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by 2up1down
Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:16 pm
Forum: "How To" Tips
Topic: Kydex hybrid holster making
Replies: 40
Views: 36125

Re: Kydex hybrid holster making

Since the OP has always been such a great guy on here...
I don't do tutorials, often, and I don't currently have any pics of my daily holsters,
but I have this pic of one I made a friend in about an hour on Father's Day.
I purposefully left the leather way oversized so he could cut it down after
wearing. (his first IWB) He has since "combat cut" it to expose the grip.
Image

There are many nice commercial holsters out available, but I'm not waiting
or paying a small fortune for something I can make exactly how I want it.

OP you have a great start, hoping this will assist you in your future projects.
As I stated before the guys at Tandy are great.

I study over 100 tutorials before I began building mine over a year ago.
Everything from vacuum forming to forming with gloved hands. So I
will try and save you some searching:


1. Great start on cow leather- quarter/half shoulder, avg 8-9oz vegetable tanned.
I like both Cow and Horse.
an alternative that works as a better sweat barrier is horse hide:
http://springfieldleather.com/product/2 ... -%26-Wide/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

a. Thinner and stiffer, more water resistant..
b. some line their kydex with it,
c. I have used it against my skin with cow as the front.
d. you can lace/sew it together or simply use rubber cement and the screws will hold it together.
e. Use it all by itself. Whatever you come up with.

2. Kydex- the thinner .060 molds better (make sure you don't make pointy creases)
Some say it too fragile, I haven't found that to be true. Your press is perfect, might
want to press over foam for more definition.

These folks are local and awesome customer service.
http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index.ph ... 61cba470b5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Check out the selection and prices.

3. Nice tutorial, think it was mentioned:
http://oldfaithfulholsters.com/?cat=68" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

4. One neat thing to do instead of holes for your clips,
cut belt loops, use washers on both sides. Then you can
wear it outside the waist on your belt, or inside and you
can adjust the depth to your liking.

5.. most commercial holsters come with multiple clip holes
so you can "adjust the cant" leaving too much leather low on your hip.
Much better to figure the cant into your kydex, just til the kydex when you press.
Soon you will find how far you like it.

6. May colors of dye are available and 'super sheen' is the water proof top coat.
just ask for suggestions at Tandy's.


Great job, keep going! :hurry:
by 2up1down
Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:58 pm
Forum: "How To" Tips
Topic: Kydex hybrid holster making
Replies: 40
Views: 36125

Re: Kydex hybrid holster making

schufflerbot wrote:
george wrote:Hey, I am certainly no holster maker, but I have heard that there are different tanning processes used. Chrome, vegetable, oak, etc. Just my two cents, but some tanning processes cause corrosion in metals. I think most only use vegetable tanned leather for holsters. Do not take my word for it, as I am no expert, but it is something you may wish to look in to.
hey, thanks for the heads up! ill have to research that.
c
Looks like a vegetable tanned quarter shoulder, (usually 7-9oz weight) perfect for your purpose.
The key is if the leather is 'tool-able' then no chemicals were used in tanning. Tool-able (vegetable tanned)
meaning you can carve, stamp the leather etc. good job. The guys at the 1960 Tandy's will probably show
you their own holsters if you strike up the right conversation, one of them worked on the original
design for one of the commercial models. (think it was comtac, may be wrong on the name)

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