Worn Holster. Leather. Rehardening?
-
- SGT Premium Supporter
- Posts: 780
- Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:38 am
- City: Davenport
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: Mine
- Next Firearm: Whatcha got?
- Location: Spokane
Worn Holster. Leather. Rehardening?
So I have a leather paddle holster and its gotten a little bit soft around the trigger gaurd. So much as that when I slide my pistol into it it'll actually catch and bend the leather rather than just sliding in nice and easy. Any way of fixing this short of buying a new holster?
Re: Worn Holster. Leather. Rehardening?
So, you're looking for something to make your leather hard again, like Viagra...
Most people are actually looking to soften old leather with Neatsfoot oil, or similar.
I have a idea, which will probably work, but of course if it ruins your holster I'm not responsible
Take some Elmer's, or Titebond (much better than Elmer's), thin it with water just slightly, and work into the leather. Let dry real good, as in at least a half day in a sunny windowsill, and viola!
You could just put the glue on there full strength, take a dab of water on your fingertip (I like to do this better than pre thinning), and work it in until the leather is good and soaked with it. Wipe of the excess with a damp cloth, and as it dries, you may want to shove something in the holster (bunched up newspaper wrapped in plastic bag so the paper doesn't get stuck to wet glue), to keep the outer edge pushed out where you'd want for a perfect fit.
Or, use the pistol, wrapped in a plastic shipping bag and conform the leather as needed.
Try no to mess with it too much while it dries, you should get good results.
Most people are actually looking to soften old leather with Neatsfoot oil, or similar.
I have a idea, which will probably work, but of course if it ruins your holster I'm not responsible
Take some Elmer's, or Titebond (much better than Elmer's), thin it with water just slightly, and work into the leather. Let dry real good, as in at least a half day in a sunny windowsill, and viola!
You could just put the glue on there full strength, take a dab of water on your fingertip (I like to do this better than pre thinning), and work it in until the leather is good and soaked with it. Wipe of the excess with a damp cloth, and as it dries, you may want to shove something in the holster (bunched up newspaper wrapped in plastic bag so the paper doesn't get stuck to wet glue), to keep the outer edge pushed out where you'd want for a perfect fit.
Or, use the pistol, wrapped in a plastic shipping bag and conform the leather as needed.
Try no to mess with it too much while it dries, you should get good results.
- bladebum
- Retired Global Moderator, SGT Administrator and Founding member
- Posts: 14144
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 1:14 pm
- City: Spokane
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: Glock 41
- SGT Supporter: Yes
- Location: Northeast Side
Re: Worn Holster. Leather. Rehardening?
You might be able to take it to a leather shop, like Indiana Harness, and see if they can sew in a liner piece in that area. It would act as a doubler and make it stiff again...
Fate whispers to the warrior, "You cannot withstand the storm" The warrior whispers back, "I am the storm"
"I am a sheepdog, I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf" Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
"Life is Short, Don't Waste It"
"I am a sheepdog, I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf" Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
"Life is Short, Don't Waste It"
- R.J.
- SGT Premium Supporter
- Posts: 4139
- Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:35 pm
- City: Spokane Valley
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: AK`s & Glocks
- Next Firearm: ....mmmmm
Re: Worn Holster. Leather. Rehardening?
I tried to find the thread about this but couldn't. A guy's carry piece has discharged when he sat down in his car, leather was caught in the guard. Luckily it just grazed his leg. Next holster I get will be a Kydex from Raven Concealment. While leather retains/conceals very well & is comfortable it's also slow to draw & is more likely to result in the above. Right now I have a Slide-Guard from High Noon which is a quality leather holster, just too dang slow to draw, even after more than a year of wearing & no tension on the screw.
...one nation, under surveillance, unrecognizable, w/ smart phones & food stamps for all.
WTB - `82 Delorean & Flux Capacitor.
BLM - BURN, LOOT, MURDER
WTB - `82 Delorean & Flux Capacitor.
BLM - BURN, LOOT, MURDER
- Coug91
- SGT Premium Supporter
- Posts: 2351
- Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:51 pm
- City: Spokane Valley
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: 1911's and AR15's
- SGT Supporter: Yes
- Location: Spokane Valley, WA
Re: Worn Holster. Leather. Rehardening?
Wasn't there a post on here a few months back about a Glock ND, that turned out to be the guy was carrying in an old holster that had softened to the point that the flap of leather that was supposed to cover the trigger guard had worked its way into the trigger guard, and when he inserted the pistol into the holster caused the gun to fire?
Long winded way of saying buy a new holster.. Cheap insurance, cheaper than a trip to the ER (ask me how I know), and cheaper than a life of pain. Buy the best holster that you can afford, and replace the limpy-limpy one. Viagra cannot cure that case of ED. Besides, cialis lasts longer. ... errr... so I've been told by late night TV.
Long winded way of saying buy a new holster.. Cheap insurance, cheaper than a trip to the ER (ask me how I know), and cheaper than a life of pain. Buy the best holster that you can afford, and replace the limpy-limpy one. Viagra cannot cure that case of ED. Besides, cialis lasts longer. ... errr... so I've been told by late night TV.
Fortuna Favet Fortibus.
When you run out of valid things to say, there's always insults.
When you run out of valid things to say, there's always insults.
Re: Worn Holster. Leather. Rehardening?
yes there are propper ways of fixing that. simplest is with boiling wax. or the adding of a layer. don't use glue, def not a water soliable one like elmers. body sweat would just soften it while you wear it. it then could reform all wrong or stick to you. hehe
Remember... Four boxes keep us
free: the soap box, the ballot box,
the jury box, and the cartridge box.
free: the soap box, the ballot box,
the jury box, and the cartridge box.
-
- SGT Premium Supporter
- Posts: 780
- Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:38 am
- City: Davenport
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: Mine
- Next Firearm: Whatcha got?
- Location: Spokane
Re: Worn Holster. Leather. Rehardening?
I actually bought a new holster yesterday. Picked it up used for 5 bucks. figured that'll at least get me through until I can afford a nice rig for it.
-
- Accomplished Gun Trader
- Posts: 748
- Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 7:53 am
- City: Washington
- Location: USA
Re: Worn Holster. Leather. Rehardening?
I'd suspect that you could have some kind of backing piece sewn on that would stiffen the bearing surface.