Forming a leather holster with a vacuum press

Подписаться 63 тыс.

Просмотров 44 тыс.

50% 1

This video shows how I use my vacuum pump press to form my leather holsters.
This video was posted in April of 2015 - I've used this press in current form since somewhere around 2010, and it's still going strong as of 2020. If you'd like to read more about my setup, please visit my website to read a blog post I made telling all about the parts and pieces I used to assemble it (link down below).
► PATTERNS: www.adamsleatherworks.com/dig...
► IN STOCK www.adamsleatherworks.com/in-...
► PATREON: / adamsleatherworks
► FOLLOW: / adamsleatherworks
► TOOLS & GEAR (affiliate links)
Air Brush - Badger 150 Airbrush: amzn.to/2PrSnnB
Air Compressor - Senco PC1010 1-Gallon Air Compressor: amzn.to/2BCN5gO
Bone Folder: amzn.to/2Wdbbbx
Brass Maker Stamps: www.leatherstampmaker.com/
Burnishing Gum (Gum Tragacanth): amzn.to/2JmeRT3
Burnishing Gum (Tokonole): amzn.to/2WgkY0f
Cardstock: amzn.to/36ycaqY
Cocobolo Burnisher: www.proedgeburnishers.com/ind...
Contact Cement (Barge): amzn.to/2tCPiIs
Contact Cement (Fiebling's - Non Toxic): amzn.to/2VRTdv8
Contact Cement (Weldwood - this is what I use): amzn.to/39L2883
Cutting Mat: amzn.to/2QPgv2q
Dye: amzn.to/2Fmk2zZ
Edger (C.S. Osborne #125 Size 3): amzn.to/3an2OiU
Edger (Weaver Size 0 = 1/16"): amzn.to/2pRobXU
Fiskars Rotary Cutter: amzn.to/2QRIWg3
How To Make Holsters, by Al Stohlman: amzn.to/2pfsTPt
Punching Pad: amzn.to/2VuYjyJ
Roughing Tool: amzn.to/2KkYPZL
Round Knife: amzn.to/32V7ycR
Scratch Awl (Tandy): amzn.to/2FrR9m0
Scratch Awl (Kobalt): amzn.to/2ZTW48J
Sewing Needles: amzn.to/2xPrJyf
Snap Press: Pres-N-Snap www.rochfordsupply.com/shop/Up...
Stitching Chisels: amzn.to/36044rr
Stitching Pony: DreamFactory www.etsy.com/shop/DreamFactoryKR
Straight Edge Ruler: amzn.to/2KkYPZL
Sewing Machine: leathermachineco.com/product-...
Tandy Leather Craftool Adjustable Creaser: amzn.to/2MLgcoq
Vacuum Press: www.adamsleatherworks.com/pos...
Wood Slicker: amzn.to/3cFiHTc
Wool Daubers: amzn.to/2FoT0b5
► LEATHER SUPPLIERS
Wickett & Craig - I typically order their "Tooling/Holster/Carving" vegetable tanned leather. I purchase their "Standard" grade, and I request that they split it down from a thicker hide so the back is as clean as possible. I normally order 7-8 ounce for holsters, 3-4 ounce if I'm lining a holster (I build the whole thing out of 3-4 ounce), and either 3-4 or 4-5 ounce for wallets, journal covers, etc... They will allow you to purchase individual hides
Herman Oak - While I love the leather I've gotten from Wickett & Craig, I prefer the warmer coloring of natural Herman Oak. Unfortunately, H.O. requires you to buy leather in bulk from the tannery, and buying from distributors can be hit & miss. Springfield Leather sells "Herman Oak Premium Belt Bend", so I’ve been using this lately.
The Leather Guy - I don't have a lot of experience with this leather, but the "Artisan's Choice" leather I've used has been very nice. The coloration is similar to Wickett & Craig. The thing I really like about The Leather Guy's website is that nearly every single hide shown on their site is a listing for the actual hide you'll be buying, complete with photos and a description of blemishes for that particular hide. Very cool that they do that!
District Leather - I've never personally ordered from them, but I've heard good things about their leather.
Acadia Leather - I've never purchased from here either, but I've also heard good things about their leather.
Horween Leather - At the risk of sounding repetitive, here's another I've never ordered from, but their leather is very well known.
Weaver Leathercraft - Most of what I order from weaver is buckles and tools, but they also sell leather.
► VIDEO EQUIPMENT (affiliate links)
Camera - Canon 60D: amzn.to/33Uzldg
Lens - Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens: amzn.to/32X2R1O
Lens - Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD Lens: amzn.to/3at3Vxm
Lens - Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 Contemporary DC Macro OS HSM Lens: amzn.to/2VtwXsF
Tripod - 62": amzn.to/362WOuP
Tripod - Travel Size: amzn.to/2Vt14R5
Tripod - Spare Release Plate Ball Head: amzn.to/3byQmhC
Portable SSD: amzn.to/3btaZvv

