Just about ready!

[Ace Lungger]

Got my first set of holster patterns cut out, used someone's idea on here and got me some lining leather, went to a flea market and bought a light brown mens leather jacket, I have been carefully taking it apart, so that not to loose any thing usable.
Now I am wanting for the rest of my tools, and to pick up some leather.
My question is, when you are making a holster and you are going to line it, do you stop the lining in the holster area, or do you line the whole thing, and what I mean buy that is, do you line the flap's?
You can tell I am not very smart, this is new to me. None of the holsters I own are lined, so I don't know what to do, also when glueing the lining do you use spray adhesive  or weldwood contack cement?

As normal, i need all the help I can get, I will be deeply greatfull for any and all advice! You guys have been so good to me, I only hope that I can repaay you all back in someway someday!
Ace

[Seth Shaw]

I use spray adhesive for lining holsters and belts. I line every part of the holster, in other words, I lay a large piece of lining leather over the cut out holster (before assembly) and glue it in place, then trim the excess lining material away.

[Ace Lungger]

Thats Seth, starting off on doing new things, it is nice to talk to someone that does it, now do you stitch everywhere you line?

I will be very great full for any and all advice!
Thanks Ace

[Seth Shaw]

  I'm no expert, only been doing this a few months now myself. But I caught on pretty quick to the basic in's and out's of leathercrafting holsters and gun belts.

And to answer your question, yes, I stitch everywhere there is lining. You can't count on glue to hold your lining in place for the long term. It's the stitching that will ensure everything stays together. At first I thought this would be a real chore, hand stitching so much material. But I have actually come to enjoy the hand stitching part, I just do it as I watch movies.

[Dalton Masterson]

Ace, good to see your getting started! Seth is correct. Line the whole thing. I have made a few where I didnt, and it dont look that great after awhile with that nice lining, then rough leather next to it.
Also, stitch all the edges, and also along and around any holes you put it in, ie. cheyenne style loop holes. Stitch anywhere that it might come loose basically. Good luck!! DM

[Slowhand Bob]

Ace, sew around everything that is not a part of the final main seam.  The main seam is the final heavy stitch line that closes the holster up and catches that edge of the liner then.  I apply my glue with, believe it or not, an acrylic painters knife and like the way it seems to force the glue down into the fibers deeply and quickly. 

I have seen the liners done in several ways and have tried all that ive seen.  My favorite is to fully line for most styles except the true Mexican loop.  With these styles I find that the combined leather weight and glue stiffening makes the loops to stiff and hard to stretch for my satisfation.  For these I roll the liner just over the top of the belt loop (enuff to lay behind the belt), then sew and trim off there.  This works well if you are using 8/9oz leather for the outer holster body with a real light weight liner. 

Another method I have tried but liked less was to line as a full liner but not back the actual holster loops.  It worked but was more trouble than the above mentioned method.  There are several 'how-to' videos out that actually show all of these lining methods being used.

One last thought, were you talking of using a leather jacket to obtain the liner leather?  This would not be tanned in a method that is recommended for carrying guns in.  If you do this, NEVER LEAVE THE GUN IN FOR LONGER THAT ACTUAL DAILY USE.  Wipe and oil it well after use to prevent any residual chemical attack.     

[Seth Shaw]

One last thought, were you talking of using a leather jacket to obtain the liner leather?  This would not be tanned in a method that is recommended for carrying guns in.  If you do this, NEVER LEAVE THE GUN IN FOR LONGER THAT ACTUAL DAILY USE.  Wipe and oil it well after use to prevent any residual chemical attack.     

Yeah, I didn't wanna be a party pooper, but I really wouldn't recommend using some leather you salvaged from some thift store leather jacket. Unless the piece you are making is just for practice and won't actually be used on a regular basis to carry a pistol.

It's worth the money to invest in quality materials. Shoddy materials will make for a shoddy finished product.

If you're just practicing and making items for fun to learn the in's and out's then by all means use what you have at hand that is the most cost effective (believe me I used up 1 1/2 double shoulder pieces of 9/10oz veg tanned leather just learning the basics of making a gun belt and holsters - but it was worth every penny judging by the marked improvement in my work).

