Farting around with leather.

[hawgrider]

Dug out some leather tools and leather scraps my dad had and figured I'd take a stab at making some knife sheaths and gun holsters.

Nope never messed with leather much before so don't expect much from a novice.


https://i.imgur.com/HzHFTfK.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/VpmKYDQ.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/WSwqFYa.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/O5VRJb6.jpg

Yep chrome tanned leather doesn't tool for crap as can be seen by the weakness of my deer stamp.

And yup first crack at the saddle stitch is pretty ruff but strong and functional so who cares right?

[hawgrider]

Sheath number 2 is a little better. Tried some double knot lacing on this one.

And slapped together a little pocket knife sleeve to keep my new Case yellow peanut from getting scratched up while in my pocket with other stuff.

https://i.imgur.com/fTaOyJG.jpg



Replacing the old original sheath seen next to the one in progress.

https://i.imgur.com/PGkVA8L.jpg


And learned chrome tanned leather doesn't wet mold for beans either. But it works and its what I had on hand.

The little sleeve for the peanut knife is made from a tiny piece of veg tanned that was in the scrap pile.

https://i.imgur.com/MKwHd9v.jpg

[hag]

Pretty good work as far as im concerned..... i give it the redneck stamp of approval

[hawgrider]

So I bought a hunk of Veg tanned belly to play with.

https://i.imgur.com/UgrA5Lr.jpg




And proceeded to make a pattern for my old Colt Mark IV Government .380 that you cannot find or buy a holster for.

https://i.imgur.com/RXvOAMi.jpg



https://i.imgur.com/yKdBaaT.jpg





Cut out the pattern from the veg tanned belly. First test fit yeah looks like it will work.

https://i.imgur.com/2H9AIYb.jpg



Glued it up and stitched it. Getting ready to wet mold it for a true custom fit.

https://i.imgur.com/pds73nb.jpg

[hawgrider]

Pretty good work as far as im concerned..... i give it the redneck stamp of approval

Why thankee sir. Thats what I was figgering its good enough for who its for right?

[Inor]

Nicely done!

[hawgrider]

Another test fit by God this may just work..

https://i.imgur.com/pqUTNpN.jpg



Here is the back side still not real pretty but again good enough for who its for.

https://i.imgur.com/JnQywGC.jpg

[hawgrider]

And here we go with the wet molding-

https://i.imgur.com/JEv5tgY.jpg



Ive got it almost done now but I need to take a couple more pics so maybe tonight I can get that done.

[Broncosfan]

Sheath number 2 is a little better. Tried some double knot lacing on this one.

And slapped together a little pocket knife sleeve to keep my new Case yellow peanut from getting scratched up while in my pocket with other stuff.

https://i.imgur.com/fTaOyJG.jpg



Replacing the old original sheath seen next to the one in progress.

https://i.imgur.com/PGkVA8L.jpg


And learned chrome tanned leather doesn't wet mold for beans either. But it works and its what I had on hand.

The little sleeve for the peanut knife is made from a tiny piece of veg tanned that was in the scrap pile.

https://i.imgur.com/MKwHd9v.jpg

That looks like the same Case Peanut I have. Dad gave it to me for a Birthday years ago. It looks cool in a sheath.

[hawgrider]

That looks like the same Case Peanut I have. Dad gave it to me for a Birthday years ago. It looks cool in a sheath.

It is a case yellow peanut. I love that thing. My Ole lady got that for me this year for Christmas. Quality knife! Perfect for the pocket.

She found me an really old yellow peanut at a garage sale a few years back for 2 bucks but I wont carry it because its soooooo old and worth a few bucks now.

[shootbrownelk]

Your leather work looks great!

[hawgrider]

Your leather work looks great!

Ahh you are too kind... thanks it can only get better right? Practice practice practice.

I'm thinking this will keep me busy in retirement and its fun! I'm enjoying learning and playing with it.

Tooling the fancy designs? Yeah thats another story sheesh I ain't no artist thats for sure.

[shootbrownelk]

That looks like fun. Maybe I'll try doing some leatherwork if I ever get caught up on all the other irons I have in the fire. I need to finish my 65 mustang and my 1930 Chrysler hot rod. And I need to sell my 57 Pontiac 2 dr. and my 1937 Pontiac 5 window coupe. I guess I won't try leatherwork after all.

[hawgrider]

That looks like fun. Maybe I'll try doing some leatherwork if I ever get caught up on all the other irons I have in the fire. I need to finish my 65 mustang and my 1930 Chrysler hot rod. And I need to sell my 57 Pontiac 2 dr. and my 1937 Pontiac 5 window coupe. I guess I won't try leatherwork after all.

You are working with some nice American iron there!

[hag]

Ahh you are too kind... thanks it can only get better right? Practice practice practice.

I'm thinking this will keep me busy in retirement and its fun! I'm enjoying learning and playing with it.

Tooling the fancy designs? Yeah thats another story sheesh I ain't no artist thats for sure.

I wanted to learn saddle making since i was a kid and still do but like you said.... i aint no artist hahahaha

[hawgrider]

I wanted to learn saddle making since i was a kid and still do but like you said.... i aint no artist hahahaha

Yup I tried a couple little tooling projects and yeah... even with a traced pattern its an art.... I probably won't be good for much but maybe a border. I was a chicken shit to even try a border on my holster cuz one wrong hit on a stamp and its game over and that would piss me off!
So like a chicken shit would do I took the safe route and am not going to do any tooling on it. LOL!

[hag]

Other than basic harness repairs i am useless although i would love to learn

[Innkeeper]

Excellent work there Hawg, everyone who makes stuff started out where you are today, perseverance and time are great masters who will give you the experience to get better if you keep at it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hawgrider]

Excellent work there Hawg, everyone who makes stuff started out where you are today, perseverance and time are great masters who will give you the experience to get better if you keep at it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks yeah I look at Dwights stuff and Infidels Im a looooog ways from that kinda work. But Im just doing it for fun and relaxing busy work. If it earns me a beer down the road fine but if it turns into a job then it won't be fun anymore...

[Broncosfan]

I have 2 now. A yellow and a red. I don't carry either just becasue Dad got them for me. One day I'm going to get a blue one.

Your leather work looks great! Keep it up!

[hawgrider]

I have 2 now. A yellow and a red. I don't carry either just becasue Dad got them for me. One day I'm going to get a blue one.

Your leather work looks great! Keep it up!Really blue and a red peanut? Didn't know and have never seen one....
goggling it now!

Edited: Well shucks those are sweet! I must have all of them!!!



https://www.knifeworks.com/media/catalog/product/cache/6b2c9ff51c70bc3d53a3228867adaed9/k/n/knifework-ca2802.jpg

https://www.knivesplus.com/media/CA-25333.jpg

[hag]

My son has the white one

[Inor]

What amazes me with guys like you, Dwight and Stu is how do you figure out what shape and how big to cut the leather for something like a holster or sheath when you going to be folding it over? The stitching and tooling etc. does not seem that different than wooding where it just takes time and experience to develop the motor skills to do it well. But the planning out the parts is something I just cannot get my wood-head brain wrapped around.

[hawgrider]

My son has the white one

White too.. Ive been under a rock apparently.

[Broncosfan]

Here5843 is mine. The red is a little different that the one you posted. Their about 20 yrs old

[hawgrider]

What amazes me with guys like you, Dwight and Stu is how do you figure out what shape and how big to cut the leather for something like a holster or sheath when you going to be folding it over? The stitching and tooling etc. does not seem that different than wooding where it just takes time and experience to develop the motor skills to do it well. But the planning out the parts is something I just cannot get my wood-head brain wrapped around.

You saw the erase marks on my pattern right LOL.

Youtube is a pretty damn good resource for leather how too vids.

[hawgrider]

Here5843 is mine. The red is a little different that the one you posted. Their about 20 yrs old

I saw that red one when I was looking I actually like that one better.

[hawgrider]

Here5843 is mine. The red is a little different that the one you posted. Their about 20 yrs old

like this one-

https://www.gpknives.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/800x/17f82f742ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/0/6/06987_2_/case-red-cv-peanut-34.jpg

[Broncosfan]

The John Deere Green is really cool too if your a John Deere fan. There is also a John Deere yellow. Yes there're more different Peanut's than you can imagine

[hawgrider]

The John Deere Green is really cool too if your a John Deere fan. There is also a John Deere yellow. Yes there're more different Peanut's than you can imagine

I got hooked on the antique yellow peanut my ole lady found. Its in great shape and the old guy she got it from said he carried it every day since he was about 14. Its so nice and so old I just can't carry it to use so she got me this new one and I love it. I was carrying my old timer before this one. The peanut is a little smaller than my old timer.

[Broncosfan]

I got hooked on the antique yellow peanut my ole lady found. Its in great shape and the old guy she got it from said he carried it every day since he was about 14. Its so nice and so old I just can't carry it to use so she got me this new one and I love it. I was carrying my old timer before this one. The peanut is a little smaller than my old timer.

Does the older one have carbon steel blades? My yellow one does but the red has stainless blades

[hawgrider]

Does the older one have carbon steel blades? My yellow one does but the red has stainless blades

Yes my antique peanut has carbon steel blades.

[Infidel]

Great work Hawg, you've got a good start going there. Practice, practice, practice when it comes to tooling. I'm still a hack when it comes to tooling, it's getting better but there are people out there that make me look like a chump. An eraser is your best friend when it comes to pattern making, I'm constantly readjusting things as I go. I also mock up my designs using file folders so I know before I trace the pattern whether or not my design is going to work. The upside of that is that the file folders make better templates than plain paper. One piece of advice is to stay away from chrome tanned leather for the stuff you're doing. The salts from the chrome tanning process will cause rust in knife and gun steels. Chrome tanned leather is usually used for garments and upholstery leather. Dwight helped me out when I was just starting out (I think we were all still over at PF) by sending me a holster tutorial from when he was teaching a leather class. He might be willing to share it with you. It was a great resource and I would look back at it every time I made a holster for the first year or 2, I lost it (along with every thing else on the drive) when my hard drive crashed last month.

The thing I have the most trouble with when laying out templates is remembering to account for the thickness of the leather. I don't know why I have so much trouble with it but I almost always forget to factor it in when I make the first template for a new project, this isn't really a problem for anything where there's a front or a back, I usually just have to move the stitch lines but for a fold over style project like your knife sheaths I usually have to start over, that can be frustrating. The other thing that can be very frustrating is cutting pieces for a right handed holster and finding out you had the wrong side up on the template. I've taken to marking all my templates in red sharpie for left and right hand. For awhile I had a bunch of left handed back pieces for holsters in my scrap box.