Опубликовано:

6 апр 2015

Ссылка:

Скачать:

Готовим ссылку...

Добавить в:

Мой плейлист

Посмотреть позже

Комментарии : 57

@kobolila-yt 2 года назад

Nice, thanks for the tutorial. Cool how videos can still teach us things 7 years after they were uploaded. FWIW, I find a food dehydrator works well for drying the wet formed leather as well, certainly cuts down on the drying time.

@stephencunliffe3426 9 лет назад

Eric, excellent video, best I've seen so far on vacuum forming leather holsters and the boning process afterwards, thanks again for posting this for me.

@stevendee2831 6 лет назад

Nice video! I've been doing this for years with space bags and was trying to explain this to my wife . Great!

@kypi0055 9 лет назад

Great video Eric! Very timely too because I plan on vac forming my 1st holster later this week. I got the equipment you recommended. Thanks for your help!

@brianandjazmine 3 года назад

Can you share what equipment was recommended please?

@gergemall Год назад

Just found your channel and website. Great stuff ! I’m old and want to learn to make some things myself.

@Akhazmat907 2 года назад

I use my vaccum sealer from walmart lol. It works good, a little extra work smoothing out the lines left in the leather. But all in all works very well.

@ericp726 8 лет назад

Great video. You make some beautiful holsters.

@AdamsLeatherWorks 8 лет назад

Thank you!

@AndTheCorrectAnswerIs 9 лет назад

I use a Foodsaver machine. They pull high vacuum and the bags can be sealed to hold the vacuum. I cut the bags large and can reuse them several times (they are cheap too). Then wrap a sheet of thin children's craft foam around the holster (it will keep the bag texture from imprinting on the holster). I leave the mold gun and holster in the bag under vacuum for at least 6hrs. Then dry the holster for several hours with the mold inside before removing it to complete drying. Then apply the finish of your choice.

@mabul513 3 года назад

Try a fridge compressor? Think can nearly pull full vacuum. 30 something? " of Mercury in tube maybe like old days? Guess. If I'm right )

@elkeanddon 2 года назад

I am wanting to do this using a seal a meal vacuum bag and maybe let it set over night or even a couple of days.

@xdshooter1 9 лет назад

Eric. You are a true craftsman my friend. Love your work. How wet do you make the leather for molding?Thanks for another great video.

@AdamsLeatherWorks 9 лет назад

xdshooter1 Thank you sir! I usually dunk my holster in luke-warm water (with a drop or two of soap) for about 7-10 seconds. 7 seconds for natural, undyed leather, and 10 seconds for black. Sometimes I might give it a quick dunk again if it's not absorbing water very well, or I might rub a damp sponge on the outside if necessary to add a little more moisture.

@VoluntarySynesthesia 5 месяцев назад

@@AdamsLeatherWorks i have a little hand-held clothes steamer, do you think it would be good to use that instead of dunking since the steam would theoretically penetrate better with less overall water? (obviously I wouldn't hold it too close/get the leather too hot)

@AdamsLeatherWorks 5 месяцев назад

@@VoluntarySynesthesia It would be worth a try, but I think it might work better on thinner leather. The leather I use is 7-8 ounce (1/8" thick) and I don't think steam would penetrate very far. But who knows - i might be completely wrong! Lately I've been dunking the leather in soapy water for 3-5 seconds, then adding more moisture if necessary with a sponge.

