Gunslinger Cuffs

About

You Will Need (2 things)

Steps (9 steps, 60 minutes)

1. 1

   I made the pattern by wrapping my hand in masking tape to where I wanted the cuff to go. I marked out the rough design on the tape and cut along the seam lines.

   I did this on my left hand as I'm right-handed. It makes things easier when you have to work on the pattern as you can work with your dominant hand.

2. 2

   Transfer the rough shape to something like cereal box card and refine it until you're happy with it. The card is thick enough to bend while holding the shape so you can more closely approximate what the leather item will look like.

3. 3

   Decide on your fastenings. I used button studs because they are easy to use one-handed which is a good thing when they are on the wrist!

   I cut some strips of card and taped them in place for the straps so I could tell where the studs needed to go. Could do the same for buckles, you'd just need to mount the buckle in a short piece of leather instead of a stud direct onto the cuff.

   Either way, mark where the fastener has to go. and punch a hole for it to mark on the leather.

4. 4

   Once I'd got the design all worked out I cut one from leather. I used veg-tan or tooling leather that was 1.5mm thick (3-4oz I think). I cut the straps and punched mounting holes in them. I then used the straps to mark out the holes on the cuffs and punched them. I also punched the holes for the button studs.

5. 5

   You can dye the leather now or at the end but once the straps are in place it's harder :)

   *edit* Here's a pic of a couple dyed up alongside a pair of holsters. From this you can see the basic pattern shape.

6. 6

   With all the mounting holes done I riveted the straps on with double cap rivets. These are 2-piece rivets and easy to use, you just use a little setting anvil and tool that you get from the same place as the rivets. One sharp hit with a hammer is often enough but if the strap can still move hit it again.

   The button studs go on now too, they are usually screw-back so you just need a screwdriver.

7. 7

   Once you have the straps on, put the cuff on your hand and pull the strap round between the thumb and fingers over the back of the hand. Mark where the strap hits the button stud, that's where you want the hole.

   Punch a hole a little smaller than the head of the button stud and put a small cut, about 3 or 4 mm, from the hole back along the strap. This is so the hole, which is smaller than the head of the stud, can open enough to pop on but as it's behind the hole it doesn't pull out.

8. 8

   Once the thumb strap is done, do the same for the other 2 straps.

9. 9

   Embellish, stamp, paint...