Holster making for a hobby ??? show off your work... offer suggestions to a newbie...
- Thread starter Magnum Wheel Man
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Magnum Wheel Man
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Magnum Wheel Man
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Magnum Wheel Man
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Magnum Wheel Man
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has anyone got any examples of lacing you've done??? the lacing I'm doing is done with both a 4 tooth & single tooth chisel... I still haven't gotten any of the books ( kinda learning through the skool of hard noks 
)... I'm thinking if I did 2 rows of chisel slots, with the bevels in opposite directions, that I could do a double density criss cross lacing... ( I think I want a heavier lacing pattern for the tops of the 454 Casull & 44 Magnum holsters )
)... I'm thinking if I did 2 rows of chisel slots, with the bevels in opposite directions, that I could do a double density criss cross lacing... ( I think I want a heavier lacing pattern for the tops of the 454 Casull & 44 Magnum holsters )aarondhgraham
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Buy the books my friend!,,, :>)
There just ain't no substitute for the books,,,
How to Lace,,,
Lacing and Stitching for Leathercraft,,,
Only $9.98 for both books is an absolute bargain.
The Key-slingers are an example of double loop lacing,,,
as is this holster I made for a lady cop years ago.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of lacing holsters,,,
It doesn't mean one should not use lace,,,
It's just not my favorite method,,,
I prefer saddle stitching.
There just ain't no substitute for the books,,,
How to Lace,,,
Lacing and Stitching for Leathercraft,,,
Only $9.98 for both books is an absolute bargain.
The Key-slingers are an example of double loop lacing,,,
as is this holster I made for a lady cop years ago.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of lacing holsters,,,
It doesn't mean one should not use lace,,,
It's just not my favorite method,,,
I prefer saddle stitching.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
I did alot of 2 needle stiching over the weekend... it's definately easier like on my belt flaps on both sides of the bigger holsters, than it was on the bottom belt loop line across the already fully stitched 44 mag holster ( broke a couple needles & said a few choice words doing that one 
I might also want to add some sort of stiffener to the belt loop flaps on those particularly heavy guns... I'm looking for as much stability as possible... I acually plan on carrying them for a couple weeks to get a good feel for what I can improve on them... after mowing on the rider with the 44 mag on Sunday, I could see that rounding the top edges might make them more comfortable in some positions... this is also where I figured out I don't have enough coverage on the top lacing...
I might also want to add some sort of stiffener to the belt loop flaps on those particularly heavy guns... I'm looking for as much stability as possible... I acually plan on carrying them for a couple weeks to get a good feel for what I can improve on them... after mowing on the rider with the 44 mag on Sunday, I could see that rounding the top edges might make them more comfortable in some positions... this is also where I figured out I don't have enough coverage on the top lacing...
Magnum Wheel Man
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OK... I started with those two... books ordered 
Evyl Robot
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I've never done any lacing. Not that I'm opposed, but I like my CCW holsters to be smooooooth. I've done countless hours of hand stitching with a lock stitch awl. I like that I can make my holes tighter than using the two-needle method. Recently, I did pick up a real heavy-duty upholstery sewing machine that happily runs my holster leather. The biggest problem there has been learning how to control the beast! I'll thread it with stuff that has a 135-lb break strength, but when I do something wrong and make the machine mad, it will snap that stuff like it is old cotton! Anyway, here's a sneak peek at the new pair that I've made for my CCW revolvers. I haven't taken any pics since I did the edges and applied the final finish, but you'll get the idea:
The inlay is real carbon fiber twill. That stuff is interesting to work with. The wingtips are chrome tan. I know about the dangers of using chrome tan leather on holsters, but I wanted the consistent color throughout the material, and I've got these things lined pretty heavily with veg-tan as you can see. The back stitching is the structural stitching in Kevlar and the red ornamental stitching on the front is about a carpet thread weight nylon. I've only worn these once since putting them together, but they seem to know what they are there for!