@kammomile 9 лет назад

I was waiting for this video for a long time. Eric, where could I buy vacuum bag like yours?

@AdamsLeatherWorks 9 лет назад

ЖиваяКожа I have a link to the bag and other parts on this page: www.adamsleatherworks.com/vacuum-press/

@AdamsLeatherWorks 7 лет назад

I believe this is the bag I purchased. www.veneersupplies.com/products/VS-Extreme-Polyurethane-Vacuum-Bag-2-x-4.html

@manbearpig2164 3 года назад

I just made my first vacuum molded holster today, I used my regular food vacuum sealer, it seems to have worked pretty well

@alvinseaside790 3 года назад

I use mine on my smoke. The clear vacuum seal bowls are the best. Seal it up. Fresh.

@manbearpig2164 3 года назад

@@alvinseaside790 nice, I used to too, but moved to a state where it's still illegal 3 months ago, I want to smoke and 4 miles away its legal, I've been thinking about going and picking up a sack

@alvinseaside790 3 года назад

@@manbearpig2164 it’s still a reason to loose 30 minutes of your day getting a ticket here on South Padre, and a felony if it’s wax or altered in any way. I don’t care man. I finished 34 years for the state of Texas august 2020. I’m clean, free for the first time in my life since 1983. I’m smoking, I’m smoking now, and Id pass you this here Tobacco smoking device right to ya if they had a pass the cigarette button. Yeah, freedom.

@AdamsLeatherWorks 3 года назад

That is awesome! Mine is in bad need of upgrades. After about a decade of use, my bag doesn't hold suction very well since there's a few tiny holes in it. I've never tried a food vacuum before - were you able to mold the holster at all while it was in the bag using your forming tools?

@manbearpig2164 3 года назад

@@AdamsLeatherWorks yeah a little bit, I used mainly the back of a toothbrush, a lighter and my fingers, the bag is somewhat sturdy, but probably not as tuff as what you use, I plan on making a couple more soon, just waiting on a leather order

@ckonthebay1950 7 лет назад

I read your blog on the vacuum press. Your sure put a lot of time into that to share with others. Thank you. The link to the bag is not loading on there site. Witch bag are you using "20 or 30 mil, vinyl or polyurethane"?

@AdamsLeatherWorks 7 лет назад

I believe this is the bag I bought. I need to go back and check all those links again. www.veneersupplies.com/products/VS-Extreme-Polyurethane-Vacuum-Bag-2-x-4.html

@diegoconde2728 3 года назад

Adam, would you be so kind and tell me where I can buy a vacuum pump and the vacuum bag like yours. Eternally grateful

@johnhoward3516 2 года назад

Excellent ! If you could , help me with info to buy vacuume pump and plastic bag .

@AdamsLeatherWorks 2 года назад

Thanks John - I have a blog article on my site with links to where I bought everything. www.adamsleatherworks.com/post/vacuum-press

@johnhoward3516 2 года назад

@@AdamsLeatherWorks thank you very much.

@pliniovassallo8358 2 года назад

Onde acho esse saco de vácuo ?

@bucketlistbeginner 8 лет назад

Great job , wipe holes with rubbing alcohol , go to Walmart etc. and buy a tube of "goop" stays pliable and permanent you can also use plastic clay on the nubs so they won't puncture again . Good luck

@AdamsLeatherWorks 8 лет назад

Great idea - I never thought to try adding any type of sealer like that. I could probably screw in the male side of a Chicago screw to cover up the posts. Thanks for the comment - I'll try it on my next batch.

@Stevieboy7 8 лет назад

What leather is this? Hermann Oak or W&C?

@AdamsLeatherWorks 8 лет назад

This is Herman Oak.

@wescarpenter4289 4 года назад

Is 6 to 7 oz. leather okay for a holster or would I need some heavier stuff?

