YinTx Report post Posted August 7, 2021 (edited) Been practicing to learn to make Avenger holsters, finally think I have it down well enough to spend time tooling one. Let me know what y'all think! YinTx Edited August 7, 2021 by YinTx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
battlemunky Report post Posted August 7, 2021 Looks great Yin! I've never thought of tooling an avenger due to lack of area but I reckon there's a good chunk now that I see yours. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garypl Report post Posted August 8, 2021 I like it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AzShooter Report post Posted August 8, 2021 Very nice work. Stitching is dead on and so is your tooling. I'd be proud to own it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tsunkasapa Report post Posted August 8, 2021 Nicely done. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YinTx Report post Posted August 9, 2021 On 8/7/2021 at 5:39 PM, battlemunky said: Looks great Yin! I've never thought of tooling an avenger due to lack of area but I reckon there's a good chunk now that I see yours. Thanks, and yes quite a bit of tooling space on the reinforcing panel. I opted to not use a lot of it due to the large bend, but you could probably get a lot more in there than I did. Also, the panel I accidentally slid it a bit to the back when I put it together, so some of what you should see on the front is moved a bit to the back. On 8/7/2021 at 7:01 PM, garypl said: I like it! Thank you! On 8/7/2021 at 7:05 PM, AzShooter said: Very nice work. Stitching is dead on and so is your tooling. I'd be proud to own it. Appreciate that, opted to do the stitching by hand instead of machine on this one since I put the time into tooling. It is for sale.... On 8/7/2021 at 7:43 PM, tsunkasapa said: Nicely done. Thanks! 13 hours ago, JLSleather said: 'preciate it! YinTx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLSleather Report post Posted August 9, 2021 9 hours ago, YinTx said: he panel I accidentally slid it a bit to the back when I put it together, so some of what you should see on the front is moved a bit to the back. I think the "wrap around" adds to the look -- I wouldn't change it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PastorBob Report post Posted August 9, 2021 Very nice. I have been doing the Avenger style for a bit now, using Slick Bald's patterns. Have you received any comments on the holster being unlined? All of mine are made with two 5-6 oz. pieces glued together, flesh to flesh, so they are smooth inside and out. If you haven't, I may switch to a single layer with the wrap around part. What thickness leather are you using? Again - Beautiful!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YinTx Report post Posted August 9, 2021 (edited) 23 minutes ago, PastorBob said: Very nice. I have been doing the Avenger style for a bit now, using Slick Bald's patterns. Have you received any comments on the holster being unlined? All of mine are made with two 5-6 oz. pieces glued together, flesh to flesh, so they are smooth inside and out. If you haven't, I may switch to a single layer with the wrap around part. What thickness leather are you using? Again - Beautiful!! Thank you. I've just started these, so haven't landed on a weight yet, and they haven't had an opportunity to get user comments yet. I've used everything from 7 oz to 10 oz. See my posts in the Critique my work section (link below). Lobo discussed leather weights in that thread. The first holster on the left I attempted to line, which required a lot of effort to ensure stitch lines matched. I didn't like how the inside wrinkled, and it was difficult to wet form and bone. How do you manage yours? This particular tooled holster was made from 8-10 oz leather. YinTx Edited August 9, 2021 by YinTx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PastorBob Report post Posted August 9, 2021 4 minutes ago, YinTx said: Thank you. I've just started these, so haven't landed on a weight yet, and they haven't had an opportunity to get user comments yet. I've used everything from 7 oz to 10 oz. See my posts in the Help me section. This particular holster was made from 8-10 oz leather. I tried to make a lined holster, but didn't like how the inside wrinkled, how do you manage yours? YinTx I cut both pieces, then glue them together. I then will even up all the edges, either by cutting away or sanding. Then I start bending it where the fold will be, slowly, and I continue to work it open and closed. Apply glue. I will then fold it over so that the front facing side is slightly within the outer edge of the back side and hammer it down. Then I trim edges again. I have had one that wrinkled slightly, but the client was fine with that. Said he would rather have a slight wrinkle vs. having the gun against the raw flesh side of the leather. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLSleather Report post Posted August 9, 2021 Double 5/6 would be too heavy for me, even worse with the "reinf" panel / belt piece. Too much. You know, each his own. But I have done double 4/5, and also 4/5 lined with 3/4. Cut the outside from the pattern, then put the liner in on a curve. Jim Simmons covered this very well in the holster section - no need to reinvent that wheel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YinTx Report post Posted August 10, 2021 3 hours ago, JLSleather said: Double 5/6 would be too heavy for me, even worse with the "reinf" panel / belt piece. Too much. You know, each his own. But I have done double 4/5, and also 4/5 lined with 3/4. Cut the outside from the pattern, then put the liner in on a curve. Jim Simmons covered this very well in the holster section - no need to reinvent that wheel. I have read Jim's method, yes. But what I had me a bit flummoxed was how to stitch along the top edge and the bottom edge *after* it had been glued on a curve/ over a form. So I had it in my mind that I had to stitch the top and the bottom first, then form it. Otherwise, PITA to stitch, even by hand, and I suspect not possible with machine? You would have to leave them both unstitched. Which seemed to invite separation in the future, especially the top line. I'll work my way down to the thinner leathers as I get comfy with them performing over time, I am sure. The more I see others are using thinner leathers without issue, the more relaxed I'll be about it. The 7 oz Avenger I did just seemed... floppy. Especially around the belt slot. Maybe it isn't really an issue tho? YinTx Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLSleather Report post Posted August 10, 2021 56 minutes ago, YinTx said: PITA to stitch, even by hand, and I suspect not possible with machine? never had a problem sewing after curved. by hand, that's what hand sewin' is fer and simple to sew on a cylinder arm machine, though a flat bed would be harder (I have been known to put the outside through a flatbed to "poke" the holes in the outer layer, then line, then 'chase' the holes with an awl through the inner layer. I don't leave it NOT sewn. To be clear, then, I'm talking about doing your toolin', ... whatever. Then gluing that over the main body, sew with about maybe a 105°- 135° bend in it. Shape as you line, so u got basically a U shape.. might be what.. 1 1/2" - 2" gap between the back end? Sew between the stitch lines, top 'n'' bottom. You seen my patterns, so that should make sense enough without further gabbin'. Finish as any other ... (I do scuff the lining a bit to make the glue bite a bit better - just scribe a line and stay outside that with your 'scuffer'.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
