Questions on pocket holster

[Kayak15]

Here is a photo of the pocket holster I made this afternoon for a Kel Tec P3AT. I copied it from one I saw for sale on the internet earlier today. It's made with rough side out so it will stick to the pocket better. It's currently drying right now from mild molding and that's why the seran wrap in the photo.

Anyway, my question is what should I finish it with, if anything? I saw the one's that Randy posted recently (they look great by the way) and he said he used a tan coat finish. What is "a tan coat finish" and will it make the holster slick so it doesn't grip the pocket as well? Also, does anyone dye them rough side out? Any advice on finishing is appreciated.

Note to Randy, I know you like the bottom left open a bit, but I was worried about lint and stuff in the bottom of the pocket getting into the barrel (yeah, I know, wash the pants with the pockets insideout.)

I did trim and burnish the edges per advice on one of my other two holsters.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj266/k...cketholster.jpg

Thanks in advance for comments and advice.

Kayak15

[Billsotx]

tan kote is a finish by Fiebings: http://www.german-shoerepair.com/00224.html

[Randyc]

Kayak,

Great job on your pocket holster. Real nice stitch job too. Whether you stitch the bottom or leave it open is just a builder preference. Pocket crud will enter a holster from both the top and bottom of the holster. I have big hands and fingers. I sometimes find it tough to clean out the bottom of the holster if I stitched it closed. I use tankote to treat the outside of the holsters that I plan to leave a natural color. I have dyed holsters rough side out. It's easier for me to get an even coat if I dip the leather into dye rather then trying to brush the dye on. Tankote will slicken up your holster a bit, but your front and back hooks will help keep your holster in your pocket.

As far as light molding, it ok to wrap your weapon in seran wrap. Once I finish my molding, I remove the pistol from the holster while the leather is still damp. The leather will shrink a bit while drying, but you will still have a good fit.

I don't use seran wrap myself. My construction steps are as follows.

1.After patterning, cutting, evening, edgeing,and dyeing, I glue the holster together with (Barges Cement)

2. I layout my stitch lines with a groover.

3. I stitch the holster.

4. I soak the holster for 15-30 seconds in hot tap water with a couple of drops of "Dawn" dish soap.

5. I let the holster dry to the point of the leathers natural color returning and the leather feeling cool to the touch.

6. I wipe the pistol down with a lightly oiled rag.

7. I place the pistol (naked without seran wrap) into the holster.

8. I mold the holster to my satisfaction.

9. I remove the pistol from the holster as soon as I'm finished molding.

10. I allow the holster to dry.

11. I finish and burnish the edges

12. I photograph the holster.

13. I post the photo on this forum for you guys to critique, praise, laugh at or write whatever you guys think of my holsters.

Randy

[Kayak15]

Thanks for the play by play Randy. I'll print it out and put it in my pattern folder, which now has a total of 3 patterns for holsters. I must confess that I am enjoying making holsters. I'm also really enjoying the information shared by those that have gone before me.

I hate to confess I never even thought of dyeing my holster prior to stitching. I guess I just thought of that as the last step. Makes sense though when I think about it. However, If you dye before molding, does it hurt the dye to be immersed into the water? Does the dye ever get distorted from streching/molding?

Thanks for the nice comments as well! I must admit to a small bit of pride however misplaced it might be. It is really nice to actually make something that will be around for a while.

Kayak15

Kayak15

[Randyc]

Kayak

Using a spirit based dye, I've not had any problems with the dye running off after I wet the leather. Some holster makers dye after stitching and molding. Some mold before stitching then dye. It's all in how you want to do it. I just find it easier to obtain an even dye job on a flat piece of leather. You will develop you own style as you go along. Now get busy and build more holsters.

Randy