Foam press for leather holsters?

[K5HEP]

Yes - I have use my kydex press to mold leather holsters with no issues. I am not sure where the 20 ton press idea comes from - that is not what is used for kydex molding. Using a kydex press for a leather holster is a good start for the molding process, but you still end up using your hands and some sort of tool to finish it... 

This is a kydex press

;

Edited August 6, 2017 by K5HEP

[RockyAussie]

11 hours ago, garypl said:

Brian, your ingenuity amazes me!

Thanks - but really living in Australia makes it more a necessity. Don't get me wrong though a challenge is always more fun.

9 hours ago, K5HEP said:

Yes - I have use my kydex press to mold leather holsters with no issues. I am not sure where the 20 ton press idea comes from - that is not what is used for kydex molding. Using a kydex press for a leather holster is a good start for the molding process, but you still end up using your hands and some sort of tool to finish it... 

This is a kydex press

;

WOW now that looks like fun to me.

[dikman]

Quite a contraption, Brian! Of course, for leather work it can be made a lot simpler as no heating elements are required. I use a compressor head for getting a vacuum, I just hook the chamber up to the inlet side of the compressor head, has no trouble pulling 28" of vacuum.

[plinkercases]

I built my press from a wine press kit part.

I believe I got 40 duro foam but honestly cant remember as it was a while ago. I was just thinking the other day of getting some slight softer for the first layer in the press.

I don't actually use the foam all that often as I make so few items I enjoy hand forming and boning.

I do use it where I have made a dummy positive of an item and them press a negative around it. Works great for that... the amazing power of the inclined plain.

Bit of McGyver but it does what I need at my scale.

[Northmount]

Here are links to a few threads here on LW. 

http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/74742-ever-seen-this-vacuum-setup/?tab=comments#comment-491611

http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/27904-leather-holster-forming-vacuum-versus-press/?tab=comments#comment-175367

http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/72326-wet-molding-pressing-in-hydraulic-press-etc-holsters/?tab=comments#comment-473131

http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/22164-cheap-holster-press/

If you want to do a search here, you will find more threads with good information and photos.

Tom

 

[OLDNSLOW]

the 20 ton was not mentioned for the purpose of doing kydex with it, it mentioned as a tool for forming leather holster.  If the thought of  one being used in forming leather then I have to figure that you haven't viewed one being used by a leather worker, or have looked Texas custom dies and the offering for sale their 12 ton hydro press for clicking and forming.  A hydro press was being used with leather long before vacuum came along.

[Sanch]

On 8/7/2017 at 1:10 AM, OLDNSLOW said:

the 20 ton was not mentioned for the purpose of doing kydex with it, it mentioned as a tool for forming leather holster.  If the thought of  one being used in forming leather then I have to figure that you haven't viewed one being used by a leather worker, or have looked Texas custom dies and the offering for sale their 12 ton hydro press for clicking and forming.  A hydro press was being used with leather long before vacuum came along.

NO doubt! I just prefer vacuum !

[OLDNSLOW]

I do as well but have the 12 ton as a back up just I case.