@AdamsLeatherWorks 4 года назад

It depends on the gun and holster style, and the density of the hide. Light / smaller guns can get away with thinner leather. OWB, in my opinion, can also handle thinner leather, whereas IWB needs to be thick enough to withstand the extra pressure from the belt and pants trying to close the holster. Zach White Leather has some 6-7 ounce premium double-butt bullhide (item # Z1076DB) that I really like.

@bagramdave883 4 года назад

How much forming is too much. My holsters all seem to come out "muddy looking" when they dry. What temp is oven? How long in the oven? Should I let it dry with the blue gun still in the holster, or do I pull it out at some point before it is fully dry?

@AdamsLeatherWorks 4 года назад

Not sure what you mean by muddy looking - but are you having trouble getting the leather to hold the detail? If so, the leather might be too wet. How much forming is too much? If you lock the gun inside the holster because you molded the retention points too deeply (ejection port, trigger guard, etc.), that's too much. Otherwise, I don't think you can mold it too much. But on the flip side, you don't have to mold a whole lot of detail if you don't want to. Just make sure the holster securely holds the gun without allowing it to wobble around inside the holster and mold in the previously mentioned retention points a bit to help secure the gun. I don't use an oven anymore - too hard to regulate the temperature. But I aimed for no more than 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and I left it in the oven around 40 minutes. A safer route is to hang the holster(s) inside a drying cabinet and warm the interior with a space heater set on a very low temperature. I actually used my airbrush cabinet for a drying cabinet. I hung the holsters from the top via hooks, then set the space heater on the shelf inside the cabinet and adjusted the temperature to low. And it is a good idea to leave the blue gun inside the holster while it dries.

@antonyi4739 3 года назад

Greetings you use an air compressor but how does it remove the vacum from the project?

@AdamsLeatherWorks 3 года назад

Hi - the sound you hear in this video is a vacuum pump. You can read more about it here: www.adamsleatherworks.com/post/vacuum-press

@papersack4290 5 лет назад

3:45 you're welcome.

@jason6762 3 года назад

What is a platen? I was going to buy a vaccum bag from the place you suggested. I want to make sure I get everything I need. I am going to buy a vaccum pump from harbor freight for $90

@AdamsLeatherWorks 3 года назад

The platen keeps the opening in the bag from immediately closing as soon as the pump is turned on. I just use a piece of MDF with grooves cut in it for air tunnels.

@jason6762 2 года назад

I have the pump and the bag. The bag came with a small brass fitting. What do I need to connect the bag to the vacuum pump?

@jason6762 3 года назад

Where can I buy the vacuum bag and parts?

@AdamsLeatherWorks 3 года назад

www.veneersupplies.com/products/Project-CRS-Continuous-Run-Pump-Vacuum-Press-Kit.html

@rhuerta2002 9 лет назад

where do you purchase one?

@AdamsLeatherWorks 9 лет назад

I have a whole blog post with all the parts and pieces - the link is in the video description.

@johnisabeth2504 Год назад

A strip of leather with 2 holes over thin pins would prevent damaging bag

@mabul513 3 года назад

What thickness are these bags?

@AdamsLeatherWorks 3 года назад

Never tried that, but I think I’ve heard of people doing that with food saver bags. Not sure how well it works.

@brianandjazmine 3 года назад

I love your video, I’m wanting to Join the vacuum forming club. Would you be able to let me know what I sold be looking at for equipment? Size/power of pump and bag sizing. (Like yours) Thanks so much... Brian

@AdamsLeatherWorks 3 года назад

Hi Brian - thanks for watching! I have an article on my website that goes into more detail about my setup. www.adamsleatherworks.com/post/vacuum-press

@kimballscarr 3 года назад

Perhaps this goes too far. I would be worried that level of forming would wear the gun finish. Why would you put the rough out to the inside? I would think the added friction would be better on the exterior and the smooth finish on the interior. But then again, in a plastic frame world who cares, in the blued gun world it's a consideration.