Homemade Leather Holsters

[Baba Brad]

Thank you. I think my work is getting better, not as good as your's, but getting there.

My next project is a minimalist IWB. Not a pouch and clip type (although that is on the paper also), but a semi-slide tuckable. I hope

I'm taking pictures from concept to finish and if anyone is interested, I'll post them when I'm done.

[RiverRat]

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.

[nmsu]

B Brad very nice work.

[particle]

I just finished this little guy up yesterday for my dad's boss... He let me borrow his 3" 1911 (my blue dummy gun hasn't arrived yet). It was a new pattern for me, so it could use some tweaking on the next one I make - like bringing the stitch line in closer to the gun in the left/right direction. Otherwise, I'm pretty pleased with the outcome. The first pattern I made was WAAAAAY to wide, and much too long - that, or my cut line at the top was too high and I couldn't insert the gun far enough... Anyway, here it is. I was impressed with how much easier it was to carry a 3" aluminum framed 1911 when compared to my 4.25" stainless CBOB.

[RiverRat]

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 .

[particle]

That looks awesome RiverRat! I love the color and the tooling! I'm not brave enough to try tooling yet... I can't really tell with the backside of your stitching, but one thing I noticed with my Boss was that the bobbin tension was set WAY too tight. Loosen the top two tensions all the way, then tighten per the manual. Something like two turns on the secondary, and one and a half on the primary - whatever the manual says. Loosen the bobbin thread until you can see the bobbin thread coming through the top side of the leather, then gradually turn the bobbin tension in 1/8th turn increments until the knot is recessed half-way down.

Can you share what color / technique you used to dye that holster?

[RiverRat]

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.

[particle]

Awesome - I love Tucker's holsters. Would love to buy one some day (the HF1). Thanks for the tips - I'll have to give the atom balm/wax a try - saw it on the shelf, but went with Satin Sheen per the guy at Tandy's advice. Not sure how well it protects from moisture - but then again, guns don't tend to like moisture anyway...

[RiverRat]

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

[StrykerDM]

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.

[RiverRat]

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.

[StrykerDM]

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.

Do you guys know of any good places to get one of those tandy leather stitching kits? I saw some on ebay for about $70 and that's the cheapest I've been able to find...

[RiverRat]

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.

[bitone40]

here is one that I made for my friends CZ 82 , he wanted a black black look to match the dura coat finish , he was very please and super happy, the mark on top of the trigger guard is a actual seperation on the gun that I followed during the boning process and that half moon on the lower left is a super tiny mark that was on the leather and it sticks out like a sore thumb in the picture , sorry for the cell phone pics, Im getting me a photo box so I can take some quality pictures and I have more holsters coming

[bitone40]

heres another one for my a friends wife and her S&W airweight, this one will allow a shirt to be fully tuckable , the clip on the right has a slit that goes halfway down the holster to allow tucking of a shirt , you just cant tell with the phone pic,