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Ace check out the way Bull Durham, made his holster , it is partially lined, it looks good this way and it wouldn't be hard to get the main body of the holster through the loops , because the loops are now single thichness , I agree with the others , you shouldn't use the leather off the old jacket for a liner, if your using a 8 to 9 OUNCE leather, you can use 3 to 4 or 4 to 5 once leather for your liner , a lot of times if i'm going to line a holster i will get a 5 to 6 ounce leather and use the same as my liner this works well for me, putting both pieces of 5 to 6 ounce leather together , will give a 9 to 10 ounce holster or belt



                                                                tEN wOLVES


                                            http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,19177.0.html
                                          --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Ace Lungger]

First off, Thanks a lot folks, I need all the help I can get!!! And then some!
I must be losing my mine,because I am certain that I read that people went to trift stores and garage sales and bought bargin leather coats for some of the materials? the jacket says 100% leather outer, it isn't like cowhide it feels more like buckshin,  does it have chemials in it, or what is wrong with it. I am just asking this so I will know1
And I do thank you guys so much, please give me any advice you can!
Thanks Ace

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Ace you're better off staying with VEGI-TAN leather , it,s not as harmfull to your guns finish as other leather that has been tanned with different chemicals, that can be harmfull to your guns finish. and you're right , some people probably did use what ever was avalable, to them at the time , but they most likely didn't know it was going to really mess up the guns, I heard a story about a holster that was made this way , and they kept there gun in it too long , and it coroded in the holster to a point it didn't want to come out of the holster , the chemical reaction had caused the gun to bond to the leather, this is a worst case sinerio, but this kind of thing happens all the time , even with VEGI TAN leather you don't want to leave your gun in the holster for long periods of time without taking it out and oiling it and wipping down , just like the Cowboy did when he was out on the range , or herding cattle, for long term storage put the gun in a gun case , rug or safe. People that have done this, didn't have the knowledge they needed, and ended up ruining their guns.  If you don't know what kind of leather it is, or how it was tanned , don't use it for gun leather , use it for a jacket, or something non gun Just a note Ace did you get the PM I sent you a week ago???

                                           tEN wOLVES 

[Ace Lungger]

Yes sir, I did!
And I thank you for the advice and the boost of confidence. I better ask you this, what about car chamois, last week, I wrapped the wood on my 2 rifles to protect them, none of the material is touching any metal. But i do need all the help I can get!! Looks like no shoot again next Sat. unless the weather goes nuts and warms up 40 degrees.HA HA
Thanks Ace

[cowboywc]

Howdy
Hope this helps to understand different types of leathers and why some are bad as a lining.
WC
# Vegetable-tanned leather is tanned using tannin (hence the name "tanning") and other ingredients found in vegetable matter, tree bark, and other such sources. It is supple and brown in color, with the exact shade depending on the mix of chemicals and the color of the skin. Vegetable-tanned leather is not stable in water; it tends to discolor, and if left to soak and then dry it will shrink and become less supple and harder. In hot water, it will shrink drastically and partly gelatinise, becoming rigid and eventually brittle. Boiled leather is an example of this where the leather has been hardened by being immersed in hot water, or in boiled wax or similar substances. Historically, it was occasionally used as armour after hardening, and it has also been used for book binding. This is the only form of leather suitable for use in leather carving or stamping.
# Chrome-tanned leather, invented in 1858, is tanned using chromium sulfate and other salts of chromium. It is more supple and pliable than vegetable-tanned leather, and does not discolor or lose shape as drastically in water as vegetable-tanned. Also known as wet-blue for its color derived from the chromium. More esoteric colors are possible using chrome tanning.

[Ace Lungger]

Thank You Cowboy,
And I tpld a fib, the car chamois that I used om my rifles do toch metal, because I wrapped the forends, do I need to remove that I do not want anything to happen to the riffle barrels under that stuff.
If someone could advise me, I would be very great full
Ace

[Whiskey Creek Adams]

Thank You Cowboy,
And I tpld a fib, the car chamois that I used om my rifles do toch metal, because I wrapped the forends, do I need to remove that I do not want anything to happen to the riffle barrels under that stuff.
If someone could advise me, I would be very great full
Ace

Remove it!  It will attract moisture and heaven only knows what chemicals are in it.

[Ace Lungger]

Thank you so much!!! I will do that right now.
Thanks again Ace