Making A Pen Case

[my63]

I read an excellent review of a fountain pen case with almost ballistic levels of protection and I thought to myself who would need such a case.

 

The very next day I read in another thread about a member whose pen had been damaged in an accident and I thought that could happen to anyone.

 

It was an expensive case and although I am not tight I don't have a budget for buying pen cases or pens for that matter.

 

So the next question I asked was can I make one.

The case reviewed was made with leather and a sandwich of material called Kydex which gives the strength I have found a supplier in the UK and have placed an order.

 

To mold the leather a mold is required I made mine from plywood

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2821/10579758033_e42e1ce478_z.jpg
IMG_5435_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is my blank my pen is 22 mm in diameter so my blank is 25mm I put this blank onto another piece of plywood and drew around it then cut out the shape.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7370/10579499156_d7eea312d5_z.jpg
IMG_5429_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

As you can see I did a little sanding

 

The blank was fixed to a base

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3798/10579735043_507ff765da_z.jpg
IMG_5428_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

I have read that veg tanned leather can be molded when wet and will hold the shape when dry as I don't have any veg tanned I needed another solution.

After a cup of tea or two I decided to try gluing the suede liner to the leather and then clamp the pieces together when the glue dries the leather should hold the shape.

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3792/10579466235_317d2a3878_z.jpg
IMG_5431_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I am going to let this dry overnight I am hopeful the leather will hold the shape, Although I am sure that the kydex will resolve the shape issue when it arrives.

 

Thanks for looking

Michael

[my63]

Well it worked the leather has held the shape

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2843/10580582064_d1df9230b1_z.jpg
IMG_5438_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I need to make a bock piece and sew it all together.

 

Michael

[scrivelry]

Wow!I can't wait to see what you do with the special reinforcing...

[Dr_P]

my63, keep on posting. It's very interesting and I'm looking forward to see the next developments.

[my63]

Thanks Scrivelry the kydex is on its way this prototype is going together quite well.

I will make another when the kydex arrives

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3776/10581934856_d6dc800481_z.jpg
IMG_5443_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2838/10582175593_16fd576893_z.jpg
IMG_5444_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is where I am tonight I intend on sewing around the edges and tidying it up a little.

At least I understand how the mold works now I might get soe kip leather next week when I visit the leather supplier.

 

If anyone has any experience please let me know

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[Plume145]

Jaysus but you are good at this stuff. Your threads never fail to inform, delight, and inspire! That is all

[OakIris]

Wonderful, Michael! I read that same thread about the leather and kydex "bullet proof" pen case and was intrigued by the possibilities. Your first attempt is already looking quite nice.

 

As always, I will wait for you to be the guinea pig and show the rest of us how it is done, then I will venture to make my own at some point in the future.

 

Holly

 

[my63]

My new diamond point leather chisels arrived today just in time to punch the holes for stitching up this case.

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5538/10599084815_4949152309_z.jpg
IMG_5453_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

My stitching should improve with practice.

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2859/10599109244_0b3fb2d60b_z.jpg
IMG_5457_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This picture gives an idea of how much the leather has stretched

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7298/10599086624_fc85529d40_z.jpg
IMG_5446_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The shape needs to be trimmed neatly so I will ask my wife to do that for me.

There are one or two areas that I am not too happy with but as it is a first attempt it is not bad

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[Hauseda]

Good job MIchael! When the Kydex arrives maintain patience. It takes a bit of practice to nail it all properly but your efforts thus far are admirable! Dave (dragonleather.net)

[my63]

Thanks Dave praise indeed from a craftsman such as yourself.

The kydex has arrived I am about to start experimenting with shaping it.

I will update on my progress soon

Thanks again

 

Michael

[my63]

Ok here is my first attempt well to be totally honest it is my first piece I have molded it three times until I am happy with the result so far.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/10613204586_55bc205646_z.jpg

219 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I plan on reversing the mold to fold the pieces over to form the back although I might stick the suede liner inside first it will not be possible to fi the suede after.

I had thought of making it in two pieces however if the back was separate it might just crush the pen inside.

Other considerations are making the liner adjustable to suit different sizes of pens.

I am not going to attempt to sew through the Kydex I will glue the liner to the Kydex and the outer to the Kydex and then stitch the two together.

Thanks for looking

 

michael

Edited November 2, 2013 by my63

[my63]

My second attempt I have made a couple of changes to my mold to allow the kydex to be held in place while being heated, I also added two pins to allow the two pieces of the mold fit together accurately.

