Ostrich Holsters

[texas red]

Hey I was just wondering if anyone on here has experience making ostrich holsters. I have made a few but I am still struggling with finding a good technique to glue the ostrich to the leather.

Do you glue it then sew or complete the holster then overlay the ostrich on it?

Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[particle]

Out of curiosity, what were your results when you tried it? What method did you try?

Here is one from Brigade that is stitched.

[texas red]

I cut out the pattern for mine and sanded the edges and then glued the ostrich to it. The problem for me is that the ostrich is not going to be the exact size as your leather so you have to sand again and somehow make the ostrich flush with the leather without tearing it up. So anyway I glued mine then went back and predrilled the holes and stitched it. Then I wet molded it and dyed and touched up the edges as best I could. It just seems like there should be a better way. I will try to post pics later...

[RiverRat]

I glue it, then stitch, then finish the edge. You might ask someone on http://www.leatherworker.net. There are some good makers there that are very helpful with advice.

[texas red]

i will post better pics this afternoon. these are with my phone but they might give you an idea.

any comments will be helpful and will not hurt feeling here. :)

the black one i know i messed up the belt loops but the other one turned out ok. Ive been hit or miss on the belt loops so i think i am going to try using a chisel instead of walking down a punch the entire length.

[texas red]

here's the better quality pictures

[texas red]

[RiverRat]

How are you burnishing your edges?

[texas red]

usually I use an edge beveler then I burnish with a dowel and gum t. But the problem I'm having with ostrich is that you really can't use an edge beveler because it tears the ostrich because it's so thin and not rigid.

[RiverRat]

I've had reasonable luck using a dremel tool with a fine sanding wheel (not sandpaper, but an abrasive netting kind of wheel) that I found at home depot on some of the suedeish linings that I've used. It's a hard sponge kind of stuff. http://www.mytoolstore.com/dremel/ezaccs.html#512e They are called 511E Dremel EZ Lock Finishing and Abrasive Buffs, I've been using the 320 grit.

Edited because I can't spell!