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I gotta brag. My youngest (age 22) came in from college the other night and wanted to make a holster for his XSE Commander. I got him to make a design and tool it in one of my holster front flaps (a junk front flap at that), and then finished the holster after he left to head back to school. It's a tree;



It was sort of cheating with me making the under holster.....experimenting with dyes to make a reptile skin effect. Anyway, I was a proud Papa. I thought it was a fine first effort at leather tooling.

See, I told you that you couldn't make just one. They look great.

Cool! Looks like you are there. Your stitches look great.

Not familiar with them. I would buy 100 stitching needles, a roll of waxed thread, an awl to make the holes, and #5 stitch marking wheel (don't know what you call it, 5 stitches per inch wheel) and you have what you need. Don't buy on of those stitching thingies with the needle and thread and handle, it does a really bad loop stitch that will pull out like opening a zipper.

StrykerDM wrote:This thread is great! Unfortunately, I need another money pit hobby like I need a hole in the head (or so my fiance tells me). I might take a trip to the tandy leather store near me and see some of this stuff for myself. Then its off to start my leather working fund so I can eventually try to make my own holsters! Thanks for all the inspiration guys.

Welcome to the herd. Let us see some builds as you go along. It's better than watching TV...more like eating chips....bet you can't make just one. Then you'll have to get more pistols to make more holsters for, too. You'll have fun. I enjoy it because it's 3D art and design that actually has a use and a purpose other than hanging on the wall collecting dust.

I had trouble with the satin sheen discoloring the alcohol dyes. Making them darker, which isn't always bad. It made their colors more uniform if you are trying to do that.


These are some old ones when just starting playing with tooling...both used the same dye........the lighter one was finished with neutral shoe polish, the darker one was satin sheen.....I wanted it lighter too. The atom balm gives me about the same results a Kiwi neutral shoe polish that I used at that time.

Brad- these are four layer, the one on the left started out for a K frame S&W, but was too tight, note the funky trigger stitching was used to modify it to fit a 1911......the best laid plans.....luckily I made them for relatives

I need to go through the set up again. I know I have too much top tension.

I guess you have figured out that the non oil dyes are alcohol based and the expensive dye thinner ($25 a quart) is IPA. I use the $1.50 a quart, 90% IPA from Walmart to make a wash for antique finishes, very light, several coats. You can also use the wash to darken cut lines by applying liberally and then wiping off the surface, leaving the dye wash in the cuts and grooves.

That one is a single color, light brown wash. The lettering/Texas outline is kept natural leather, just painted the wash around it. The finish is Atom balm/wax, then sprayed with the (CR42 on the label, can't remember the name made by Fiebings) finish spray, which is what Mr. Tucker (Tucker Gunleather) recommended as the sealant and uses on his holsters. I have talked to him by phone a couple of times, and he has given me lots of technique advise. All he asked in return was that if someone asked, I pass the information forward.

Very nice. Your back threads look better than I'm having luck with. I got one of the kits with the different feet and the stirrup base to see how it works on the already molded edge, so I don't have to re-wet and remold, taking all the carving out...Haven't had time to fool with it yet.

This was really nice and deep carving and now has lost a lot of definition; looks more like a line drawing......this is the first one I tried using the stitching machine.


Added a back photo to show you the mid-line stitching that would interfere on the inside if not lined.

Note where the foot chewed on some of the carving You have to tool it before you sew...Oh well, Tucker still has nothing to worry about from my house .

I promise you that every day is new experiment. I've been doing Texas tooling this week, trying to figure a compromise between nice crisp tooling and remolding after using this new stitching machine. All of my techniques have had to change for construction, plus I don't know how to sew using a machine. It's like starting over. I'll post some next week. I want to get a little further along.

Cool. Neat job.

All in favor of Gary doing leather work?? I think it would be a good thing.

It is a cheapo screw driver rack (plastic) that came with some tools one time for the edgers and groovers and stitch spacing wheels. I drilled out a 4x4 for the stamping tools, xacto knives, etc. The lights forward (on the wall) make it difficult to see, I need more light behind me when working......next project.

Ok particle, you inspired me, and I have spent four days making a work bench (cleaning, too). Note the vast number of leather tools on the bench.....joking....I use about 8 to 10 tools, that's it. That's all you need. The rest should be donated to the salvation army for a tax deduction.

The work bench:


The new stitching machine:

CDH wrote:Dang, I was going to post my one attempt, but you guys make it look like a booger! Nice work!

I agree, Nonsense!! You can go back a couple of pages on this post and see mine from a year ago, too. I'm just enjoying the process and three dimensional art and trying to improve. I guarantee I can find a new way to mess up a piece of leather with every holster .

I'm working on an old piece of kitchen counter top supported by some left over kitchen cabinets in a garage workroom. Maybe 3ft of usable work space and 6 sq ft of piled stuff, right now. Nothing neat enough to post to the public like above. Sure don't want it captured for digital evidence of the mess. I will have to change up for the Boss when it gets here. My bench won't support the leverage on the press (sewing machine). A lot of my tools are homemade, catch what catch can .

My point is that there is no need feel embarrassed around us. If I can help or if you have questions about anything, there aren't any trade secrets here. Just ask. No promises that we'll know the answer, either.

Compvest; Tippmann Industries http://www.tippmannindustrial.com/produ ... c9ff79e097
They are on sale this month with good decrease in price.

Particle;
I play guitar several nights a week, lots of finger picking and my fingers are so numb I haven't been able to feel the strings with my right hand, either ( the left is well calloused).....muffing songs I've played thirty years. Hope it doesn't take long to learn how to sew on a machine.