"Sticky" material for pocket holsters

Gary L. Griffiths · March 30, 2010, 04:15 PM

Hi, all!

I'm planning to make a pocket "wallet" style holster for my new LCP. I would like to attach some sort of "sticky" material to the outside so that it won't move around in my pocket.

Does anyone know what DeSantis uses in their "Nemesis" type holsters? Also, I once had an Uncle Mike's holster with some sort of rough material on it that made it practically impossible to slide against cloth. Does anyone know what type of material this is, and, more importantly, a source for it?

I hate to have to buy an Uncle Mike's pocket holster just to deconstruct it to salvage the sticky material, even though it's only around $10. I also don't wish to purchase any of the commercially available pocket holsters out there. I prefer to make my own to my specifications.

Appreciate any help anyone can provide! Thanks!

LukeA · March 30, 2010, 06:59 PM

I think you want some silicone. I would start looking in cooking stores. Usually they have some hotpads or trivets or something else that are silicone. Also check out cheap cellphone cases.

isanchez2008 · April 8, 2010, 11:17 AM

The stuff on the Nemesis reminds me of some shelf liner that was sold at a hardware store I worked at. If your talking really sticky look at their Superfly holster. Couldn't tell you what its made of. The silicone that was suggested may be a good fit for what you need

DogoDon · April 8, 2010, 11:32 AM

You know what would be really cool? A unidirectional high-friction material that provides high friction against fabric in one direction but not in the opposite direction. That way, it would be easy to slide the holster into your pocket, but hard to slide it out of your pocket (as when drawing).

Having said that, I have no idea if any such materials exist. It seems it wouldn't be that hard to make such a material, though. All it would need is a lot of very small projections that are all angled (laying down) in one direction. They would have to have a decent amount of stiffness so they would resist being bent back in the opposite direction. The material then could be oriented on your pocket holster so that the projections are pointing up in the direction you draw your gun from the holster.

Somebody should invent it, if no one has already. Or maybe I just did.

DD

DogoDon · April 8, 2010, 11:58 AM

After doing a little more digging, it appears the property I was referring to above is called "friction anisotropy". Snake skin and shark skin have this property. So something that mimics those might work. I know Speedo makes swim suits for competitive swimmers that mimic shark skin (see here), but I've never felt the fabric so I don't know if it would work for a pocket holster.

DD

Casimer · April 8, 2010, 12:28 PM

Not sure what the Desantis uses, but Top Grip could be a good option..

http://www.champchoice.com/prod-20__...AIRS-1031.aspx

or this stuff..

http://www.champchoice.com/prod-REPL...NRA_-1082.aspx

The patches are rough, like an abrasive grit that's been laminated and bound to a flexible backing.

johnbt · April 18, 2010, 01:50 PM

Anybody ever try any Dycem? They make a variety of products, but the only one I have any experience with is the stuff used by OTs and PTs, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Dycem-Non-Slip.../dp/B000C221US

- Used by many occupational therapists, physical therapists and healthcare professionals as an effective anti-slip material
- Original material has a 0.4mm thick non-woven center carrier, is non-slip on both sides and flexible
- Can be cut to any size and is malleable so it can be fitted around various objects
- Washes easily with soap and water and color will not fade
- Can fix permanently to a surface with super glue or a neoprene 2-way contact adhesive

curt.45 · April 18, 2010, 02:52 PM

Velcro?

Slopemeno · April 18, 2010, 08:33 PM

Use E-6000, which is a permanently flexible glue made by Ecclectic Corporation. Lay a bead around the perimiter of the holster, and there you go. Let it cure for 48 hours- stays flexible forever.

If I were making pocket holsters I'd probably sew a layer of silicone flat stock in the hoslter, and trim it about 1/8" proud of the edge.

devildog4329 · May 1, 2010, 05:24 AM

You can try Elmers Ruber Cement. We used to put it on the fingers and palms of our gloves when i did Cerimonial Drill. It sticks to wood and metal really well and would probably give you some grip on the inside of your pocket. It comes with a small brush. Just brush it on where you want it and let dry. You can add more layers where needed and you can also reapply if it wears down. The plus side is its like 2 dollars at Wally World.

