Wet Forming Question

[Arcey]

Afternoon, y'all.....

Probably old age makin' me werry 'bout things not worth werryin' 'bout but I'm getting' more 'n more antsy all the time of leavin' my carry pistol in the truck in a parkin' lot I can't see from various stage sets.  Last few shoots I've stuck it in a SA holster attached to the gun cart.  But, it's easy ta see that's makin' some folks uncomfortable 'n it's causin' other problems with other folks askin' ta handle it.

Anyway, I found a leather pouch, or box, or whutever ya call it, with a top flap 'n a belt loop on it I assembled from a Tandy kit just after I started playin' the game. Never used it for anything.  It'll easily attach to the cart 'n as long as no one flips the flap the carry pistol, a Glock 26, will be out of sight.

The thing was a bit tight so I stuffed a juice bottle in it 'n soaked it in hot water.  It's sittin' out in the sun now.  I'm pretty sure once it's dry to the touch it'll still be wet somewhere.  Can anyone give me an educated guess as ta how long I need ta leave it alone before I snatch the bottle out?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Depending on how soaked it was to start, it could take overnight to completely dry, but in the sun it should be getting firm within an hour at worst and probably dry in a few hours. At least that's what I count on around here. As long as it holds the shape, you can pull the bottle out. You may want to form it around your pistol so it fits easily. Also, the leather will dry faster once you pull the bottle out of it.

[Deadeye Don]

I am no leather expert, but I would think setting it out in the hot sun may actually cause it to dry too fast and shrink more than it would if you left it inside to dry more slowly.  I am thinking of those old movies where they tied up people with wet leather bands around their necks and left them buried up to their necks in the desert.     Safe shooting.  Deadeye.

[Paladin UK]

DD.....

I too got ta thinkin `bout this......

in the sun it should be getting firm within an hour at worst and probably dry in a few hours.

I always thought that leather would possibly crack iffn it wuz dried too quickly 

Paladin (What aint no expert on leather ) UK

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I think the cracking comes from too much heat. I have messed items up in an oven before. At least until I learned to be patient. I've never seen any damage to a leather item from the sun, but I suppose it could happen in a really hot, dry area.

[Arcey]

Went like this:

Picked the thing up to move it 'n the bottle fell out all by itself.  It looks to have taken shape well.  Doesn't feel damp anywhere.  The leather isn't damaged. And, the pistol slips right in now. If I didn't have an extended mag in it it would rattle around.

Only downside is the flap is sticking straight up now.  I have it tied down tight 'n I'll leave it alone 'til I want to use the thing on the 7th .  Don't want to wet it again and lose the shape it has now.

Thanks for the words, y'all.  I appreciate it.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Only downside is the flap is sticking straight up now.  I have it tied down tight 'n I'll leave it alone 'til I want to use the thing on the 7th.

This could be a plus, considering what you will have in it. Put a snap on it and when you pull the snap, it'll be easy to get yer iron out.

[Arcey]

Iron?  More like my plastic.  Heh, heh...

Good thought, Will.