Grayrock, SASS #64093 Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 I have a cheap Mexican holster for a single action revolver. The top outside edge has become loose and floppy over time. It wants to fold over when I reholster. Is there a way to stiffen it back up like when it was new? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catlow4697 Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Bee's wax and a hair drier. clean the area you want to stiffen with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol rub some bee's wax over area then heat wax with hair drier to melt wax in repeat as necessary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Viagra or Cialis. Cheap joke I know, but I got nuthin' constructive to offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlesnake Slim Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 You can get gum tragacanth at most leather suppliers like Tandy. It is a leather hardener. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Null N. Void Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 When I started with those, I used non chlorinated brake cleaner to spray the leather and then took a tennis ball wrapped in plastic and shoved it into the opening. When the leather dried it was stiff and the mouth open. YMMV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Henry Quick Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 58 minutes ago, Null N. Void said: When I started with those, I used non chlorinated brake cleaner to spray the leather and then took a tennis ball wrapped in plastic and shoved it into the opening. When the leather dried it was stiff and the mouth open. YMMV. Longneck beer bottles do well also... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Clark Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 2 hours ago, John Henry Quick said: Longneck beer bottles do well also... John Henry Quick bottle method works to add the flare to the opening as well as the funneling effect further in the holster! Added bonus to his method is making the bottles EMPTY...... Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sam, SASS #10915 Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Get some Minwax Wood Hardner from a hardware store like Ace Hardware or Home Depot. It’s a product designed to restore rotting wood but works great to harden leather. Just make sure that the leather is formed in the shape you want it while the hardner dries. I put my gun in a plastic bag, put it in the holster and let it stay until the hardner has begun to take it’s set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Cent Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Water and sunshine. After conditioning, dying, gluing, and sewing and before I put on the sealer, the holster pocket is soaked soft. The revolver is placed in the holster, holster formed and placed in the sunshine. Or low heat. Or a sunlamp. Or a fan. Or all of the foregoing. Until totally dry. The holster pocket is the only area that should not be "worked"; therefore, other than an occasional wipe, nothing is needed for years. If water is used, lightly wet down all of the holster so that it will dry without water demarcation. This holster is very solid/hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Cent Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 I would not use some of the fixes suggested. If one puts a little alcohol (rubbing or other types) on a piece of natural, vegetable tanned leather the skin will dry brittle. Flex the leather and watch it crack all over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Wet the leather with tap water for about 15-30 seconds. Shape it out and allow to dry at room temperature. Treat with Lexol Leather Conditioner...LIGHTLY! Allow to dry. Should hold its shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sam, SASS #10915 Posted April 9, 2018 Share Posted April 9, 2018 Red Cent’s holsters look to be made from premium fine grain leather, which is quite different from “cheap Mexican” leather. In my experience the wetting and drying that type of leather will not make it permanently stiff. But the Minwax Wood Hardner will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
July Smith Posted April 9, 2018 Share Posted April 9, 2018 Back when I did mounted shooting a lot of guys started with cheap rigs. Their go to method for stiffening a floppy holster was to soak it in a mixture of Elmer’s glue and water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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