wizard of tragacanth Report post Posted October 6, 2019 Are there two sides on this holster? Just kidding! It looks okay for a first effort... way better than mine did. I wouldn't even show my first one. It would look better with the tape off of the gun and maybe a nice background. Since I mentioned backgrounds, I wonder how others feel about the backgrounds for pics. I like both workbench photos, with tools around and I like more "set-up" type, with a nice surface of some type (more like a catalog pic). nick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GnewVFL Report post Posted October 8, 2019 Thanks! I appreciate the feedback really good advice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wizard of tragacanth Report post Posted October 8, 2019 Hey... that looks much better! I'm nit-picking now but in this pic, the curved edge of the holster, going around the stitching, looks a bit uneven. It's not a smooth curve. You could still fix that. Use a sanding block to smooth it out. Try something in the range of 120 - 150 - 220 grit It won't take much at all, just a few sweeping strokes. You will have to re-dye the area, probably. Use a q-tip. I can't see the edges of the holster but it looks like they may not be burnished. Burnishing is not necessary but it does add a professional touch. Search this site for "burnishing the edges of a holster" for details. Did you put a finish on this holster, or just buff it? nick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GnewVFL Report post Posted October 8, 2019 You’re absolutely right it was a little uneven! That was the only picture I had of the bk as it was a holster for a friend of mine and I gave it to bk to him already. That picture was before I wet formed at the end. I did exactly what you said but instead of a sanding block I used my spindle sander. I sanded re dyed , wet formed and then eco flo super sheen at the end. I’ve been using a few of my friends guns and making them holsters for practice. I did burnish the edges using just water but as you can see didn’t go so well.You can still see the gap in the leather on the edge but it’s very faint. Since then I bought some eco flo gum tragacanth and an attachment for my dremel. When you burnish the ends of the leather are you doing it before the project is one complete piece, separate pieces or both? I’m sure that seems like such a dumb question thanks for your patience.What are your steps? You don’t seem nit picky at all! I need all the info I can get and I appreciate everything. This was the finished product on the holster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wizard of tragacanth Report post Posted October 8, 2019 (edited) Oh yeah... looking much better here. Yes, I said sanding block but of course, a spindle sander performs the same function. I use either one, at different times. The steps for each process can vary depending on several things. Sometimes you will have an edge that is impossible or difficult to burnish if the holster were already assembled. In that case, you have to burnish it before assembly. Any edges that meet should be sanded after the holster is assembled and then burnished together. You said that there is a gap in the leather but I cannot see it in the pic, so I cannot comment on it. Did you use an edge beveler (aka edger, aka beveler) before sanding and burnishing? At the top left of the pic, where the leather goes over the sights, it looks like there is a "burr" there, like when sharpening a knife. Beveling knocks off the corners of the leather so that this doesn't happen. So, edge first, then sand, then burnish. Where edges meet, you will only edge the grain side because the flesh side needs to be flat, to make it look like one piece after burnishing. When sanding two-ply edges, make sure to get all of the glue off or it will spoil the look. It appears that your inside stitch line could/should be closer to the gun, as close as you can get it. After a while, the glue will release and the fit will become sloppy. The glue is really mostly to hold the holster together while it is being stitched and to make the edges a solid unit. The stitching is to keep the gun in position where it should be. You are really doing well... keep it up! nick Edited October 8, 2019 by wizard of tragacanth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wizard of tragacanth Report post Posted October 8, 2019 Here is an example of burnishing both before and after assembly. The tan reinforcement had to be burnished on the bottom edge before assembly and had to be sanded and burnished on the top edge after assembly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GnewVFL Report post Posted October 9, 2019 Invaluable advice! Thank you for taking the time to break it down for me. Very helpful for a rookie like myself and I’m grateful thanks again. I’m gonna keep trying! Thats an awesome holster I really dig it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
