ideas as It looks to me like a lot of people making the videos could use a few. Here a few pics of mine in the pdf file.Vacuum Forming machine2.pdf Regards Brian

 

[garypl]

3 hours ago, RockyAussie said:

That is a good answer. If you can narrow the what and how method down then you may find a way that best suits your abilities. Here's a link that to me is an easy one perhaps by just drilling the holes instead of the fancy laser stuff.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPxCPwRxzZg

The one I built for myself was many years ago out of a lot of scrap like shopping trolleys and stuff I had laying around. I built it to be able to do a lot of different vacuum operations and I had the advantage of seeing a couple of other presses that I thought I could improve on such as not using individual clamps for holding the frames together.By pulling the handle down on the right the frames come down and lock in and then the Vacuum starts. I did not have cad software then and was sort of just made on the run as a lot of my stuff is. I think it is a bit elaborate for most but it may help with some ideas as It looks to me like a lot of people making the videos could use a few. Here a few pics of mine in the pdf file.Vacuum Forming machine2.pdf Regards Brian

 

Brian, your ingenuity amazes me!