Another hair brain idea!

[Slowhand Bob]

I have seldom ever taken the time or energy to bone holsters to a really pronounced form fit and always figured the alternative used by the factories was male and female molds used with presses.  Well recently I saw where someone was form fitting kydex holsters with a simple home made rig that should work just as well with leather.  The one trick that I do not have yet is the material he was using to get the outside pressure.  It looks to be something similar to a thick sheet of neoprene type rubber that is probably somewhat denser than the wet suit material.  He wraps heated kydex around his gun and then sandwiches it between two sheets of the rubber foam, this whole assembly is then placed between two heavy boards that are clamped tightly until the kydex has had time to set.  I see no reason that this would not work the same to give that modern form fitting look to well cased leather.  I have found a couple of small pieces of foam rubber to try and will post back if it works. You will see what Im talking about at around three minutes into the video and below someone makes a guess on the foam but doesnt give any sources.

[Dave Cole]

Definately not a crazy idea.Kydex guys do it all the time and some of the leather guys.You can get t he foam you want here.

http://www.usaknifemaker.com/store/mold-foam-for-kydex-concealex-neoprene-1-x-115x25-p-2018.html

A tutorial for building a small press using this foam is available here,but you will need to register at Knifedogs

http://www.knifedogs.com/showthread.php?t=1687&highlight=Kydex+press

I have also heard of guys using vaccum machines for the kitchen for molding holsters.Dave

[Slowhand Bob]

Thanks David, I would really like to make at least one good holster trying this technique, just fer the bragging rights.  I begin to think the rumors concerning you may be right, you just might truly be Super Man in disguise!  Thanks again and now back to my little secret lab cave....

[Dave Cole]

   Hardly pard, just been doing this a long time, and I am on alot of forums.Hope it works for you.Dave

[JD Alan]

This is the first time I used my 10 dollar thrift store Seal-a-Meal

[cowboywc]

JD
That works.
WC

[Slowhand Bob]

I never would have thought that one could get that much suction out of those little gadgets, why Ill bet it could suck the paint off a uhhh never mind.  That looks like a good method to accomplish the task but Im thinking I will probably just try a knife sheath and a mag pouch with the small pieces of rubber foam I have and be happy with that.  Just wanting to try something new and any road that will get me there is better than good.  I do still wonder if the big outfits that specialize in those hard fit leather products actually use external molds??  I could never figure how Safariland could get such an extremely tight form fit holster and still have nice crisp checkering when I used every trick I new and would still get some pattern washout.  I had convinced myself that these guys were using a female exterior mold with the checkering pattern in the mold itself!!!!!   

[Chaa Duu Ba Its Iidan]

I've always wondered how the production form-fit holsters are done, too.

This foam sandwich method you mentioned.......the one thing I think I'd worry about is applying so much pressure that the gun would be damaged.  It's hard to imagine that it's possible, but who knows.

I've heard of the food vacuum  sealer method of form fitting holsters, but I had doubts the things could create the vacuum necessary to do a good job of forming the leather around a gun.  After seeing the picture posted earlier in this thread, well, that's a pretty convicncing arguement that a vacuum arrangement must be how production holster makers form-fit their products.  Now it's hard for me to imagine (given what we've seen here) that the "foam sandwich method" would be as effective as the food vacuum sealer method.  Pretty impressive demonstration.

[gawd awful]

First off let me admit I am not a leather worker at all, That being said, I know woodworkers use some pretty strong Vacume presses to laminate thin vaneers on there projects, Like a heavy duty Seal-A-Meal on steroids. who knows mabey that would work.

Just a thought, hope it helps someone out.

[Slowhand Bob]

Thanks for the input gawd awful and though I am not crazy about the look for western gear, it definitely has its place and its admirers.  The more I think on this the more I like the idea for mag and knife pouches and these are becoming more popular in SASS.  I do think I have seen soom of these things in old wood working catalogs, perhaps the even used a table with perforated top to accomplish a vacuum?  Now I am confusing me again.

[JD Alan]

I was as surprised as anyone to see that little food sealer work so well. I wrapped the gun in plastic, then taped to to a small poly cutting board to stablize it. The leather is 8-9oz. I checked the original holster in the purse, and that was the weight, so I figured I ought to try the same. I cased it pretty well also, left it in the bag about a half hour, then took it out and let it air dry over night.   

[Ned Buckshot]

Howdy Bob.

Rockler.com has a vacum system that uses a big bag (over 4' square) and a stand alone pump that I'm sure would work splendidly
but at $350 it will remain on my wish list!

Ned

[Slowhand Bob]

I took a look at it Ned and didnt like the backer board (might could be left out?) and think it is way over sized for my needs.  A search of Ebay indicated that the kitchen versions would be a little small for some holster patterns but I am not sure I would use it for such.  I like the idea mainly for shot shell pouches and form fit mag pouches.  I did try the bags that are supposed to suck the air from clothing, linens, etc etc using a house vacuum cleaner and my vac certainly didnt work on wet leather!  Back to the drawing board.

[Ned Buckshot]

Slowhand, I just did a google search for vacum clamps and got LOTS of results.

Looked at a few and some make custom size bags. One I took note of  vacuum-press.com  had a kit for $250. with a 24" sqaure bag. No backer board but that could easily be taken care of.

Just thought I'd let you know.

Ned

[Slowhand Bob]

Thanks for the heads up Ned, I might call those fokes with some questions this week.  As it always happens, my allotment for this month is going to need to go to a gunsmith.  My '87 Chinechester is acting mighty sickly and gets hopscotched to the front again.