The inlay is real carbon fiber twill. That stuff is interesting to work with. The wingtips are chrome tan. I know about the dangers of using chrome tan leather on holsters, but I wanted the consistent color throughout the material, and I've got these things lined pretty heavily with veg-tan as you can see. The back stitching is the structural stitching in Kevlar and the red ornamental stitching on the front is about a carpet thread weight nylon. I've only worn these once since putting them together, but they seem to know what they are there for!
Magnum Wheel Man
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EVYL... do you think the corners / points between the carbon fiber & the stitching will catch on the cover garment ( picture 2 shows the points I'd be concerned with ), & eventually "roll over" ??? I like what you're doing with the "new materials" & "styling" but would be concerned about snagging... I have an interesting python skin holster that I quit wearing conceiled, because it felt like the scales were snagging on my cover shirt...
aarondhgraham
New member
You got tighter stitches with a lock-stitch awl?
That boggles my mind Evyl,,,
My experience is the exact opposite.
I stopped using a lock-stitch awl years ago,,,
I kept having items "unravel" on me,,,
It's not happened with 2-needles.
I have one of the Tippmann "Boss" hand operated stitching machines,,,
The only thing I use it for is to sew linings on belts and such,,,
That saves me several hours on each gunbelt.
But then again I am not into any kind of mass production,,,
I use the fact that I saddle-stitch everything as a prime selling point.
It drove the instructor in the Shoe, Boot, & Saddle program nuts,,,
He made me learn to use the sewing machines,,,
But I still saddle-stitch everything,,,
Except belt linings.
I just set the stitching horse in front of the TV,,,
Pop in a DVD and get to stitching.
.
That boggles my mind Evyl,,,
My experience is the exact opposite.
I stopped using a lock-stitch awl years ago,,,
I kept having items "unravel" on me,,,
It's not happened with 2-needles.
I have one of the Tippmann "Boss" hand operated stitching machines,,,
The only thing I use it for is to sew linings on belts and such,,,
That saves me several hours on each gunbelt.
But then again I am not into any kind of mass production,,,
I use the fact that I saddle-stitch everything as a prime selling point.
It drove the instructor in the Shoe, Boot, & Saddle program nuts,,,
He made me learn to use the sewing machines,,,
But I still saddle-stitch everything,,,
Except belt linings.
I just set the stitching horse in front of the TV,,,
Pop in a DVD and get to stitching.
.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
EVYL... I'm going to help you out here...
no, not with tips for making holsters... your skill is leaps & bounds better than mine...
but in marketing...
as I develope a style... I'm going to call it "modern cowboy" for this discussion... I see a real void in the market...
classic styled cowboy looking holsters built for modern guns, & modern conceiled carry use...
deep down, we all want to think of ourselves as cowboys... but we live in a modern conceiled carry world...
if you could market holsters with a classic "cowboy" / "BBQ" look, for modern guns, that would carry well as a modern conceiled carry rig with a cover shirt or jacket, yet look as nice as some of these I'll post pics of if in social situations where open carry is acceptable... I'll bet you could sell more than you could make...
for inspiration, I went to Gun Broker, & did a Heiser search ( since they are one of the most collected holsters, I figure there must be a reason )listed by most expensive 1st...
OH MY... where is the drooling "smilie" ??? I've copied these in a file on my computer, for some years down the road, when / if I ever get skilled at this hobby I'm starting now...
enjoy... & hope this helps give you a profitable direction to turn to... notice there appears to be nothing wrong with laced holsters in the high end stuff
no, not with tips for making holsters... your skill is leaps & bounds better than mine...
but in marketing...
as I develope a style... I'm going to call it "modern cowboy" for this discussion... I see a real void in the market...
classic styled cowboy looking holsters built for modern guns, & modern conceiled carry use...
deep down, we all want to think of ourselves as cowboys... but we live in a modern conceiled carry world...
if you could market holsters with a classic "cowboy" / "BBQ" look, for modern guns, that would carry well as a modern conceiled carry rig with a cover shirt or jacket, yet look as nice as some of these I'll post pics of if in social situations where open carry is acceptable... I'll bet you could sell more than you could make...
for inspiration, I went to Gun Broker, & did a Heiser search ( since they are one of the most collected holsters, I figure there must be a reason )listed by most expensive 1st...