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3681/10628379965_ffd64eea10_z.jpg
IMG_5464_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I could not get the front and back from one piece so will be adding a back later I am going to fix it between two pieces of leather so my worries about the pen being crushed are not an issue.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[GTOZack]

if anyone cared, that is how the Norse and their Irish brethren build their scabbard to house their most prized possession, the broad sword.

they had layers of laminated wood, leather, some decorations. sandwiched with its symmetrical twin glued with tree sap and gently tapped in place with thin needle-like nails circa 793-1000

 

I do want to see some fellow irish or celtic scabbard inspirated pen case. maybe id make one

[my63]

Hi GTOZack

I am sure it would be possible to add decorations into the process however I am going to stick with the plain ones for the moment.

 

The inner suede has been glued in place

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7334/10631427984_e279beca2b_z.jpg
IMG_5485_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I had some problems fitting the inner with kydex and then the outer leather into my mold so the leather was molded separately and then glued to the other pieces.

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3741/10631400854_f09be7e7fb_z.jpg
IMG_5473_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5529/10631422616_489948c610_z.jpg
IMG_5475_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

Here we have all of the components waiting for assembly

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7449/10631703043_02043555ff_z.jpg
IMG_5493_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[GTOZack]

excellent progress, what are you using as the press? wood chock clamps or the ratchet type of clamp?

[my63]

I use a pair of quick action clamps I should make something to speed things up which I will consider if I decide to make more.

Fixing the kydex edges to the mold is key to getting smooth results.

The molds are shown in the first post I used the size from my largest pen.

I plan to get some kip leather next week when I go to see my leather supplier I try not to go there too often as I always spend a lot of money when I go there.

Incidentally there are always people in the store buying leather to make armour for re inactments (not sure that is a word) I am sure you know what I mean.

 

Michael

[my63]

In between other projects I have finished off my first single pen case in leather I have trimmed the edges and used a dark wax to tone down the turquoise suede that was sandwiched between the brown leather. http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/10665818733_bdcb58572d_z.jpg IMG_5501 by my0771, on Flickr I am quite pleased with the way this case has turned out http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3756/10665589715_47f8ef5f7c_z.jpg IMG_5510 by my0771, on Flickr http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2865/10665647364_3fc3537d54_z.jpg IMG_5511 by my0771, on Flickr http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7455/10665834103_c5eb5b1fae_z.jpg IMG_5508 by my0771, on Flickr http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5483/10665632174_3983f79133_z.jpg IMG_5503 by my0771, on Flickr I am not so happy with the inside of the lid which I closed when the wax was wet and it left a mark on the suede, The stitching around the flap does not look right I am not sure what has caused this the thread appears twisted. If anyone can tell me where I am going wrong here then please let me know. I am going to finish the red case with the kydex inside soon and I plan to make one from veg tanned leather next. Thanks for looking Michael

Edited November 4, 2013 by my63

[my63]

I have brought the two pieces of the case together I have used some pva glue here to stop the pieces from moving around while I am stitching it together.

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3727/10667750734_4d868ab1bf_z.jpg
IMG_5519 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Looking at the case now I am thinking I could have cut a slot in the side of the case to pass the loop through which might have given a neater look but as this is still a prototype then I will leave it for now and amend future versions

 

Michael

[scrivelry]

WOW!

 

I would never have guessed these were your first cases, Michael.

 

I think the loop on the outside is better than a slit in the leather to get the flap through, Michael. I don't see how you would get the flap through the Kydex, and the leather being loose from the Kydex at that point would not be a plus. But perhaps I am not picturing what you mean properly.

 

I do think the bit of leather strap looks fine, but also, it is a point that one could embellish if one wanted to. Or if a buyer wanted one to. Just a thought.

 

T

[my63]

Hi T

The idea was to split the side just above the line of stitching and thread the existing loop through the side and out between the upper section and the lower section.

I am going to make another red one I might try a double one this time.

This type of leather is not suitable for the type of embossing I can do

 

I spent a little time today stitching the red case together.

happy with the front

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5511/10672396095_50e3367247_z.jpg
IMG_5529 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Happy with the middle

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3739/10672452326_8366d3c5e4_z.jpg
IMG_5528 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Not happy with the flap

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5511/10672666323_cf6efe1444_z.jpg
IMG_5527 by my0771, on Flickr

 

As this is only the second case I have made using this method I suppose it is not too bad. I think this type of leather is not ideal for this method I will be getting more suitable leather when I visit the supplier

 

The kydex clearly offers significant protection I am tempted to give it a really good whack with a large hammer but it would be a shame to wreck it.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael