Quick Question: Wet Mold Before or After EVOO

[JD Alan]

I know a lot of you guys use EVOO, then a variety of top finishes. Here's my delima.

I don't know if it's better to wet mold, then treat the outside of the holster (unlined) or, go ahead and apply the EVOO, get it like I want it to look, then wet mold. I've already applied EVOOl to the belt, and it's streched across the dashboard. Then I got to thinking about the molding process.

So far you guys have given me great advice, which I really appreciate. Thanks, JD 

[HorsePen Henry]

I dip dye it and stick the gun in the holster and let the dye dry. (Alcohol based dye) Then...I EVOO the pistol and the holster and stick the gun back in the holster again. EVOO the gun and wrap in saran wrap before ya stick it in the wet holster.
That'll get 'er dun!!!
Horse Pen

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

I know a lot of you guys use EVOO, then a variety of top finishes. Here's my delima.

I don't know if it's better to wet mold, then treat the outside of the holster (unlined) or, go ahead and apply the EVOO, get it like I want it to look, then wet mold. I've already applied EVOOl to the belt, and it's streched across the dashboard. Then I got to thinking about the molding process.

So far you guys have given me great advice, which I really appreciate. Thanks, JD 

          JD I always wet mold my gun before I put anything on my leather,as I understood you , you were not going to dye your leather, so this is the way I do natural oil finished leather. I use cling wrap or plastic bags to cover my gun, and I only leave my gun in the wet holster long enough to shape it to my gun, maybe five to ten minutes only and then I carefully remove it from the holster, the holster needs to dry from the inside too, after the holster has dried completely, ( at least 24 hours ) I use Lexoil conditioner first, then after that has dried , a couple coats of either EVOO or Neatsfoot oil drying between coats,( Suntan if the sun is available ) if you want it darker, adding a few more coats of oil will help, if you're going to use Bag Kote or Tan Kote, or another finish , make sure you let the oil treatment dry first, or you can skip BK/TK and just finish up with Skidmores. If I use my natural dyes, Vinegaroon/all the nut dyes and coffee dyes, I wet mold the gun to the holster right after taking the holster out of the dye, except with the Vinegaroon, which the holster has to have a baking soda bath and be rinsed in fresh water before molding I leave the gun in the holster for about ten minutes,after doing my molding and then remove very carefully not to disturb the leather that has been molded, and let dye, then finish in the same manner. This is the way I do it, there are many other ways to wet mold and finish leather, these are the methods I like, and they work well for me. If you like your gun to be looser in the holster leave your gun in the holster through the whole drying time, I like the holster to hold my gun snugly but also be able to draw and re holster easy, just leaving the gun in for ten minutes will give you a good fit without the gun being loose or sloppy in the holster, it will also hold its shape a lot longer even with a lot of use.

                             Good luck Pard you have a good start at this, I can't wait to see it finished,


                                                      tEN wOLVES 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I like to wet mold before the final oil & finish. If it's wet from the dying process after it's sewn, then I like to wet mold it immediately, like X-P does. The oil gets done after it's dry or almost so.

[JD Alan]

Thanks X Pen, if I were going to dye this one, I would dip dye it. I just haven't had the success with the scraps yet to feel confident dyeing this set.

10 Wolves & Will W, thanks to both of you for direction. The belt is already looking good with one coat of EVOO. I think I will try Lexol on the holsters before applying EVOO to them.

I'll do the wet molding right now.

Much appreciated, JD   

[Springfield Slim]

So how do you get a good finish on a 2 loop holster if you dye it after assembley and wet molding?

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

So how do you get a good finish on a 2 loop holster if you dye it after assembley and wet molding?

Howdy Slim

       I do the old time dyes, when I take my submerged holster or belt out of the dye, it is dyed, and then while wet I will put the gun in the wet holster and form it the way I want, then after about 10 minutes I will carefully take the gun out and try not to disturb the way I have the holster formed, this way the holster can dry from the inside too, after my leather is dry and formed, I use Lexoil first then my oil, or what ever way you choose to finish your leather.
      If I do a spirit dye or oil dye I usually do my tooling and stamping with cased leather first, after it is thoroughly dry I'll do my dyeing, after the dye is thoroughly dry, I do all my stitching, after stitching I will wet form my gun to the holster the same way as above, but using tap water only and let dry, then I will remove the main body of the holster from the loops and touch up any areas that might have lost color or gotten blotchy from the wet molding, after the touch up I let it dry thoroughly for at least 24 hours, then if I'm happy with the color and coverage and it looks the way I want I do my finish, if not I can add more dye at this time and wait to see if its what I want, after drying, if all is satisfactory, I'll start the finishing process, in which there are several ways of doing that.


                                                  Hope this was some help Pard


                                                        tEN wOLVES 

[JD Alan]

It is helpful indeed. I'm saving all of the comments to my computer for future reference.

I have it done, such as it is, and I'm going to post it on the top thread.

Thanks very much, JD

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

              I took a look JD, it came out great Pard, you can be proud.



                                         tEN wOLVES