OH MY... where is the drooling "smilie" ??? I've copied these in a file on my computer, for some years down the road, when / if I ever get skilled at this hobby I'm starting now...
enjoy... & hope this helps give you a profitable direction to turn to... notice there appears to be nothing wrong with laced holsters in the high end stuff
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Magnum Wheel Man
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here are a couple for "autos"... raise that belt line, & add a cant... maybe stiffen them up to ride well up that high $$$$$$$$
how about a snubbie??? oh... & BTW... love the tooled straps... hate the plain straps covering up the tooling...
how about a snubbie??? oh... & BTW... love the tooled straps... hate the plain straps covering up the tooling...
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Evyl Robot
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MWM - I've got all the pieces put together pretty well, but we shall see. Every time I make a holster for myself (or more often a family member) I try something new. Many times it's subtle, other times not. This time, I made some pretty radical departures from what I usually do, and I'm dying to see what comes apart first! I'm actually less concerned with the leather corners toward the bottom than I am with the carbon weave exposed at the top. Since I didn't want the holsters too rigid, I couldn't exactly resin it like we typically do to carbon fiber cloth. I think I've got the stuff bound up pretty well, but only time will tell how it holds.
I like your 'modern cowboy' holster idea quite a bit. I'm going to have to give it some thought.
Aarond - It's possible that I gave up on two-needle too quickly. I have tried and tried to sell the value of hand-stitching to my customers, but they don't seem to care much. Different markets, I suppose. I thought about getting a Boss before I got my Juki. Sometimes I wish I had. The Juki is faster. MUCH faster! A little too fast actually. The motor spins and the head activates with a clutch. When you press the foot pedal, it stitches 1800-stitches per minute whether you like it or not. It has taken some getting used to! At any rate, once I get around to building a barbecue rig, maybe I'll try two-needle again, just to see if I can make it work better for me than it did before.
I like your 'modern cowboy' holster idea quite a bit. I'm going to have to give it some thought.
Aarond - It's possible that I gave up on two-needle too quickly. I have tried and tried to sell the value of hand-stitching to my customers, but they don't seem to care much. Different markets, I suppose. I thought about getting a Boss before I got my Juki. Sometimes I wish I had. The Juki is faster. MUCH faster! A little too fast actually. The motor spins and the head activates with a clutch. When you press the foot pedal, it stitches 1800-stitches per minute whether you like it or not. It has taken some getting used to!
At any rate, once I get around to building a barbecue rig, maybe I'll try two-needle again, just to see if I can make it work better for me than it did before.Magnum Wheel Man
New member
EVYL... is that a finished edge on the carbon fiber, or a cut edge ??? if finished, it might be more duarable than you would think ???
BTW... with the lacing... vintage Heisers look like they use a buck skin tan color... I really like my black lacing for more modern holsters... unfortunately the Heiser I re-laced was very dark... & my spur trigger was black... I think if a medium brown or light brown holster body was used, the black lace would really make it pop....
BTW... with the lacing... vintage Heisers look like they use a buck skin tan color... I really like my black lacing for more modern holsters... unfortunately the Heiser I re-laced was very dark... & my spur trigger was black... I think if a medium brown or light brown holster body was used, the black lace would really make it pop....
Evyl Robot
New member
At the top, the carbon fiber is folded over and finished. You may be right. That may still be there when the rest of the holster is worn out. 
That stuff is pretty amazing. I tried to light a small piece of it on fire yesterday. Note the operative word 'tried.' I know carbon burns, but you'd have to get this stuff really hot to ignite it! As to the holster's durability, I suppose we'll never know until I wear them hard!
That would look nice. What do you use for your lacing? Have you ever worked with kangaroo? It makes sense that the hide would make some pretty incredible lacing.
That stuff is pretty amazing. I tried to light a small piece of it on fire yesterday. Note the operative word 'tried.' I know carbon burns, but you'd have to get this stuff really hot to ignite it! As to the holster's durability, I suppose we'll never know until I wear them hard!That would look nice. What do you use for your lacing? Have you ever worked with kangaroo? It makes sense that the hide would make some pretty incredible lacing.
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
since I'm just getting started... this is what I bought...
http://www.zackwhite.com/product.php?productid=16831&cat=552&page=2
that & an 8 pack of lacing needles...
http://www.zackwhite.com/product.php?productid=16619&cat=565&page=1
& these chisels...
http://www.zackwhite.com/product.php?productid=16661&cat=572&page=1
http://www.zackwhite.com/product.php?productid=16660&cat=572&page=1
http://www.zackwhite.com/product.php?productid=16831&cat=552&page=2
that & an 8 pack of lacing needles...
http://www.zackwhite.com/product.php?productid=16619&cat=565&page=1
& these chisels...
http://www.zackwhite.com/product.php?productid=16661&cat=572&page=1
http://www.zackwhite.com/product.php?productid=16660&cat=572&page=1
Magnum Wheel Man
New member
very nice...
just looked at the tutorial... thanks for posting... ( a picture is worth a 1000 words )
just looked at the tutorial... thanks for posting... ( a picture is worth a 1000 words )
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Magnum Wheel Man
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1st two books came yesterday ( now just have to find the time to read them )
I did get all my straps ends rounded & a couple burnished ( still need to get that variable speed dremel... think that would make things lots easier than my single high speed model )
stiffening materials...
I have several old Bucheimer holsters that I think used aluminum... as I do some light fabricating, I have a couple thin pieces of aluminum & could try that... also the local speed shop has rolls of ( roughly ) 1/8" thick flexible plastic that I think is used for stock cars... it comes in many colors, in smaller sheets rolled up, & is reasonably cheap... since I'm still after a traditional look, I was thinking of fully wrapping the stiffening material in leather...
IMO, the higher riding holsters can often use more stiffening & with trying to keep a more traditional look, I think I need something... Aarond I know has talked about lined holsters being stiffer, but on my big bore holsters, I doubled over the leather in the belt loop extensions ( I think that was 8-9 or 9-10 oz ) I used rubber cement to glue them 1st in my vice, & once cured, punched & sewed them... I think they're still too flexible hence my thoughts on a stiffener layer
curious what if anything you guys have used...
BTW... just flipping through the books I already learned something... trimming that lace to a point before putting it in the needle... seems like a great idea...
I'll have to try that... bet it makes the lace go through the chisel slots much better
I did get all my straps ends rounded & a couple burnished ( still need to get that variable speed dremel... think that would make things lots easier than my single high speed model )
stiffening materials...
I have several old Bucheimer holsters that I think used aluminum... as I do some light fabricating, I have a couple thin pieces of aluminum & could try that... also the local speed shop has rolls of ( roughly ) 1/8" thick flexible plastic that I think is used for stock cars... it comes in many colors, in smaller sheets rolled up, & is reasonably cheap... since I'm still after a traditional look, I was thinking of fully wrapping the stiffening material in leather...
IMO, the higher riding holsters can often use more stiffening & with trying to keep a more traditional look, I think I need something... Aarond I know has talked about lined holsters being stiffer, but on my big bore holsters, I doubled over the leather in the belt loop extensions ( I think that was 8-9 or 9-10 oz ) I used rubber cement to glue them 1st in my vice, & once cured, punched & sewed them... I think they're still too flexible hence my thoughts on a stiffener layer
curious what if anything you guys have used...
BTW... just flipping through the books I already learned something... trimming that lace to a point before putting it in the needle... seems like a great idea...
I'll have to try that... bet it makes the lace go through the chisel slots much better