2aHawaii
General Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: mrgaf on February 19, 2016, 07:10:58 PM
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Been looking at making my own CAS rig. Is there anywhere here that has leather and various tools for this purpose? Thanks in advance.... :thumbsup:
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Ben Franklin has some tools and leather scraps and bindings but doubt they could make a rig like that. You can check some shoe repair shops for leather.
I bought a few tools and leather on ebay to make a sheath for a hatchet.
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I purchased a setup from Tandy Leather online. They sell hides as well. I did a few motorcycle seats and a few welding hoods for my own consumption They sell darn near everything leather.
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Woodcraft might have some but I cannot recall. Probably better to buy online if you want a better price though.
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I have a couple of sides of nice leather, Black
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Thanks for all the advice. Will be contacting Tandy on Monday via phone since I have some questions for them. Actually looking to make a Mexican loop holster and a drop loop belt with just a small amount of embellishment. This will be used for my favorite sidearm, a stainless Ruger Bisley Blackhawk, 5.5" barrel in 45 colt.
Suspect there will be many mistakes along the way but think it will turn out ok......
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I purchased a setup from Tandy Leather online. They sell hides as well. I did a few motorcycle seats and a few welding hoods for my own consumption They sell darn near everything leather.
which kit do you have? How do you like it?
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I have a couple of sides of nice leather, Black
Dang! if it was other than black I would take it off your hands but I'm looking at making this rig a deep burgundy..... :)
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which kit do you have? How do you like it?
I bought it so long ago, I'm not sure what kit it is. The tools that came with it was pretty extensive, however, the tools are on the cheap side. It is good enough to get you started in tooling leather and constructing leather goods, But if you where to go "pro" and do this things for a living, I think the better quality tools are available. Of course they will cost way more...
It's kind of like a Lee press setup. Not the beefyest bestest, but it works and you can get a nice product out of it.
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Dang! if it was other than black I would take it off your hands but I'm looking at making this rig a deep burgundy..... :)
If you are going to tool the leather you need unfinished raw leather. You have to dampen the leather to carve and tool it.
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Aloha Mrgaf,
Tandy is a good place to start. I would recommend getting your hands on the book How to make Holsters by Al Stohlman. It is very good, and has the information you need for Mexican loop, etc.
You will be hand sewing, so invest in a pack of 10 needles from Tandy, plus the thick hand sewing thread they sell.
You'll need an awl to pierce the holes. I make my own awls, and would send you one as a gift of you're going to take the plunge.
For adhesive, buy some contact cement at the local hardware store.
You can cut your leather with a utility knife that holds disposable blades. You do not need to buy an expensive "round knife" or "head knife"
I save leather for last in this list, because you might need the book first before making a selection. You will be buying "veg tanned" leather. Typically you dye the outside of your holster after its has been constructed. So that blonde colored veg tan leather will do. Single and double shoulders are a nice place to start. As for thickness, you're probably looking at 6-8oz total. Sometimes I line my holsters, so I add the thickness of the lining and the outer leather and make sure it's not too thick.
Tandy is great. I am loyal to store #12 in Baldwin Park. They ship via priority mail. Their stamps leave a lot to be desired, so if you want to get carried away with carving and tooling, look elsewhere. A big vintage lot of tools from eBay can be a much better value and yield the older/better made tools.
Look me up online and give me a call if I can assist you further or mail you a hand sewing awl
Tandy does sell kits. That might be a good option. Plan on making two. Save the first holster forever just cause it's your first, and the build the second one. It will be better than the first and take less time.