March 30, 2010, 04:15 PM	#1
Gary L. Griffiths Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: AZ, WA Posts: 1,466	"Sticky" material for pocket holsters Hi, all! I'm planning to make a pocket "wallet" style holster for my new LCP. I would like to attach some sort of "sticky" material to the outside so that it won't move around in my pocket. Does anyone know what DeSantis uses in their "Nemesis" type holsters? Also, I once had an Uncle Mike's holster with some sort of rough material on it that made it practically impossible to slide against cloth. Does anyone know what type of material this is, and, more importantly, a source for it? I hate to have to buy an Uncle Mike's pocket holster just to deconstruct it to salvage the sticky material, even though it's only around $10. I also don't wish to purchase any of the commercially available pocket holsters out there. I prefer to make my own to my specifications. Appreciate any help anyone can provide! Thanks! __________________ Violence is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and valorous feeling which believes that nothing is worth violence is much worse. Those who have nothing for which they are willing to fight; nothing they care about more than their own craven apathy; are miserable creatures who have no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the valor of those better than themselves. Gary L. Griffiths (Paraphrasing John Stuart Mill)

April 8, 2010, 11:58 AM	#5
DogoDon Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 368	After doing a little more digging, it appears the property I was referring to above is called "friction anisotropy". Snake skin and shark skin have this property. So something that mimics those might work. I know Speedo makes swim suits for competitive swimmers that mimic shark skin (see here), but I've never felt the fabric so I don't know if it would work for a pocket holster. DD Last edited by DogoDon; April 8, 2010 at 12:33 PM. Reason: added link

March 30, 2010, 06:59 PM	#2
LukeA Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2009 Posts: 542	I think you want some silicone. I would start looking in cooking stores. Usually they have some hotpads or trivets or something else that are silicone. Also check out cheap cellphone cases.

April 8, 2010, 11:17 AM	#3
isanchez2008 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2008 Location: WA Posts: 344	The stuff on the Nemesis reminds me of some shelf liner that was sold at a hardware store I worked at. If your talking really sticky look at their Superfly holster. Couldn't tell you what its made of. The silicone that was suggested may be a good fit for what you need

April 8, 2010, 11:32 AM	#4
DogoDon Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 368	You know what would be really cool? A unidirectional high-friction material that provides high friction against fabric in one direction but not in the opposite direction. That way, it would be easy to slide the holster into your pocket, but hard to slide it out of your pocket (as when drawing). Having said that, I have no idea if any such materials exist. It seems it wouldn't be that hard to make such a material, though. All it would need is a lot of very small projections that are all angled (laying down) in one direction. They would have to have a decent amount of stiffness so they would resist being bent back in the opposite direction. The material then could be oriented on your pocket holster so that the projections are pointing up in the direction you draw your gun from the holster. Somebody should invent it, if no one has already. Or maybe I just did. DD

April 8, 2010, 12:28 PM	#6
Casimer Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 1,918	Not sure what the Desantis uses, but Top Grip could be a good option.. http://www.champchoice.com/prod-20__...AIRS-1031.aspx or this stuff.. http://www.champchoice.com/prod-REPL...NRA_-1082.aspx The patches are rough, like an abrasive grit that's been laminated and bound to a flexible backing.

April 18, 2010, 01:50 PM	#7
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	Anybody ever try any Dycem? They make a variety of products, but the only one I have any experience with is the stuff used by OTs and PTs, etc. http://www.amazon.com/Dycem-Non-Slip.../dp/B000C221US - Used by many occupational therapists, physical therapists and healthcare professionals as an effective anti-slip material - Original material has a 0.4mm thick non-woven center carrier, is non-slip on both sides and flexible - Can be cut to any size and is malleable so it can be fitted around various objects - Washes easily with soap and water and color will not fade - Can fix permanently to a surface with super glue or a neoprene 2-way contact adhesive

April 18, 2010, 02:52 PM	#8
curt.45 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2008 Location: Fort Wayne Ind. Posts: 866	Velcro?

April 18, 2010, 08:33 PM	#9
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	Use E-6000, which is a permanently flexible glue made by Ecclectic Corporation. Lay a bead around the perimiter of the holster, and there you go. Let it cure for 48 hours- stays flexible forever. If I were making pocket holsters I'd probably sew a layer of silicone flat stock in the hoslter, and trim it about 1/8" proud of the edge.

May 1, 2010, 05:24 AM	#10
devildog4329 Junior Member Join Date: January 15, 2009 Location: falling waters wv Posts: 10	You can try Elmers Ruber Cement. We used to put it on the fingers and palms of our gloves when i did Cerimonial Drill. It sticks to wood and metal really well and would probably give you some grip on the inside of your pocket. It comes with a small brush. Just brush it on where you want it and let dry. You can add more layers where needed and you can also reapply if it wears down. The plus side is its like 2 dollars at Wally World.