If you're buying leather get on the mailing list for Tandy leather, they have regular sales and you can buy economy grade double shoulders dirt cheap which will give you plenty of material to practice on as well as make projects from. They may not be the nicest looking pieces but there's plenty of usable leather there. Tandy also offers a military/first responders appreciation program which gives you their elite level pricing even if you're no longer serving. Weaver leather has a similar program also.

Bottom line, keep at it Hawg you're off to a great start and you obviously an eye for the work.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

Great work Hawg, you've got a good start going there. Practice, practice, practice when it comes to tooling. I'm still a hack when it comes to tooling, it's getting better but there are people out there that make me look like a chump. An eraser is your best friend when it comes to pattern making, I'm constantly readjusting things as I go. I also mock up my designs using file folders so I know before I trace the pattern whether or not my design is going to work. The upside of that is that the file folders make better templates than plain paper. One piece of advice is to stay away from chrome tanned leather for the stuff you're doing. The salts from the chrome tanning process will cause rust in knife and gun steels. Chrome tanned leather is usually used for garments and upholstery leather. Dwight helped me out when I was just starting out (I think we were all still over at PF) by sending me a holster tutorial from when he was teaching a leather class. He might be willing to share it with you. It was a great resource and I would look back at it every time I made a holster for the first year or 2, I lost it (along with every thing else on the drive) when my hard drive crashed last month.

The thing I have the most trouble with when laying out templates is remembering to account for the thickness of the leather. I don't know why I have so much trouble with it but I almost always forget to factor it in when I make the first template for a new project, this isn't really a problem for anything where there's a front or a back, I usually just have to move the stitch lines but for a fold over style project like your knife sheaths I usually have to start over, that can be frustrating. The other thing that can be very frustrating is cutting pieces for a right handed holster and finding out you had the wrong side up on the template. I've taken to marking all my templates in red sharpie for left and right hand. For awhile I had a bunch of left handed back pieces for holsters in my scrap box.

If you're buying leather get on the mailing list for Tandy leather, they have regular sales and you can buy economy grade double shoulders dirt cheap which will give you plenty of material to practice on as well as make projects from. They may not be the nicest looking pieces but there's plenty of usable leather there. Tandy also offers a military/first responders appreciation program which gives you their elite level pricing even if you're no longer serving. Weaver leather has a similar program also.

Bottom line, keep at it Hawg you're off to a great start and you obviously an eye for the work.

-Infidel

Thanks good tips there already... Did not know Chrome tanned would wreck havoc on metals. Sooooo it looks like my 2 practice knife sheaths are junk then. Thats Ok They were part of the learning curve so Ill redo them with veg tan as soon as I get a chance.

I requested a 100th anniversary Tandy catalog which came in the mail a couple weeks ago I almost ordered the double shoulder you mentioned but then Hobby Lobby a local store had these bellys for 30% off so I figured Id try a couple small projects first. It runs from about 6 to 8 oz. Thin in the middle to about 7 or 8 oz on the ends. So far I like the 8 oz for holsters and sheaths. I will definitely order the double shoulder next.

My saddle stitch sucks so far... I have some pricking iron in 2 sizes and an awl but Im not getting the results Im looking for yet. I'm a machine upholstery sewing guy so I have never hand stitched much and it shows but... practice makes better and Id love to snag an old walking foot machine to chunk out some heavy leather sewing but thats way up the road.

PS- Yeah good idea to use a heavier folder material for pattern making.

[BucketBack]

Good Job There

[hawgrider]

Good Job There

Learned sumpthin today bout the chrome tanned leather. Junk those sheaths and start again don't want no rusty knives. I'll use them for the pattern for the veg tanned replacements so I don't have to go through all the measuring stuff again on the first two sheaths I did.

[hawgrider]

So here it is mostly done. Its a nice tight fit for retention. The stain I used was some my dad had its probably 25 years old and has frozen in the garage for most of those years but its what I had it doesn't look to bad I kinda like it. I may make it a little darker before I put a top coat finisher on it.

Overall I'm pretty happy with it. There are a few things I learned not to do on my next holster. Stitching and placement of the stitching holes is the main thing to work on.

https://i.imgur.com/BgZep9H.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/bht3oUn.jpg

[RubberDuck]

I think you need a matching double spare mag pouch.
That turned out nice now I expect to see it worn at more cookouts

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[hawgrider]

I think you need a matching double spare mag pouch.
That turned out nice now I expect to see it worn at more cookouts

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Spare mag holder is a good idea.

It's pretty darn comfy on the hip and the forward cant is right where I like it. The Mark IV has been discontinued for so long now they just don't make holsters for it let alone left handed holsters.

[Inor]

VERY NICE!!!!

[hawgrider]

VERY NICE!!!!

Not bad for first crack at it. Thanks!

[Slippy]

Awesome work Hawg!

[A Watchman]

Well done Hawg!

[Innkeeper]

Excellent job, I would not think it is your first go round.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Inor]

Excellent job, I would not think it is your first go round.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Indeed. Mine would look like an uncooked 20" pizza crust flapped over a pistol.

[Infidel]

Thanks good tips there already... Did not know Chrome tanned would wreck havoc on metals. Sooooo it looks like my 2 practice knife sheaths are junk then. Thats Ok They were part of the learning curve so Ill redo them with veg tan as soon as I get a chance.

I requested a 100th anniversary Tandy catalog which came in the mail a couple weeks ago I almost ordered the double shoulder you mentioned but then Hobby Lobby a local store had these bellys for 30% off so I figured Id try a couple small projects first. It runs from about 6 to 8 oz. Thin in the middle to about 7 or 8 oz on the ends. So far I like the 8 oz for holsters and sheaths. I will definitely order the double shoulder next.

My saddle stitch sucks so far... I have some pricking iron in 2 sizes and an awl but Im not getting the results Im looking for yet. I'm a machine upholstery sewing guy so I have never hand stitched much and it shows but... practice makes better and Id love to snag an old walking foot machine to chunk out some heavy leather sewing but thats way up the road.

PS- Yeah good idea to use a heavier folder material for pattern making.
You could probably get away with using the chrome tan stuff as long as you don't store your knives in the sheaths but you're probably better off rebuilding, it's just not worth the chance of rust.

The last time they ran the sale on the double shoulder it was a 2 day flash sale and they were $39.99ea. so it pays to be on the email list. I bought 4 of the 7-8oz but they ended up sending 5-6, when I contacted the store they said they didn't have anymore 7-8oz so they sent me 2 7-9oz sides for the same price as the 4 7-8oz double shoulders. That was a big win for me since it gives me strips long enough for fat guy belts of which I need a couple new ones. If you have a local store it's better to go in and pick your leather, I usually make the 1hr road trip when they have big sales since the shipping is so high.

I struggled with my stitching for a long time . The awl and I still don't get along very well. I've gone to stitching chisels which I can drive all the way through the piece unless there's a substantial welt. I know some guys use a drill press for their stitching holes, I've never tried it but I have heard that it works well. The downside is that you're removing material and the holes can't close up. That shouldn't be a huge issue if you use an appropriate bit and thread size. Eventually I'll break down and buy a machine for larger project such as belt and guitar straps which I seem to be doing a lot of lately. I just can't spend 4 hours stitching those pieces and still charge a reasonable amount for them. I don't know what you're using for thread but I just finished my first project using Ritza Tiger thread which is a waxed braided nylon thread. I was using thread from Tandy which is a waxed twisted nylon. I doubt I'll go back to the Tandy stuff, the Ritza is sooooo much nicer to use, there's no excess wax to strip off and the thread glides through the stitching holes like butter.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

You could probably get away with using the chrome tan stuff as long as you don't store your knives in the sheaths but you're probably better off rebuilding, it's just not worth the chance of rust.

The last time they ran the sale on the double shoulder it was a 2 day flash sale and they were $39.99ea. so it pays to be on the email list. I bought 4 of the 7-8oz but they ended up sending 5-6, when I contacted the store they said they didn't have anymore 7-8oz so they sent me 2 7-9oz sides for the same price as the 4 7-8oz double shoulders. That was a big win for me since it gives me strips long enough for fat guy belts of which I need a couple new ones. If you have a local store it's better to go in and pick your leather, I usually make the 1hr road trip when they have big sales since the shipping is so high.

I struggled with my stitching for a long time . The awl and I still don't get along very well. I've gone to stitching chisels which I can drive all the way through the piece unless there's a substantial welt. I know some guys use a drill press for their stitching holes, I've never tried it but I have heard that it works well. The downside is that you're removing material and the holes can't close up. That shouldn't be a huge issue if you use an appropriate bit and thread size. Eventually I'll break down and buy a machine for larger project such as belt and guitar straps which I seem to be doing a lot of lately. I just can't spend 4 hours stitching those pieces and still charge a reasonable amount for them. I don't know what you're using for thread but I just finished my first project using Ritza Tiger thread which is a waxed braided nylon thread. I was using thread from Tandy which is a waxed twisted nylon. I doubt I'll go back to the Tandy stuff, the Ritza is sooooo much nicer to use, there's no excess wax to strip off and the thread glides through the stitching holes like butter.

-Infidel
Im just going to redo those first 2 sheaths its no biggie I'll cut them open and use them for a quick pattern to cut the news ones from the veg tan.

The waxed thread I have was left in my dads box of stuff its very old, very strong and waxed other than that Im not sure what it is. My guess would be its a Tandy product from the 1980's


I did use a drill on the sheath I laced and like you said the holes don't fill in because the material is removed. It worked OK but for the wax thread I like the look of the punched holes from the forks. I just need to get a couple smaller forks so I can get around corners. And Im still not convinced Im doing the saddle stitch correctly. I see some guys bring the needle through a loop and some not. A stitching horse would help me to have both hands free to make sure I am consistent with the way Im threading that saddle stitch. The saddle is a pretty easy stitch but.... It seems any inconsistency shows up easily.

[hawgrider]

Question for the leather guys-
I need to put a finisher top coat on my sheaths and holsters.
Satin? Or gloss? Tandy sheen product?

And the big question is do you treat the inside of the holsters and sheaths with the finishing coat product? I did put water based stain on the inside so any moisture from sweat or rain the stain could lift right?

[Infidel]

Question for the leather guys-
I need to put a finisher top coat on my sheaths and holsters.
Satin? Or gloss? Tandy sheen product?

And the big question is do you treat the inside of the holsters and sheaths with the finishing coat product? I did put water based stain on the inside so any moisture from sweat or rain the stain could lift right?

I always seal the inside of sheaths and holsters, mostly to avoid transference of the to the gun or knife. I use Resolene (which is a Feibing's product) generally but lately I've kind of gravitated towards Weaver's Leather Balm with Atom Wax which is more of a conditioner than an acrylic top coat like the Shene products or Resolene. I've been told also that you can use a 50/50 mix f water and Mop & Glo which is supposed to be a very close approximation of Resolene. I've never tried the Mop & Glo route since I buy Resolene by the Quart and it lasts about forever. You can also just finish it out with a Mink oil or similar leather conditioner if you prefer. Satin or Gloss, I usually go glossy and have been able to get a super shiny finish from Resolene but can also get a more satiny finish by using fewer coats of it. Check out the forums over at Leatherworker.net. The place is chock full of people willing to help and there's plenty of projects posted daily to give you ideas & inspiration on a new project.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

I always seal the inside of sheaths and holsters, mostly to avoid transference of the to the gun or knife. I use Resolene (which is a Feibing's product) generally but lately I've kind of gravitated towards Weaver's Leather Balm with Atom Wax which is more of a conditioner than an acrylic top coat like the Shene products or Resolene. I've been told also that you can use a 50/50 mix f water and Mop & Glo which is supposed to be a very close approximation of Resolene. I've never tried the Mop & Glo route since I buy Resolene by the Quart and it lasts about forever. You can also just finish it out with a Mink oil or similar leather conditioner if you prefer. Satin or Gloss, I usually go glossy and have been able to get a super shiny finish from Resolene but can also get a more satiny finish by using fewer coats of it. Check out the forums over at Leatherworker.net. The place is chock full of people willing to help and there's plenty of projects posted daily to give you ideas & inspiration on a new project.

-Infidel

Lots of options there thanks Infidel. This stuff can easily consume all my play time I think I've been bit by the leather bug!

[Infidel]

Lots of options there thanks Infidel. This stuff can easily consume all my play time I think I've been bit by the leather bug!

You're quite welcome, I'm happy to answer any questions I can. Just remember there's no rules, your project...your way. You have complete and total freedom do things however you choose.

-Infidel

[shootbrownelk]

The John Deere Green is really cool too if your a John Deere fan. There is also a John Deere yellow. Yes there're more different Peanut's than you can imagine

Maybe I should get a Deere yellow and a Deere green. My 37 Pontiac coupe was a John Deere salesman's car. I was painted Green with yellow wheels & trim with a John Deere painted emblem/sign on each door. It is all faded out after some 50 years. To say it was "Fugly" was an understatement. The salesman was no hot rodder however, and the car is stock, rust free and un butchered.

[hawgrider]

Been working on some stuff did another gun holster I'll put that up later.
Right now working on 2 sheaths for 2 gut knifes I got for my daughters at Christmas. The knives are identical so I'm making 2 sheaths and got one to the water mold step so far.

My stitching is getting a little better.

https://i.imgur.com/WvneAUI.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/dizqa29.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/RJCNyNA.jpg

[BucketBack]

Nice, I have to wait until spring B4 I get to my leather. I brought the Dillon in already.

My canvas buddy says some guys drill the holes for the stitching on a drill press,.

[hawgrider]

Nice, I have to wait until spring B4 I get to my leather. I brought the Dillon in already.

My canvas buddy says some guys drill the holes for the stitching on a drill press,.

I see that some of them are doing that. If I had a drill press I would try it. Using diamond hole chisels on this project for the holes.

Used my new stitch groover on this one.

[hawgrider]

This is the sheath that came with those knives.

It sucked!

https://i.imgur.com/UI6xKAQ.jpg

[RubberDuck]

That turned out great way better than the nylon it came with that is the style I would like for my Buck

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[hawgrider]

That turned out great way better than the nylon it came with that is the style I would like for my Buck

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

After it dried I checked the retention and pretty good so far. I hate the snap strap retention set ups. Nothing worse than fighting a snap strap in the way of re-holstering a bloody gut knife. This way no strap put it back in one handed push down and on your way.

[hag]

You got things looking good ol buddy! You must be a quick learner cause that looks like good work to me

[Infidel]

It is good work for sure. Looks great, the stitching is much better already. Keep up the good work.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

You got things looking good ol buddy! You must be a quick learner cause that looks like good work to me

Too kind ya are hag! Jumped in with both feet and enjoying tinkering with the leather.

Had to let it dry overnite. Then when I get some more time I'll put a finish on it and then build another just like it.

I will put the other holster I did up for grins and giggles later tonight.

[hawgrider]

It is good work for sure. Looks great, the stitching is much better already. Keep up the good work.

-Infidel

The way I was running the needles thru was inconsistent before but I think I have figured that out and my holes got better with my new diamond chisel set made a big difference. Like you I don't think the awl likes me.

[Broncosfan]

Hawgrider

Did you decide to make another for the Peanut?

[hawgrider]

Hawgrider

Did you decide to make another for the Peanut?

The peanut sleave I made from a small piece of veg tanned leather that was in my dads scrap bag so I won't have to re make that one. Those other two sheaths I did will have to be redone. Infidel clued me in that the chrome tanned was a no go.

[hawgrider]

Here is the other holster for a Remington R1 I did for mlodell07
It has my Colt in it in the picture.



Wet molding it.
https://i.imgur.com/EnpzOM7.jpg


Ready for the finish coat.
https://i.imgur.com/AIH6JkA.jpg


Couple top coats done in this pic. Before I found out I was supposed to cut the Resolene 50/50 with water. Thanks for the tip Dwight.
https://i.imgur.com/Utxg2yh.jpg

Ended up with 3 coats.
https://i.imgur.com/rILLqem.jpg

More lessons learned on this one including his R1 has a taller front sight so.... I'm stretching it now hoping to gain a little wiggle room.

[RubberDuck]

He is going to like that over that nylon one he had

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[hawgrider]

He is going to like that over that nylon one he had

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Dam thing is tight his front blade is taller than my colt and like a big dummy I didn't catch the difference when I snuck over there to match his and mine up. Hope it stretches some or I'll have a right handed war horse holster to sell lol

[Infidel]

Dam thing is tight his front blade is taller than my colt and like a big dummy I didn't catch the difference when I snuck over there to match his and mine up. Hope it stretches some or I'll have a right handed war horse holster to sell lol

You won't have any trouble selling it if it comes to that. A tight fit on a new holster is a good thing, it's certainly not going to get tighter over time that's for sure.

[hawgrider]

You won't have any trouble selling it if it comes to that. A tight fit on a new holster is a good thing, it's certainly not going to get tighter over time that's for sure.

It was so tight darn near couldn't get it back out of the holster. I took it back home and wrapped my barrel with plastic wrap about 6 times and let it sit over night. Tried it again and had success snug but definitely usable. Pretty sure like you say overtime it will break in just right.

[hawgrider]

Finally got one of the sheaths done for my daughters.
Went with 2 coats of Resolene cut 50/50 with water. One more to go.

https://i.imgur.com/FQI8Hij.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/8Fipp7D.jpg

[Broncosfan]

Finally got one of the sheaths done for my daughters.
Went with 2 coats of Resolene cut 50/50 with water. One more to go.

https://i.imgur.com/FQI8Hij.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/8Fipp7D.jpg

Great job Hawgrider looks awesome!

[hawgrider]

Great job Hawgrider looks awesome!

Thanks Bronco I think I see some improvements from my first. I'm pretty happy with the diamond hole chisel set. The holes they make helped my stitches improve.

[BucketBack]

Nice work. I'm still cleaning up the mess I made the last 10 years while watching Mum.

I did "find" my leather stuff. I'm set up for kydex also.

[hawgrider]

Nice work. I'm still cleaning up the mess I made the last 10 years while watching Mum.

I did "find" my leather stuff. I'm set up for kydex also.

I'm looking forward to see what you have stashed away. Hurry up and get that stuff outta storage.

[Inor]

Nice work Hawg!

I should hire one of you guys to make a scabbard for my chainsaw. I am using the bloody thing so much now, that I cannot afford to ding the teeth when I put it away.

[hawgrider]

Nice work Hawg!

I should hire one of you guys to make a scabbard for my chainsaw. I am using the bloody thing so much now, that I cannot afford to ding the teeth when I put it away.

Doesn't take much to dull a chain. One little nick and its game over until the file comes out.

[RubberDuck]

Finally got one of the sheaths done for my daughters.
Went with 2 coats of Resolene cut 50/50 with water. One more to go.

https://i.imgur.com/FQI8Hij.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/8Fipp7D.jpgThat really looks good now question is can you duplicate in left hand.

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[hawgrider]

That really looks good now question is can you duplicate in left hand.

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Well... I was figuring she would want it right handed cuz she carrys a handgun on the left like her Paw does. ? Suppose we better ask her.

[Inor]

Doesn't take much to dull a chain. One little nick and its game over until the file comes out.

Indeed Sir! So what would you charge for a 16" bar?

P.M. me and we'll get this worked out.

[hawgrider]

Indeed Sir! So what would you charge for a 16" bar?

P.M. me and we'll get this worked out.

I'm just a noob hobby guy with no intention of selling anything pre retirement. I think infidel or dwight would be the way to go for a dandy chainsaw scabbard with some Arizona western tooling on it.

Hell I don't have enough leather here to even pull that off. Besides it wouldn't be right to jump in here with leather goods for sale when its pretty much infidels and dwights territory.

[Inor]

I'm just a noob hobby guy with no intention of selling anything pre retirement. I think infidel or dwight would be the way to go for a dandy chainsaw scabbard with some Arizona western tooling on it.

Hell I don't have enough leather here to even pull that off. Besides it wouldn't be right to jump in here with leather goods for sale when its pretty much infidels and dwights territory.

I don't care how it looks. I only care that it protects the teeth. Anybody?

[hawgrider]

That really looks good now question is can you duplicate in left hand.

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So when I asked her and at first she said left handed. Then I mentioned OK no problem but you carry a heater on the left. And she still said left. Then I mentioned how spare mag and a knife on the right would be more balanced so then she said OK make it right handed.

Sooo I told her think about it. And I'll hold off cutting the leather for another day or two in case she changes her mind.

[RubberDuck]

I don't care how it looks. I only care that it protects the teeth. Anybody?Cut the ends off a few 2 liters put one just inside the other and them hang over the bar heat with a heat gun and mold till it resembles a sheath.
Have no clue if it works just came up with while pooping but it is a sound thought.
I might try for mine

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[RubberDuck]

So when I asked her and at first she said left handed. Then I mentioned OK no problem but you carry a heater on the left. And she still said left. Then I mentioned how spare mag and a knife on the right would be more balanced so then she said OK make it right handed.

Sooo I told her think about it. And I'll hold off cutting the leather for another day or two in case she changes her mind.Until I get her a hunting sidearm she generally doesn't take her 9 out hunting and I have noticed her knife in the backpack a few times like we do mostly.
The knife she has now is right side and hasn't been a issue. I tried asking but a definitive answer from a woman is just myth

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[hawgrider]

Until I get her a hunting sidearm she generally doesn't take her 9 out hunting and I have noticed her knife in the backpack a few times like we do mostly.
The knife she has now is right side and hasn't been a issue. I tried asking but a definitive answer from a woman is just myth

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Well a left handed would be unique since ya can't find store bought that way. Maybe she should go with a left handed just because!

I can make the left no problem so maybe she should go that route. Talk to her and let me know.
Hell I wore most of my hunting knives backwards on my left back in my early days wished I could have found left handed... freakin right handed world! Southpaws matter!

I may have talked her out of the lefty cuz I thought she carried the heater when she hunted. Lemmie know if she wants to go with the left handed.

[BucketBack]

I'm just a noob hobby guy with no intention of selling anything pre retirement. I think infidel or dwight would be the way to go for a dandy chainsaw scabbard with some Arizona western tooling on it.

Hell I don't have enough leather here to even pull that off. Besides it wouldn't be right to jump in here with leather goods for sale when its pretty much infidels and dwights territory.

Plus any "real" saw comes with said scabbard

[BucketBack]

Well a left handed would be unique since ya can't find store bought that way. Maybe she should go with a left handed just because!

I can make the left no problem so maybe she should go that route. Talk to her and let me know.
Hell I wore most of my hunting knives backwards on my left back in my early days wished I could have found left handed... freakin right handed world! Southpaws matter!

I may have talked her out of the lefty cuz I thought she carried the heater when she hunted. Lemmie know if she wants to go with the left handed.

I wear my blades like Ziggy Stardust played guitar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=48&v=UuAJF2mlHqU

...wait..

[BucketBack]

U only have 5 days to REPENT

Used to sharpen steel, and play with leather, when this was out, cook breakfast and dinner

eta, knew he would eff anything then

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bcnO3VQ_fc

[hawgrider]

You on a roll BB lol!

[Big Ken]

Love this thread!! I wish I could do something like that, I can barley tie my shoes. :D

[hawgrider]

Love this thread!! I wish I could do something like that, I can barley tie my shoes. :D

I can't walk and chew gum.:bigthumbup:

[BucketBack]

It was drunk out this am

[hawgrider]

It was drunk out this am

Haha kinda early ain't it? Well maybe not eh!

[BucketBack]

I stayed awake until 01:00

[Infidel]

I'm just a noob hobby guy with no intention of selling anything pre retirement. I think infidel or dwight would be the way to go for a dandy chainsaw scabbard with some Arizona western tooling on it.

Hell I don't have enough leather here to even pull that off. Besides it wouldn't be right to jump in here with leather goods for sale when its pretty much infidels and dwights territory.

I have no problem with you earning some cash from your new found hobby, in fact I encourage it. It makes funding your own projects that much easier when you can sell a bit here and there. Dwight would be the guy for tooling though, I'm still a hack when it come to tooling. My tooling usually looks like someone let a grade schooler loose with a swivel knife and beveler.

[hawgrider]

I have no problem with you earning some cash from your new found hobby, in fact I encourage it. It makes funding your own projects that much easier when you can sell a bit here and there. Dwight would be the guy for tooling though, I'm still a hack when it come to tooling. My tooling usually looks like someone let a grade schooler loose with a swivel knife and beveler.

Nope not gonna squat on others territory. :beerchug:

Besides if I start selling then it becomes a job.
Fix Inor up Infidel I'm not ready for prime time yet.

[Inor]

Plus any "real" saw comes with said scabbard

We've already gone over that topic. I buy disposable chainsaws. They cost around $150 and last about 10 years, then I throw them away and buy another. :biglaugh:

Although, I may need to rethink that strategy with all of the wood I am cutting now.

[Inor]

Nope not gonna squat on others territory. :beerchug:

Besides if I start selling then it becomes a job.
Fix Inor up Infidel I'm not ready for prime time yet.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP0mQeLWCCo

[hawgrider]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP0mQeLWCCo

Guess I haven't seen that movie ?

[BucketBack]

We've already gone over that topic. I buy disposable chainsaws. They cost around $150 and last about 10 years, then I throw them away and buy another. :biglaugh:

Although, I may need to rethink that strategy with all of the wood I am cutting now.

I paid $275 OTD for the Stihl MS251, which is a homeowner level saw. I ran 30+ tanks through it last fall. A "disposable" saw would already

have been disposed of by now

[Infidel]

Inor if Hawg or Dwight don't want the job shoot me a PM and I'll see what I can come up with. Haven't done a chainsaw scabbard before, could be an interesting project although the leather will eventually end up soaked in bar oil. But what the hell, I'll try anything once.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

Finally got the southpaw sheath wet molded now to let it dry.

https://i.imgur.com/c49Pv3k.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/A7iKfyo.jpg

[RubberDuck]

She is going to like that rig much smaller with a better curve than the one she has now

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[hawgrider]

She is going to like that rig much smaller with a better curve than the one she has now

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Extra knife comes in handy. I usually have 2 on me when I'm deer hunting.

[BucketBack]

I most always have a neck knife, and a folder when walking around. In the woods, usually just a small case fixed blade in addition to the other 2.

If carrying an AR that will accept my M9 Bayo, that also. It will bust the butt bone on a deer 4 sure

[Infidel]

Sheath looks great, nice work.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

Sheath looks great, nice work.

-Infidel

Thanks! Small improvements and learning to cover mistakes lol!

[RubberDuck]

With that style of retention you could make a nice neck knife sheath BBs post made me think of it.

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[hawgrider]

With that style of retention you could make a nice neck knife sheath BBs post made me think of it.

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Yeah for sure when the leather dries from the wet mold and when the top coat finish is dried these things are hard as a rock. Its like the molded kydex but better because leather has class! :bigthumbup:

Got two coats of Resolene on the southpaw sheath its drying now.
I'll have her bring the knife when you guys come for grandson b day and we'll make sure her knife fits good.

[hawgrider]

Left handed finished.

https://i.imgur.com/XNaZ5gt.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/wCk3Yvp.jpg


Next project?

Bowie knife?
Maybe a redo on one of the chrome tanned I did?
Rifle scabbard?
Revolver pancake holster?
Hmm don't know yet.

[RubberDuck]

Scabbard for your Winchester would be sweet..

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[hawgrider]

Scabbard for your Winchester would be sweet..

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I saw a vid today of a scabbard that could also be used to strap on shoulder which would be great on quad and or backpack or just walking to the woods. Rifle can be pulled out cross draw. Yup its on the list.

[BucketBack]

My neck knife draws down, with the pointy part up. The kydex was sunken in more to retain on the index finger hole. Not sure how the would happen with leather without a retention strap.

Or just put a strap on.

[hawgrider]

My neck knife draws down, with the pointy part up. The kydex was sunken in more to retain on the index finger hole. Not sure how the would happen with leather without a retention strap.

Or just put a strap on.

I can't do a neck knife it would drive me nuts around the neck.

[RubberDuck]

Make one to hide in your beard

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[hawgrider]

Make one to hide in your beard

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Hmm that could work!:biglaugh:

[Infidel]

The issue I see with neck knife sheaths in leather is that leather softens and stretches over tine. The sheath will eventually loosen up and the knife may come out when you don't want it to if worn inverted. I personally would put some sort of retention strap on it just in case. The rifle scabbard idea sounds great, I've been considering one lately but I'm not sure exactly what I'd use it for and it would be a big chunk of leather that I could use for other projects so it's way down on my list of things to build. I'm currently working on a vertical shoulder holster for a Ruger Super Redhawk in .454 Casull, still working on the template right now but should be cutting leather by the end of the week. I'm a little behind posting in my own thread so hopefully when this project is finished I can get caught up.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

Next project?

Bowie knife?
Maybe a redo on one of the chrome tanned I did?
Rifle scabbard?
Revolver pancake holster?
Hmm don't know yet.

Went for a re do today. Tried a whack at a border and got so so results.
The lines are a bit ruff the barbwire is ok but it would look better without the 2 border lines? Practice practice.

Sew it up and finish coat next this one is going quick.

https://i.imgur.com/WnKOyMf.jpg

[hawgrider]

Got it finished. Nice snug retention from the wet mold.
2 coats of Resolene.

https://i.imgur.com/KhB0WNF.jpg

[hawgrider]

Last night I finally got my dads snap-all set out and figured out how to use it for the most part.
I set some rivets and a couple of snaps.
Looks like this only the box is a blue color.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fbAAAOSwZ2tcS1GD/s-l1600.jpg

I think Im going to do a sheath for an old Bowie knife Ive had for a few decades. the original sheath was dry rotted even way back then.
anyway the bowie is not a candidate for a wet mold retention so I think I will make my first sheath with a snap retention... Maybe!

[Infidel]

That's a cool old set. I have a newer Tandy version of the same set. The short handles on the setters in your kit looks like a recipe for me to hit my fingers with a mallet over and over though. Looks like your Dad hardly used those tools, they're in perfect shape and still have the box and instructions. I would think that's pretty rare.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

That's a cool old set. I have a newer Tandy version of the same set. The short handles on the setters in your kit looks like a recipe for me to hit my fingers with a mallet over and over though. Looks like your Dad hardly used those tools, they're in perfect shape and still have the box and instructions. I would think that's pretty rare.

-Infidel

Here is a picture of my actual set. Mine are a blue box and the instructions are still in the box. I haven't been able to find the exact set on the www.

https://i.imgur.com/dYK7RXO.jpg

[BucketBack]

I can't do a neck knife it would drive me nuts around the neck.

I wear a collared shirt and wrap the paracord around the collar and tuck the sheathed knife under the shirt.

[BucketBack]

I saw a vid today of a scabbard that could also be used to strap on shoulder which would be great on quad and or backpack or just walking to the woods. Rifle can be pulled out cross draw. Yup its on the list.

'Member, a long gun needs to be in a case and unloaded when in/on a vehicle in MeatChicken.

Fish Cop would have fun.

[hawgrider]

'Member, a long gun needs to be in a case and unloaded when in/on a vehicle in MeatChicken.

Fish Cop would have fun.

Definition of a case? Scabbard with a snap strap any different than a sock? Socks are legal. Unloaded in scabbard with retention strap any different than a sock or zipped case?

[BucketBack]

IDK. and the MDNR don't either

[hawgrider]

Working on the Bowie knife sheath. Going to be close in design as the original.

https://i.imgur.com/8w3tGHT.jpg

The original has been dry rotted for a few decades. I have 2 Bowie's this one I've never used because of the rotted sheath

https://i.imgur.com/NZO3GML.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/WNGtPo5.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TMgDhNH.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/UlcDiP0.jpg

[hawgrider]

Ha! Check this out...

RubberDuck just found a made in Germany Bowie just like mine for $150.00 wow had no Idea it was worth that. Mine is in rougher shape but still. Looks like it was made in the 1970's

Look at this on eBay
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F26 4187718932

[BucketBack]

Just put on a mix of 50% resolene and 50% H20 on that Bowie sheath

[hawgrider]

Just put on a mix of 50% resolene and 50% H20 on that Bowie sheath

Yup pretty much what I'm gonna do. I don't think I will wet mold this one?

[BucketBack]

Saw the 50/50 mix posted:chopper: elsewhere

[hawgrider]

Got it glued up sewn up, stained, snapped and riveted.
Had an issue with the snap cap but its about 30 years old. My dads snap anvil may be crap too? Still have to sand the edges and burnish then finish top coat.

https://i.imgur.com/1DhX0pj.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/KWzzLhz.jpg

[TJC44]

That came out nice, Hawg!

[StratBastard]

Sure did!

[hawgrider]

That came out nice, Hawg!

Might be my best yet? Still have to sand and burnish edges and apply top coat finish. I like those brass studs or rivet thingys they are easy to install.

[StratBastard]

It's a good looker AND a great fit as well!

[hag]

You ready to start taking orders yet?

[hawgrider]

You ready to start taking orders yet?

Soon as I get retired and have all the bugs worked out.:beerchug:

[Infidel]

Looks great Hawg, I'm curious about the welt though. If you don't mind, why did you decide to only put the welt where the edge is? I basically cut out 2 front pieces and then cut out the blade shape in one for the welt on a "sandwich" design sheath. your welt might be a good way to reduce weight a little if that were a concern I suppose, it would also supply friction to the blade so maybe it wouldn't slide out of the sheath if you forgot to snap the strap. I was just wondering if that was your line of thought on the welt or if it was a stylistic choice. Again another great looking sheath, I like the fact that you stayed true to the original.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

Looks great Hawg, I'm curious about the welt though. If you don't mind, why did you decide to only put the welt where the edge is? I basically cut out 2 front pieces and then cut out the blade shape in one for the welt on a "sandwich" design sheath. your welt might be a good way to reduce weight a little if that were a concern I suppose, it would also supply friction to the blade so maybe it wouldn't slide out of the sheath if you forgot to snap the strap. I was just wondering if that was your line of thought on the welt or if it was a stylistic choice. Again another great looking sheath, I like the fact that you stayed true to the original.

-Infidel

Well... good questions. The original had no welt on either side just thread and the rivets. So I thought I'd do better by adding the welt to the blade edge side.

There was a issue/challenge with the welt making the leather too thick to set the brass rivets that were left in my dads box and I really wanted to use those rivets.

So I got around the 3 pieces being to thick by skiveing the leather up where the rivet went on the welt side. At this point I wasn't sure if it was going to work. And to tell you the truth I hadn't thought about a welt on the other side since its not a fold over design. So you caught the rookie asleep at the wheel lol.

I can see how on a stacked design the welt on both side may be a better way to go. It did work out pretty well as its a nice cozy fit no knife rattle when in the sheath. I did have trouble with the old snap I had. The chrome started coming off the cap when I set it on the snap anvil. I think when I buy snaps I'll get nickel and no chrome.

[Infidel]

Well... good questions. The original had no welt on either side just thread and the rivets. So I thought I'd do better by adding the welt to the blade edge side.

There was a issue/challenge with the welt making the leather too thick to set the brass rivets that were left in my dads box and I really wanted to use those rivets.

So I got around the 3 pieces being to thick by skiveing the leather up where the rivet went on the welt side. At this point I wasn't sure if it was going to work. And to tell you the truth I hadn't thought about a welt on the other side since its not a fold over design. So you caught the rookie asleep at the wheel lol.

I can see how on a stacked design the welt on both side may be a better way to go. It did work out pretty well as its a nice cozy fit no knife rattle when in the sheath. I did have trouble with the old snap I had. The chrome started coming off the cap when I set it on the snap anvil. I think when I buy snaps I'll get nickel and no chrome.

That's the best part of working with leather, there's no wrong way to do anything. That was a creative work around for the short rivets. Having the welt go completely around the blade like I do may be a little extraneous since it's not really necessary. I do like the look of a welted sheath, the layers of leather always remind me of the old stacked leather knife handles. Regardless of how it's assembled, it's a great looking sheath, very appropriate for an old stag handled Bowie.

[hawgrider]

I've got this hunk of deer hide that my dad had in his scrap bag and I'm pretty sure its from a few hides he had tanned that I blasted back in the 70's. I'd like to use what I can of it and so far all I can think of is maybe make a few of these pouches. What else could I make with it any ideas?

Here is the deer hide he had tanned.
https://i.imgur.com/gCPnKtE.jpg


Made this pouch out of some of that hide today.

https://i.imgur.com/XXjPvUp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7DrTWD7.jpg

[Infidel]

The pouches are a good idea, a shop apron would be good also. Moccasins might be a worthy use of those hides also but may be difficult to make (I haven't tried it yet). Pick up a couple of Rabbit hides and make you some nice warm mittens for those cold winter days, you could try gloves also but mittens would be a whole lot simpler. I purse for your wife would be a good way to stay in her good graces also.
That's what I got off the top of my head.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

The pouches are a good idea, a shop apron would be good also. Moccasins might be a worthy use of those hides also but may be difficult to make (I haven't tried it yet). Pick up a couple of Rabbit hides and make you some nice warm mittens for those cold winter days, you could try gloves also but mittens would be a whole lot simpler. I purse for your wife would be a good way to stay in her good graces also.
That's what I got off the top of my head.

-Infidel

She stole the pouch so no purse for her!

[RubberDuck]

She stole the pouch so no purse for her!It reminded her of a nut sack so at least she has a good pouch to keep your nuts in.


Don't care who ya are that's funny shit right there.

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[hawgrider]

It reminded her of a nut sack so at least she has a good pouch to keep your nuts in.


Don't care who ya are that's funny shit right there.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Har har har!

[hawgrider]

The wife has been using up my small scrap pieces. She's making earings, necklaces and key chain stuff.

https://i.imgur.com/hSRR1Xs.jpg

[hawgrider]

Screwed around after work and made this thing that I'll store my Walkers Game Ears in.

https://i.imgur.com/MSBW5gt.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yOr7WOt.jpg

[StratBastard]

The wife has been using up my small scrap pieces. She's making earings, necklaces and key chain stuff.

https://i.imgur.com/hSRR1Xs.jpg

Hey, these would look GREAT on a buckskin Cowboy or Cowgirl vest/jacket... maybe even an awesome doomsday sorta six gun tie down rig. Nice!

[RubberDuck]

Just got my new Hawgmade buck knife sheath and dig it.
Ride height and retention is spot on with smooth one hand out an in operation.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190324/a6dda6d076b245d82ddbe474504d991c.jpg

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[hawgrider]

Just got my new Hawgmade buck knife sheath and dig it.
Ride height and retention is spot on with smooth one hand out an in operation.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190324/a6dda6d076b245d82ddbe474504d991c.jpg

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Ha I didn't post it cuz of the initials lol

Free is good eh! Now ya got sumpthin to remember the old man when he's dead and gone.

[RubberDuck]

Anyone who can find me from my initials and can make it past the hail of bullets is welcome to try.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[hawgrider]

Gun belt time?

Going to start working on gun belt for a fat southpaw. I've got a crappy piece of double shoulder 5 oz so I think I'm going to glue up and sew 2 pieces of it to end up with a 10 oz or so belt to hang my Blackhawk from it.

I have no clue what I'm doing so as long as its not to big of a hack job I'll post some pics of it as I go along.... maybe. :)

[hawgrider]

Just got the 2 pieces traced out and cut up. Not sure how the glue step will go here is what I have so far.

https://i.imgur.com/jsqILkS.jpg

[Broncosfan]

Just got the 2 pieces traced out and cut up. Not sure how the glue step will go here is what I have so far.

https://i.imgur.com/jsqILkS.jpg

Looks good for the start.

[hawgrider]

And... I think I'm going to cheat a bit and re-purpose some of an old to small belt.

https://i.imgur.com/IPa2k2B.jpg

[Broncosfan]

And... I think I'm going to cheat a bit and re-purpose some of an old to small belt.

https://i.imgur.com/IPa2k2B.jpg

Good idea! Recycle

[hawgrider]

Good idea! Recycle

That's what I'm thinking save a bunch of time and I like the old brass looking buckle. Of course it won't match the new leather but a two tone look might be kinda cool.

For the ammo loops I think I'm going to do a strap (loop through) design on another hunk of this 5 oz shoulder instead of sewn loops for .38/.357
I'll make 2 or 3 them in 6 loops apiece then attach them where I want them on the belt.

[RubberDuck]

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out might need to commission one.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[hawgrider]

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out might need to commission one.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

I've been known to work for booze before.

[Broncosfan]

I wish I had though of what your doing Hawg. I had my Dad' sold 357 holster which the belt was way too small. So instead I sold it in a yard sale for I think $10.

[hawgrider]

I wish I had though of what your doing Hawg. I had my Dad' sold 357 holster which the belt was way too small. So instead I sold it in a yard sale for I think $10.
I've had the too small belt from my dad for 30 years but I've never been able to wear it.

So finally I plan to have a gun belt that fits me with the bonus of a bit of the old belt. Sad but true I've never had a gun belt of this type that fit me. Left handed is a real drag for store boughts.

My dads belt was also right handed. I used it for a partial template to make this one I just turned it upside down for the drop loop and poof! now it will be a southpaw.

[Infidel]

How did the glue up go? I was worried about my first one but it ended up being a non issue, belts go easy for me. With anything else I cut the front to final size and leave the back just a little big then trim the back after glue up and it ends up looking like I die cut the whole thing. That's also how I do the suede lining on guitar straps. Can't wait to see how the belt turns out.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

How did the glue up go? I was worried about my first one but it ended up being a non issue, belts go easy for me. With anything else I cut the front to final size and leave the back just a little big then trim the back after glue up and it ends up looking like I die cut the whole thing. That's also how I do the suede lining on guitar straps. Can't wait to see how the belt turns out.

-Infidel

I haven't glued it yet. I had a cheese smoking session today and smoking bacon tomorrow and I need to pick up some contact cement.
I'm not going to put a lining on this one. Going to glue both fiber sides together.

It a long piece so I'm a little worried about getting it in the right spot with the contact cement. I imagine I'll only have one shot at getting the 2 pieces to line up with not much if any wiggle room.

I've been using Fiebings leather craft cement up until now. That stuff you have a little time to position everything just right.

I think dwight55 says he uses Weldwood. I see Tandy sells Barge.

[Infidel]

I haven't glued it yet. I had a cheese smoking session today and smoking bacon tomorrow and I need to pick up some contact cement.
I'm not going to put a lining on this one. Going to glue both fiber sides together.

It a long piece so I'm a little worried about getting it in the right spot with the contact cement. I imagine I'll only have one shot at getting the 2 pieces to line up with not much if any wiggle room.

I've been using Fiebings leather craft cement up until now. That stuff you have a little time to position everything just right.

I think dwight55 says he uses Weldwood. I see Tandy sells Barge.

I've been using Weldwood since I started and it's always worked well for me. I'm of the opinion that contact cement is pretty much all the same provided it's from a quality manufacturer. The one thing I have done differently lately is I bought a glue jar from Maker's Leather Supply so I don't have to work out of the quart can of glue. That helps me from wasting glue in the bottom of the can which gets really thick over time.

If you lay one piece on top of the other with no pressure you should be able to position it to your liking without too much trouble, although with a belt it can still be a bit difficult just because of the length. I have also hear of some people using wood glue which would give you more working time to adjust your pieces although I've no idea how well it holds.

[Slippy]

I haven't glued it yet. I had a cheese smoking session today and smoking bacon tomorrow and I need to pick up some contact cement.
I'm not going to put a lining on this one. Going to glue both fiber sides together.

It a long piece so I'm a little worried about getting it in the right spot with the contact cement. I imagine I'll only have one shot at getting the 2 pieces to line up with not much if any wiggle room.

I've been using Fiebings leather craft cement up until now. That stuff you have a little time to position everything just right.

I think dwight55 says he uses Weldwood. I see Tandy sells Barge.

Funny thing, I struggle to remember what I had for breakfast yesterday morning but I remember my Adhesives Class/Wood Science back in college 4 decades ago! Polychloropene is the chemical name for Contact Cement (also called Rubber Cement) it was made my Dupont originally if memory serves!

I don't know if I'm proud of myself for remembering that or if I am getting dementia for not knowing my breakfast yesterday or who won the NASCAR race yesterday? :)

[hawgrider]

I think I'll do 9 and 9 that will give me 3 reloads for the Blackhawk.
Ill mount them something like this leaving the small of my back open with no ammo poking on my lower spine while sitting.

https://i.imgur.com/78H2VD9.jpg

[Inor]

Funny thing, I struggle to remember what I had for breakfast yesterday morning but I remember my Adhesives Class/Wood Science back in college 4 decades ago! Polychloropene is the chemical name for Contact Cement (also called Rubber Cement) it was made my Dupont originally if memory serves!

I don't know if I'm proud of myself for remembering that or if I am getting dementia for not knowing my breakfast yesterday or who won the NASCAR race yesterday? :)

Ditto that! I don't remember what I had for supper tonight.

But I do know that I use CA Glue (the same as "SuperGlue") for gluing up pens before I turn them on my lathe. Titebond II (not Titebond III which dries dark brown and is impossible to hide with finish) is the best wood glue made. And the new gray latex contact adhesive from 3M is the greatest stuff ever invented for gluing plastic laminate to plywood. Beyond that, I do not even know much about glue.

[hawgrider]

Stopped at the hardware found some DAP Weldwood contact cement. Ordered the punch I need for the gun belt from Tandy.
Tandys thread selection sucks! So I found a spool of 0.8 tiger thread from Rocky Mountain leather hopefully its diameter is correct for my diamond hole chisel punch set. Now I hurry up and wait.

[hawgrider]

Got the glue up done and made the parts I need for the ammo loops.

https://i.imgur.com/Jl0sRiZ.jpg



Waiting on my Tiger thread to come in the mail.

https://i.imgur.com/jo20gLe.jpg

[RubberDuck]

That's lookin good

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[hawgrider]

Finally got my Tiger thread in the snail mail today this stuff looks like exactly what I needed. Its braided and waxed polyester. The diameter is .08 which should be perfect to fill the holes from my diamond hole chisels.

This stuff is hard to come by no local sales at all.


https://i.imgur.com/VlHnMTv.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Xjwe6C7.jpg




Got my ammo loops built a few days ago.

https://i.imgur.com/VpTQoKa.jpg

[RubberDuck]

Finally got my Tiger thread in the snail mail today this stuff looks like exactly what I needed. Its braided and waxed polyester. The diameter is .08 which should be perfect to fill the holes from my diamond hole chisels.

This stuff is hard to come by no local sales at all.


https://i.imgur.com/VlHnMTv.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Xjwe6C7.jpg




Got my ammo loops built a few days ago.

https://i.imgur.com/VpTQoKa.jpgThose look great I would thank it but think my Tap is broke it won't let me

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[hawgrider]

Those look great I would thank it but think my Tap is broke it won't let me

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Must be tap everybody's else seems to be working not sure if other tap talk users are affected? Maybe their next update will fix the bug?

I've got to glue the ammo loop straps on the back side and put a rivet in on each end then I can sew them to the belt. The loops are a real snug fit looks like it will work good.

[hawgrider]

Glued up and rivets in. A little stain touch up and some another coat of leather balm with atom wax for the top coat finish and they are ready to mount to the belt.

https://i.imgur.com/Flv3BOh.jpg

[hawgrider]

My woman scored me a new 1 1/4" thick work surface last night. Price was right as in you pick up... sweet!

Obviously from somebody's kitchen counter top venture.

https://i.imgur.com/pWnWIFF.jpg

[Ricekila]

I have the same counter top's - LOL

[hawgrider]

I have the same counter top's - LOL

For some reason I feel like chopping up some mushrooms and onions and cooking a burger :pig:

[Infidel]

Tiger thread is good stuff but Maker's Leather Supply (https://makersleathersupply.com/) has some stuff that's just as good and a whole lot cheaper. He has waxed braided nylon thread in .8mm and 1mm, the Tiger thread has a little more wax and is available in more colors but that's about the only differences I've found. You can buy larger spools from Maker's also so that's a plus for me, I hate the small spools of Tiger thread Amazon sells. I buy black and white from Maker's and then go Ritza if I need color. Atom wax is pretty good stuff too, much easier to deal with than Resolene or Tan Coat. I use all 3 but for different purposes. The cartridge loop billets look great, should be a great looking belt when it's done.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

Tiger thread is good stuff but Maker's Leather Supply (https://makersleathersupply.com/) has some stuff that's just as good and a whole lot cheaper. He has waxed braided nylon thread in .8mm and 1mm, the Tiger thread has a little more wax and is available in more colors but that's about the only differences I've found. You can buy larger spools from Maker's also so that's a plus for me, I hate the small spools of Tiger thread Amazon sells. I buy black and white from Maker's and then go Ritza if I need color. Atom wax is pretty good stuff too, much easier to deal with than Resolene or Tan Coat. I use all 3 but for different purposes. The cartridge loop billets look great, should be a great looking belt when it's done.

-Infidel

Heard you mention the Atom wax a while back so for this application I wanted to try it. Figured it would be more flexible than Resolene.

You are correct the tiger thread was pricey that spool is 500 meters and was about 36 bucks and took for ever to get here. I'll check out Makers leather supply thanks for the link! I'm going to need something beside brown like you mentioned maybe some white.

This gun belt venture has been the most difficult so far for me. Measuring my fat ass and getting it right on the belt wasn't easy for a simple minded guy like me. Lack of planning is my strong point lol!

[hawgrider]

Made some progress over the weekend. Got it stained and 2 coats of Atom wax topcoat. Still need to mount the ammo loops, burnish the edges of the belt and trim the belt at the strap end.

Might try to darken the holster to see if I can get a better match.

https://i.imgur.com/WfoQtfy.jpg

[Infidel]

Heard you mention the Atom wax a while back so for this application I wanted to try it. Figured it would be more flexible than Resolene.

You are correct the tiger thread was pricey that spool is 500 meters and was about 36 bucks and took for ever to get here. I'll check out Makers leather supply thanks for the link! I'm going to need something beside brown like you mentioned maybe some white.

This gun belt venture has been the most difficult so far for me. Measuring my fat ass and getting it right on the belt wasn't easy for a simple minded guy like me. Lack of planning is my strong point lol!


Made some progress over the weekend. Got it stained and 2 coats of Atom wax topcoat. Still need to mount the ammo loops, burnish the edges of the belt and trim the belt at the strap end.

Might try to darken the holster to see if I can get a better match.

https://i.imgur.com/WfoQtfy.jpg
LOL, I suffer from the same problem, can't tell you how many pieces I've had to recut because I didn't factor something in or because I forgot to include something. It's all part of the learning process.
Leather Balm is good stuff and you're right it's a lot more flexible than resolene. It's perfect for this project too since it won't be super shiny, just a light satiny gloss to it. Belt looks great so far.

[hawgrider]

LOL, I suffer from the same problem, can't tell you how many pieces I've had to recut because I didn't factor something in or because I forgot to include something. It's all part of the learning process.
Leather Balm is good stuff and you're right it's a lot more flexible than resolene. It's perfect for this project too since it won't be super shiny, just a light satiny gloss to it. Belt looks great so far.


Thanks!
Flying by the seat of my pants here so I left things long to start with and as it goes together then I can make a better decision where to cut.

And the big hair puller is mounting the ammo loops in exactly the correct spots... Ill never be happy if they are off center:explodingbomb:

[RubberDuck]

From that pic the color is pretty close
As for the loops even if you do get them straight I will stare at them with a smirk just to screw with your OCD

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[hawgrider]

Close ?

Trying to end up spaced evenly with the buckle centered. Once I figure out if they are in the right position I'll try to center them in the width of the belt.

https://i.imgur.com/WrSCZii.jpg

[hawgrider]

From that pic the color is pretty close
As for the loops even if you do get them straight I will stare at them with a smirk just to screw with your OCD

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

You know it! A crooked picture drives me apeshit!

[Infidel]

That looks pretty good but you might be better off putting the belt on and have someone there to move stuff to where you want it. Centering them might look nice but if you can't reach that last loop there's not much point. As it sits now you should be ok as long as you're not a T-Rex, I might prefer another inch between them to make it just a little easier to reach them all.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

That looks pretty good but you might be better off putting the belt on and have someone there to move stuff to where you want it. Centering them might look nice but if you can't reach that last loop there's not much point. As it sits now you should be ok as long as you're not a T-Rex, I might prefer another inch between them to make it just a little easier to reach them all.

-Infidel

Ah yes the reach factor could be an issue for a fat guy. :)

[hawgrider]

Pretty much done for now on the belt. Mounted the ammo loops and made a keeper for the belt strap and the overlap section.

All in all I'm pretty happy with it for a first time venture.

The goods-
It fits my fat ass, its sturdy, the color is pretty good, the match of colors is not to bad, the ammo loops are snug and I landed them on the belt pretty darn close to where they needed to be.

The bads-
because the belt is 2 glued pieces thick my edges didn't stain and burnish as well as I'd liked. So at some point I'll order some edge paint from Tandy to fix that.

Either the stain or the leather balm atom wax changes color and leaves a weathered cracked look when the belt is bent or flexed which I'm ok with but I didn't expect it to do the when the leather is bent or flexed. I'm betting it's the stain which is Pro dye. Maybe an oil stain would have been better?

https://i.imgur.com/Ol2qLQy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rBU9pD1.jpg

[Broncosfan]

Hawgrider It looks great! I like the weathered cracked look. It gives it character and looks like its been worn and used.

Excellent Job!

[hawgrider]

Hawgrider It looks great! I like the weathered cracked look. It gives it character and looks like its been worn and used.

Excellent Job!

Thanks Bronco
Yeah I'm a big fan of what's old is better so the weathered thing that's going on is there is ok with my tastes. I just didn't expect it and now I will have to find out why it did that so if I need to avoid that in the future.

[StratBastard]

That's a sweet rig right there!

[Infidel]

What are you using for a stain? I doubt that issue is a leather balm issue although it's certainly possible. My EDC belt was finished in leather balm and I got no cracking at all, that belt is 2 layers 7-9oz leather. I use nothing but Fiebings Pro Oil dyes unless I need an odd color and then I go to the stains. The pro Oil dyes don't dry out the leather like water based dyes do, the leather will be noticeably drier with the cheaper dyes. If I absolutely have to use the cheap stuff I make sure to give everything a couple coats of neatsfoot oil before putting on a final finish. The only time I've experience any cracking issues is when I tried to speed up the drying process after wet molding and used the oven at it's lowest setting. The belt looks great, even with the minor finish cracking. Good work.

-Infidel

[RubberDuck]

I was curious on the cracking both my shoulder rig and Henry strap have it just figured that was normal when the piece was stiff. Interesting. Your rig turned out great now it needs a flask holder on the other side just cause it boils blood pressures

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Slippy]

Pretty much done for now on the belt. Mounted the ammo loops and made a keeper for the belt strap and the overlap section.

All in all I'm pretty happy with it for a first time venture.

The goods-
It fits my fat ass, its sturdy, the color is pretty good, the match of colors is not to bad, the ammo loops are snug and I landed them on the belt pretty darn close to where they needed to be.

The bads-
because the belt is 2 glued pieces thick my edges didn't stain and burnish as well as I'd liked. So at some point I'll order some edge paint from Tandy to fix that.

Either the stain or the leather balm atom wax changes color and leaves a weathered cracked look when the belt is bent or flexed which I'm ok with but I didn't expect it to do the when the leather is bent or flexed. I'm betting it's the stain which is Pro dye. Maybe an oil stain would have been better?

https://i.imgur.com/Ol2qLQy.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/rBU9pD1.jpg

Damn fine job Hawg!

[hawgrider]

What are you using for a stain? I doubt that issue is a leather balm issue although it's certainly possible. My EDC belt was finished in leather balm and I got no cracking at all, that belt is 2 layers 7-9oz leather. I use nothing but Fiebings Pro Oil dyes unless I need an odd color and then I go to the stains. The pro Oil dyes don't dry out the leather like water based dyes do, the leather will be noticeably drier with the cheaper dyes. If I absolutely have to use the cheap stuff I make sure to give everything a couple coats of neatsfoot oil before putting on a final finish. The only time I've experience any cracking issues is when I tried to speed up the drying process after wet molding and used the oven at it's lowest setting. The belt looks great, even with the minor finish cracking. Good work.

-Infidel Thanks Infidel

This is what I have been using from the Hobby Lobby store. It does clean up with water as far as cleaning the daubers when done. Had no issues with my hardened holsters and sheaths but it doesn't like my flexible belt apparently.

https://www.fiebing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/4oz_Low-VOC_web-300x300.jpg

Low VOC Leather Dye is a formulation that works as easily and effectively as traditional penetrating leather dye. By emitting less Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air Low VOC Leather Dye is better for the environment and complies with CA VOC regulation title 17CCR94507-94517 that limits VOCs in certain consumer products. Low VOC Leather Dye is available in 12 vibrant colors that can be used on shoes, boots, saddles and all of your favorite Leathercraft projects.

Available colors: Black, Light Brown, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Chocolate, Saddle Tan, Cordovan, Mahogany, Red, Yellow, Green & Royal Blue.

Packaged in 4 ounce plastic bottles https://www.fiebing.com/catalogue/dyes/?product=178

[hawgrider]

I was curious on the cracking both my shoulder rig and Henry strap have it just figured that was normal when the piece was stiff. Interesting. Your rig turned out great now it needs a flask holder on the other side just cause it boils blood pressures

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Thats funny right there!

[Infidel]

I was curious on the cracking both my shoulder rig and Henry strap have it just figured that was normal when the piece was stiff. Interesting. Your rig turned out great now it needs a flask holder on the other side just cause it boils blood pressures

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Very strange, wonder if I used oil dye on yours, I can't seem to remember. I have had trouble getting my hands on oil dye from time to time so yours may have been the regular alcohol dye. I've had to start ordering it from Weaver Leather since Tandy is trying to promote their own oil dye and phasing out the Fiebings stuff in their stores (at least that's what the manager of the local Tandy told me).


Thanks Infidel

This is what I have been using from the Hobby Lobby store. It does clean up with water as far as cleaning the daubers when done. Had no issues with my hardened holsters and sheaths but it doesn't like my flexible belt apparently.

https://www.fiebing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/4oz_Low-VOC_web-300x300.jpg
https://www.fiebing.com/catalogue/dyes/?product=178

I would try switching to the Pro Oil Dye for your next flexible project, I would also make sure to give them a good coat of neatsfoot oil and let it soak in before final finish. I just checked a couple of slings I've made for myself and don't see any cracking but they are also single layer pieces. I'm wondering if the finish cracking has anything to do with them being laminated. I would expect wrinkling but not cracking. On the bright side it appears that the leather itself is intact and the cracking looks to be only in the finish. You might try a coat of neatsfoot oil on the belt now and see if the cracking remains after the oil soaks in, I'm thinking the cracks in the finish darken up and become almost invisible. Dwight might have some insight in this also so you might ask him if he's experienced this before.

[hawgrider]

Very strange, wonder if I used oil dye on yours, I can't seem to remember. I have had trouble getting my hands on oil dye from time to time so yours may have been the regular alcohol dye. I've had to start ordering it from Weaver Leather since Tandy is trying to promote their own oil dye and phasing out the Fiebings stuff in their stores (at least that's what the manager of the local Tandy told me).



I would try switching to the Pro Oil Dye for your next flexible project, I would also make sure to give them a good coat of neatsfoot oil and let it soak in before final finish. I just checked a couple of slings I've made for myself and don't see any cracking but they are also single layer pieces. I'm wondering if the finish cracking has anything to do with them being laminated. I would expect wrinkling but not cracking. On the bright side it appears that the leather itself is intact and the cracking looks to be only in the finish. You might try a coat of neatsfoot oil on the belt now and see if the cracking remains after the oil soaks in, I'm thinking the cracks in the finish darken up and become almost invisible. Dwight might have some insight in this also so you might ask him if he's experienced this before.

Yes just the finish the leather is fine. I need to re up on some neatsfoot so Ill try that. My old bottle of neatsfoot only has a splash left in it its so old its turned color and smells a little funny.

[Infidel]

I was under the impression that neatsfoot oil doesn't go bad. I know some people use olive oil on their leather in lieu of neatsfoot oil, again it doesn't go rancid so it's a good cheaper alternative. Guess it really doesn't make much difference either way but I continue to use neatsfoot oil and a little goes a long way.

[hawgrider]

I was under the impression that neatsfoot oil doesn't go bad. I know some people use olive oil on their leather in lieu of neatsfoot oil, again it doesn't go rancid so it's a good cheaper alternative. Guess it really doesn't make much difference either way but I continue to use neatsfoot oil and a little goes a long way.

My bottle is about 15+ years old and it got real dark and smells different than it used to. It was also exposed to 15+ winters in the garage. Its almost gone anyway time for a fresh batch.

[hawgrider]

Did this one for the Ducks XDS .45

This hunk of cheap Tandy double shoulder has been a pain to work with.
It doesn't burnish well. It has bug bites. It doesn't stain as well as the hunk of belly I was working with before.

https://i.imgur.com/LJBNEp1.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/O0E5rkW.jpg

[Broncosfan]

[QUOTE=hawgrider;155046]Did this one for the Ducks XDS .45

This hunk of cheap Tandy double shoulder has been a pain to work with.
It doesn't burnish well. It has bug bites. It doesn't stain as well as the hunk of belly I was working with before.

https://i.imgur.com/LJBNEp1.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/O0E5rkW.jpg[/QUOTE

Hawgrider

It looks like another project well done!

[hawgrider]

[QUOTE=hawgrider;155046]Did this one for the Ducks XDS .45

This hunk of cheap Tandy double shoulder has been a pain to work with.
It doesn't burnish well. It has bug bites. It doesn't stain as well as the hunk of belly I was working with before.

https://i.imgur.com/LJBNEp1.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/O0E5rkW.jpg[/QUOTE

Hawgrider

It looks like another project well done!

Thanks yeah it will be a working holster I think he carrys the XDS everyday. The beauty is that they can't bitch about the learning mistakes because the holsters and sheaths have been free Lol!

[RubberDuck]

I think it will be a perfect every day holster much nicer than the one I had that came up missing.
You have a bottle of something good coming your way.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Infidel]

Did this one for the Ducks XDS .45

This hunk of cheap Tandy double shoulder has been a pain to work with.
It doesn't burnish well. It has bug bites. It doesn't stain as well as the hunk of belly I was working with before.

https://i.imgur.com/LJBNEp1.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/O0E5rkW.jpg

Holster looks great, you're getting pretty good at this leather thing.

The double shoulders from Tandy can be very hit or miss, especially if you order them. I won't order leather from Tandy anymore unless I absolutely have to due to a flash sale. I'll make the hour+ drive and pick my own leather that way I can avoid major blemishes and fuzzy flesh sides. I've found the softer the piece of leather is the harder it is to burnish, that can be hard to judge so I just have to take my chances.

The last time I ordered leather from Tandy it was a flash sale and I ordered 4 double shoulders in 7-9 oz, every one they shipped to me ended up being 5-6oz leather. They made good when I called and complained and I ended up getting 3 7-9oz sides in replacement. Seems the whole stack of 7-9oz double shoulders was mis-marked 5-6oz. I got the better end of that deal since 3 sides ends up being more leather and I only paid $39.99 for each double shoulder. Tandy's customer service has always been good to me when I have the occasional issue

[hawgrider]

Haven't done much since spring with all the outside stuff to do. But I was jonesing for the smell of leather so I just made a few of these on a rain day to pass around to family. Nothing special easy job and fun to make.

https://i.imgur.com/3U6ohhA.jpg

[Infidel]

Haven't done much since spring with all the outside stuff to do. But I was jonesing for the smell of leather so I just made a few of these on a rain day to pass around to family. Nothing special easy job and fun to make.

https://i.imgur.com/3U6ohhA.jpg

Key chains make great gifts. Check out Weaver Leather Supply's youtube page for more ideas if you need gift ideas. They've got some great easy projects on that channel

[hawgrider]

Key chains make great gifts. Check out Weaver Leather Supply's youtube page for more ideas if you need gift ideas. They've got some great easy projects on that channel

I like the Weaver instructional youtube videos.

[Infidel]

I like the Weaver instructional youtube videos.

Me too, Chuck Dorset is a squirrel but he's entertaining and passes along some good info. Every once in awhile I have a "I never would have thought of that" moment with his videos. Actually planning on making the sleigh bells for Christmas gifts this year, they're easy to make and I think people will enjoy them. I know the wife wants a set for the front door, that should drive me crazy after about a week of my teenagers going in and out 100 times a day.

[hawgrider]

Scored some 12 oz or so gun belt scraps and hunks from one of owners of a gun belt holster store who lives near me. There are some big thick hunks and some straps.

I believe they look like oil tanned? He said veg tanned but I'm not so sure its just stained veg tan... maybe? Anyway paid 50.00 bucks.

https://i.imgur.com/6dJBQdH.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/0qC5nM3.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/FFZRZoI.jpg

[RubberDuck]

Nice score

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[hawgrider]

Nice score

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This guy has this stuff all the time so he gave me his card.

[RubberDuck]

The dark color one is interesting I see something cool coming out of that.

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[TJC44]

Hmmm, may need to think about a Hawg Holster. @tm

[hawgrider]

Made my first regular belt. This is from those 12oz hides I bought. It should make a good carry weapon belt.

Used my old roller buckle off an old wore out store bought belt.

https://i.imgur.com/krKbuQM.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/HGjGfTs.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/AOSdwGY.jpg

[hawgrider]

Made myself a brown one too.

https://i.imgur.com/uEPIJzp.jpg

[hawgrider]

Farting around with some stamps.

https://i.imgur.com/eyOQOqL.jpg

[Infidel]

Farting around with some stamps.

https://i.imgur.com/eyOQOqL.jpg

Coasters are easy to make and make great gifts. Stamps look pretty good

[hawgrider]

Coasters are easy to make and make great gifts. Stamps look pretty good

Hopefully the stamp work only gets better. The barbed wire is pretty tough trying to go in a circle!

I needed a fun project yeah the familys getting coasters for Christmas lol!

[hawgrider]

Been farting around with stamps and swivel knife. Made 3 sets of coasters and some feather bookmarks.

https://i.imgur.com/nrOpKGc.jpg

[Broncosfan]

Been farting around with stamps and swivel knife. Made 3 sets of coasters and some feather bookmarks.

https://i.imgur.com/nrOpKGc.jpg

Those look great Hawgrider!

[hawgrider]

Those look great Hawgrider!

Thanks Bronco

Yeah they are getting better for a guy who can't draw stick figures lol!

I did the feather pattern free hand and still needs something for more realism just not sure what yet. Maybe just less swivel knife cuts and some color changes ?

[hawgrider]

Hmmph musta fat fingered thread and closed it with my phone yesterday? Oh well open again thanks for the heads up TJC44 !

[Big Ken]

Hmmph musta fat fingered thread and closed it with my phone yesterday? Oh well open again thanks for the heads up TJC44 !

Thanks, starting going through withdrawal.

[Infidel]

I was wonder why the thread was locked. I'd get some paint and add some color to the feathers, that would help them out a bit. I've heard good things about Angelus paints but I've been using plain old Acrylics from Michael's and they seem to do just fine. Some colors work better than others over dye, Silver is ok and dark colors too but white on a brown dye ends up a mess so if you're going to use light colors you should paint and then dye with a paint brush so the colors stay what they're supposed to be.

-Infidel

[hawgrider]

I was wonder why the thread was locked. I'd get some paint and add some color to the feathers, that would help them out a bit. I've heard good things about Angelus paints but I've been using plain old Acrylics from Michael's and they seem to do just fine. Some colors work better than others over dye, Silver is ok and dark colors too but white on a brown dye ends up a mess so if you're going to use light colors you should paint and then dye with a paint brush so the colors stay what they're supposed to be.

-Infidel

Ah yes paints. Kinda briefly thought about paints but wrote off as I have no artistic ability. Maybe I should experiment with some paint and see how bad I do. And then the choice of colors... decisions decisions.

[BucketBack]

Nice work.

I've been meaning to make holsters and sheathes from leather or even kydex for at least 8 years.

I have more stock now.

[hawgrider]

Nice work.

I've been meaning to make holsters and sheathes from leather or even kydex for at least 8 years.

I have more stock now.

Yeah I've been waiting to see your leather and tools stash. Winters coming you should dig that stuff out.:bigthumbup:

[hawgrider]

Farting around with a basket weave stamp made a harmonica case.

https://i.imgur.com/FDSxe16.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/RLYGuad.jpg

[hawgrider]

Still playing with the basket weave stamp. Been working on this knife sheath for this old Marbles made in Meatchicken knife.

https://i.imgur.com/lofBw9I.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xnILh66.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/tccHp3o.jpg

Doing a neatsfoot oil and dark brown finish on this one. Then sew it up.

[hawgrider]

Good enough for who its for.

https://i.imgur.com/KMP4nWU.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/sAXTvDh.jpg

[RubberDuck]

That turned out good nice new home for that knife.
The old MI knives are getting good money on Ebay.
Yours is a keeperhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200102/316fb6ed82c64facb5d579e452407f1e.jpg

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[Big Ken]

Good enough for who its for.


https://i.imgur.com/sAXTvDh.jpg

That's awesome.

[hawgrider]

That turned out good nice new home for that knife.
The old MI knives are getting good money on Ebay.
Yours is a keeperhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200102/316fb6ed82c64facb5d579e452407f1e.jpg

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Wow same knife. Yikes they are pricey in the used market.

[Slippy]

Good enough for who its for.

https://i.imgur.com/KMP4nWU.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/sAXTvDh.jpg

That is some nice work!

[OSFG]

I have a buddy at work getting into leather work. He said he'd do a back rest on my solo seat for my Harley for me putting mu unit crest on it.. Here is his final product. thoughts?

9533

[hawgrider]

I have a buddy at work getting into leather work. He said he'd do a back rest on my solo seat for my Harley for me putting mu unit crest on it.. Here is his final product. thoughts?

9533

Bad ass!

[hawgrider]

Making a holster for my Colt .32 police positive in left hand. Got the pattern made everything cut and snaps installed. Just have to sew it up and decide what finish I'm going to use.

https://i.imgur.com/kbTh1uC.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6dlyd37.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/jnskWOI.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7d3flED.jpg

[RubberDuck]

Surprised you didn't basket weave it.

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[hawgrider]

Surprised you didn't basket weave it.

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Thought about it...
Was thinking about doing it on the front side but didn't figure out where to lay it out. Basically chickened out!

[Slippy]

I played a little bit of baseball then after college, I played a number of years of competitive Men's Softball. When I was 48 years old, I had two surgeries; Knee and Ankle. I swore I would recover and play again into my 50's. I did the rehab, bought a new glove, gave it one more year, hit 2 dingers in the first game of my last season and it hurt so bad, when I hit my last homer, walked to the dugout, shook my teammates hands and left the field...forever. My Son1 was there which cracked me up because he called Mrs S and said, DAMN DAD JUST HIT 2 HOME RUNS AND WALKED OFF THE FIELD!

Anyway, my "new" glove got exactly 1 game of play and has been sitting in a plastic garbage bag, saturated with vaseline and Slippy's Secret Glove-Oleum Solution for YEARS! It is a USA Made Nokona, TX Pro Model Glove.

9550

9551

I will never use it, my sons are not baseball/softball players (WTH?) and I want to have someone make this glove into a Shoulder or Chest Rig Adaptable Holster for a Full Size 1911.

HELP!

[RubberDuck]

That will be a cool project

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[hawgrider]

I played a little bit of baseball then after college, I played a number of years of competitive Men's Softball. When I was 48 years old, I had two surgeries; Knee and Ankle. I swore I would recover and play again into my 50's. I did the rehab, bought a new glove, gave it one more year, hit 2 dingers in the first game of my last season and it hurt so bad, when I hit my last homer, walked to the dugout, shook my teammates hands and left the field...forever. My Son1 was there which cracked me up because he called Mrs S and said, DAMN DAD JUST HIT 2 HOME RUNS AND WALKED OFF THE FIELD!

Anyway, my "new" glove got exactly 1 game of play and has been sitting in a plastic garbage bag, saturated with vaseline and Slippy's Secret Glove-Oleum Solution for YEARS! It is a USA Made Nokona, TX Pro Model Glove.

9550

9551

I will never use it, my sons are not baseball/softball players (WTH?) and I want to have someone make this glove into a Shoulder or Chest Rig Adaptable Holster for a Full Size 1911.

HELP!

Re purpose is a good Idea. Have to see if the 2 pros here say if its do able. Beyond my skillset fo sho!

[Baglady]

Thought about it...
Was thinking about doing it on the front side but didn't figure out where to lay it out. Basically chickened out!

Damn nice work Hawg!

[Baglady]

Re purpose is a good Idea. Have to see if the 2 pros here say if its do able. Beyond my skillset fo sho!

Damn nice glove Slippy! Hope you get the holster of your dreams out of it.

[Innkeeper]

I have a buddy at work getting into leather work. He said he'd do a back rest on my solo seat for my Harley for me putting mu unit crest on it.. Here is his final product. thoughts?

9533Nice work

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[Innkeeper]

Re purpose is a good Idea. Have to see if the 2 pros here say if its do able. Beyond my skillset fo sho!That would be a nice repurpose and I look forward to hearing I have a really nice first baseman glove my unit issued me on my first deployment told me to keep it when we got home, took it on my second deployment. Have used it to play catch with the nieces over the years. I might have to see if they can do slippy's to maybe do mine now that the kids are grown.

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[Infidel]

I have a buddy at work getting into leather work. He said he'd do a back rest on my solo seat for my Harley for me putting mu unit crest on it.. Here is his final product. thoughts?

9533

Your friend has skills, especially if he's just starting out. Nice piece of work right there.

[Infidel]

Making a holster for my Colt .32 police positive in left hand. Got the pattern made everything cut and snaps installed. Just have to sew it up and decide what finish I'm going to use.

https://i.imgur.com/kbTh1uC.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6dlyd37.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/jnskWOI.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7d3flED.jpg

I'd oil that puppy up and then set it out in the sun for awhile checking it at about 15min intervals then hit it with some leather balm when it tanned to a color I was happy with. Kind of hard to do in the winter but worth it.