[Jason]

Starting a new costume and I needed a holster for my DL-44. So after a bit of looking around the various forums I frequent, I came across this design.
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd192/jkreis1972/holster1.jpg

After making some enquiries to one of the recommended suppliers, and him telling me that he wanted $145US shipped and maybe I'll get it in 8 weeks, I decided to have a go at one myself.

So 3 hours and about $20 later...

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd192/jkreis1972/P1010299-1.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd192/jkreis1972/P1010302.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd192/jkreis1972/P1010303-1.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd192/jkreis1972/P1010304-1.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd192/jkreis1972/P1010306-1.jpg

Not dyed at the moment, that's tomorrows job.
Thanks to Shiney for putting me onto a decent leather supplier ;)

Maybe I'll give this one a go next

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd192/jkreis1972/l_9d88d41315cea0483eb7b9e0e7b25b74.jpg

[Shadowlova]

Very nice Jason...when you doing a run? :lol::lol::lol:

[Jasper]

Now that is very nice. B)
What colour are you going to dye it?
Could you PM me the leather supplier you mentioned?

[Jason]

Shadowlova, on 08 March 2010 - 09:31 PM, said:

Very nice Jason...when you doing a run? :lol::lol::lol:

Hmmm. No I think I'll do this up as a proper Tut. I still have enough leather for another of these and the DH-17 holster I had planned. It really is very easy and there is only one specialist tool required - any they're pretty damn cheap. But if someone is stuck and can't possibly have a go at it themselves then maybe, just maybe :D

Jasper, on 08 March 2010 - 10:35 PM, said:

Now that is very nice. B)
What colour are you going to dye it?
Could you PM me the leather supplier you mentioned?

Going to dye this one black Heather, it has to go with a certain black costume ;)
THIS is the place to get the leather. For this type of holster, you only want around 3.5mm thick stuff. The type of leather Shiney had originally put me onto is no longer listed, in fact the owner had not even heard of it (not your fault mate ;) ). But the one I think he sent me is at the bottom of page 4 - D/SHLD 3.4/3.6MM NATURAL ASTLEY BELT (SQ FT) - $8.25. Very soft and forms beautifully.

[Jasper]

Thankyou muchly.
Looking forward to seeing it completed.

[Shiney]

Nice brother, it turned out great. Oh and I so hate leather dyeing...

Yah, if you want to shape, veg tan's the go [like what you've got], easy to work with and not too expensive, though you've got to get a half a side. I see you used the hand awl.. one tool? .. what no roller for spacing the stitching? .. good eye you've got there.

Stu.

[Jason]

Thanks Stu :D . I hand mark all the holes before stitching, otherwise it would be a complete balls-up. I just bought 4 sq ft from this guy, and so far it has yielded 3 holsters and room enough for a couple more.

DH-17 holster for your perusal. Also yet to be dyed black.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd192/jkreis1972/P1010312-1.jpg
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd192/jkreis1972/P1010314-1.jpg

[Shiney]

Yeah, there's a little roller that gives you equal spacing.. or you can get the leather cutter that has a row of cuts, good for straight lines and quick. You can use a scroll saw for trimming leather btw, works pretty well. Heck, there's more you can do, slicking the edges, running an edge tool on it to give a nice looking grove yada yada..

Stu.

[MrBugs]

Very cool guys! I'm impressed, will have to get one of you guys to show me some tricks at the next armour party..... something i have wanted to try for a while! :)

[Jason]

DL-44 rig all dyed up.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd192/jkreis1972/P1010319-1.jpg

The areas where the leather was wet to form it didn't take the dye as well as the rest. And I rubbed polish into so much that my hands now look like they belong to a mechanic :P
It has given it an "antique" look tho.

[Shiney]

Did you heat-shrink the leather with hot water.. that tends to bring out the oils and tannins that makes it harder to dye. It can be helped with a stripper, but I usually like the effect and just redye it a bit. I hear ya with dying and polishing.. a job I detest!

Ha bugs, that makes me think I ought to orgainse a little leather working workshop. I love leather working, it's oldschool [human's have done it for a loooooong time] and it's rather fun working with this natural product we call leather.

[Anduril]

Nice work there Jason.
I'll be launching myself into the world of leatherworking soon when I attempt to make my Han belt/holster rig so I have something for my own DL-44 to live in.
If I need tips I know where to look!

[DesTROYer]

Damn mate. Nice work. Must learn me some leatherwork skills.

[Jason]

Shiney, on 09 March 2010 - 04:49 PM, said:

Did you heat-shrink the leather with hot water.. that tends to bring out the oils and tannins that makes it harder to dye. It can be helped with a stripper, but I usually like the effect and just redye it a bit. I hear ya with dying and polishing.. a job I detest!

Ha bugs, that makes me think I ought to orgainse a little leather working workshop. I love leather working, it's oldschool [human's have done it for a loooooong time] and it's rather fun working with this natural product we call leather.

Nope. I just ran it under the cold water tap and just softened it up. At first it bothered me but the distressed look is growing on me.

I agree with the armour party idea. It would be good to get together and have the various specialists demonstrate their art. I'd love to learn how to fibreglass properly.

[Kimelius]

Nice work, Jason - the holster for the DH-17 in particular.

[TD-1535]

will be in touch mate,,,have a required need of them skills, so i can give it a go myself.. twice ;)

[Jason]

TD-1535, on 09 March 2010 - 08:10 PM, said:

will be in touch mate,,,have a required need of them skills, so i can give it a go myself.. twice ;)

Have you done one of your famous costuming back-flips Douglass? :lol:

[Darth Craw]

Nice! Excellent job on both holsters.
Any chance you could upload your patterns with measurements for both sorts?

[Jason]

Hey, thanks Michael B) .

As for patterns, so far its just been by eye. The DH-17 holster would be easy to pattern so I 'spose I could do that over the next week or so. Just waiting on some more leather. The DL-44 rig might be a bit trickier. I actually wet form the leather over the blaster and do all the stitching before making any decisions where to cut. When I start on the next one I'll go step by step with plenty of pics for a full blown tut.
Having a go at this one next..
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd192/jkreis1972/l_9d88d41315cea0483eb7b9e0e7b25b74.jpg

[Jason]

If anyone has the MR ANH or ESB DL-44's, would you mind chiming in here with measurements from the back of the rear sight to the end of the flash suppressor. I'd like to make sure that if I do a small run of the holsters that they will be long enough for either version of blaster.

Many thanks

J