Making your own leather gear.

[Indiana Jake]

The purpose of this thread is to help share and explain to anyone how leather items are made. In addition, to help those trying to make their own gear. Also to discourage others from spending a lot of money on hides and tools and ending up with something they aren't happy with.

When I started, people were always willing to share their ideas and knowledge, which improved my craft. Many of you have done the same for the members of COW, and many of us have benefitted from this. That explains why I have spent some serious $$ on my Indy gear.

Also, some of these posts will eventually make you see that the vendors of these products are offering a fine product at a a fair price.

I started making holsters as a hobby and I kept the first one I made as a keepsake. I ended up selling the second one, and have been making them ever since. I evetually ended up making holsters on some really fun movies I worked on. More on that later.

What is on your workbench?

[TheMechanic]

As far as leather working tools-

Rotary punch
Several hand punches
Dyes
Edge Coats
Leather balm
Oils, waxes & polishes
Edge beveler
Hundreds of razor blades
Thousands of military spec. Scoville brand snaps
Thousand of Chicago Screws
Thousand of rivets, splash rivets, rapid rivets, double cap rivets, armor rivets, split rivets, rivets I made myself, you name it.
Rivet setters
Grommets & setters
Professional eyelet arbor press for setting eyelets, with 1/8" and 1/4" dies.
Various hunks of leather
etc...

[Indiana Jake]

Mechanic,

Your list covers alot. What do you make? Do you specialize in a specific item?

Indiana Jake

[TheMechanic]

I used to get tired of needing to punch a hole or rivet something and not having the tools. Over the years I've picked up this and that and now I've got a whole lot of stuff.

I almost forgot to add in my barge cement and sewing awl!

I've made a few belts for myself and friends. Not much else in the way of leather. I usually modify the leather goods I get by either re-dyeing them, edge dressing them, reinforcing them, adding better snaps etc. (why does seemingly everybody use the cheapest snaps they can find???) I just did some mods to a Galco holster. It wasn't exactly what I wanted so I fixed it.

I also have a drill press, belt sander, dozens of files (I used to make knives) a huge bench vise and dozens of other hand tools.

I'm also pretty well set up to make Kydex knife sheaths and holsters ( I did that for a while a few years ago.)

When I need to I also do some basic gunsmithing and modifications.

I even dabble in tactical nylon gear too. I've worked alot with Custom Tactical Creations over the years developing numerous holsters, pouches, rigs and vests. I came up with a really cool single point sling about 5 years ago that alot of people are copying now.

I've replicated alot of movie props in the past as well and it's always good to have some tools and know how at your disposal.

That's where i got my nick name 'The Mechanic'.

Did I mention I also have a kickin' sewing machine?

[Indiana Jake]

I admire anyone who can use an industrial leather sewing machine and use it well. For many of the movies I have worked on, there are several cartridge loops to sew on to gun belts. It is hard to find someone who knows how to do that correctly. For all the patience I have, it seems to be lacking when it comes to using a sewing machine. I have yet to purchase one. For the small amount of volume I do, I get out the awl, a needle and thread, and a stiching horse. I hand sew the items that I make.

My girlfriend sews all of her own costumes, but ask any man that sews, the real reason he does it is to have the right gear for killing people! Hence the phrase "The manly art of sewing!" See how far we have evolved.

Indiana Jake

[TheMechanic]

Yeah, I just have a regular sewing machine but it's great. I've used it to tailor my clothes, do repairs and I've even sew through leather, and multiple layers of nylon. Good item to have.

[cooncatbob]

Yeah, I just have a regular sewing machine but it's great. I've used it to tailor my clothes, do repairs and I've even sew through leather, and multiple layers of nylon. Good item to have.

What sewing machine do you have.
I have a 50s Singer 185 and a late 60s Kenmore 158.1318.
Don't care for modern machines.

[TheMechanic]

Mine's just a $100 Brother from Wally Mart. Does the job and I've bean really hard on it over the years. I can't believe some of the stuff it's done.