Making A Pen Case

[my63]

The honest answer is I dont know !

My original plan was to put the kydex as close together as possible but still be able to stitch between them to stop the kydex moving around, I normally do not rely on glue alone the kydex is sandwiched between two pieces of leather and the edges sewn to fix it all in place.

Alc3261 I can see what you mean like a triple cigar tube type case. I will remake the model and see if it looks better.

[alc3261]

Yes, that's what I meant. I have a triple cigar case that was my Dad's which I use for pens.

[my63]

I need to make a mould to form it in one piece I am sure I can shape the leather but not so sure about the kydex.

I May have to look at other methods of forming the kydex.

[my63]

I have made a new mould I have laid a piece of leather in place to see if I can get an awl through i might try to get them a little close

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/12209852723_300597e541_o.jpg

IMG_6461_1 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3698/12210051414_410150e756_o.jpg

IMG_6464_1 by my0771, on Flickr

[my63]

I have had some computer issues today whilst waiting for virus scans to complete today I stripped the form and remade it with the pen slots closer together.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3830/12224365073_df7734070d_o.jpg

IMG_6471_1 by my0771, on Flickr

I wet the leather and formed the ends I would normaly have made two parts to the form but with the slots being so close together I formed it by hand it took quite a while but I think it looks right,

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3693/12224199605_201483e6e8_o.jpg

IMG_6476_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[alc3261]

So are you going to sew down between the slots?

I assumed the leather would be moulded to follow the shape but only sewn around the outside of all 3.

That might not be a good idea, I don't know what's best?

[scrivelry]

So are you going to sew down between the slots?

I assumed the leather would be moulded to follow the shape but only sewn around the outside of all 3.

That might not be a good idea, I don't know what's best?

I don't know either but it is always so much fun to watch people think!

 

T

[my63]

So are you going to sew down between the slots?

I assumed the leather would be moulded to follow the shape but only sewn around the outside of all 3.

That might not be a good idea, I don't know what's best?

Yes I was planning on sewing all around each slot.

The reason is partly to seperate the pens but also for strength when the case is closed.

Once i have sewn the front to its backing piece I canstretch the slots to make them look like one piece.

If you would like one piece of leather to cover the front I will try to stick the kydex together.

 

Michael

[my63]

The writing case has arrived

 

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5494/12239855153_f5c7be93aa_o.jpg

IMG_6485_1 by my0771, on Flickr

I am not too sure about the engraving

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/12240097864_0dd8102edf_o.jpg

IMG_6492_1 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3834/12239867643_cef7e02b5e_o.jpg

IMG_6494 by my0771, on Flickr

Now why was it cheap (my wife tells me I should read the text before I bid)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5511/12240247446_deef94699c_o.jpg

IMG_6486_1 by my0771, on Flickr

It is a little smaller than I was expecting

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7375/12240252176_930022159d_o.jpg

IMG_6489_1 by my0771, on Flickr

I have repaired the front already simply by gluing it back together the lock will be very difficult to repair as it is riveted in place the missing clip can be repaired I think I have cut up a small bress screw which is a little too small i will find a larger one tomorrow.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7323/12240095864_50247cfa53_o.jpg

IMG_6490_1 by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

[scrivelry]

Well, I can't tell exactly how big it is, but it is nice, and it was inexpensive, and you've already fixed a lot of what needed to be fixed on it...

 

My latest disast- *cough* writing box is out for delivery according to the Post Office website so I am hoping to take possession some time this afternoon...It's in sad shape but I justified it to myself on the basis of it being a different shape, and a shape I wanted at that... Maybe if I take a lot of photos of it from all its worst angles you'll feel better about the size of this one...

 

T

[scrivelry]

And it's here! It's here!

 

Interesting piece of work... I'm trying to figure out how old it is or isn't. There is what looks like a hand-engraved "a" on the brass piece on the front, so we will take that as a sign of something good, if not of age...The writing sufaces are paper and are interrupted by a piece of wood. However, they are single boards and therefore do not need gluing back together - the weak spot of most of the boxes I have...

 

Now I have to figure out where I put the last set of little wood boxes purchased for a dollar so I would have hinges and so forth so I can steal the little screws for putting this back together...

[my63]

Sorry it is 15 cm x 22 cm the a5 Leuchtterm notebook fits perfectly I think an iPad mini would also fit so it may be of use to someone.

Do you think I should recolour the leather or just fed it black boot polish would bring it up nicely

Thanks

Michael

[my63]

As long as the suede strip is sturdy and won't give under the pressure of a tight clip, it should probably work.

 

What about cutting a "U" shape in the top from the edge to allow grasping a shorter pen? The closure, if there is one, would have to be anchored below the cutout.

 

I have given this a lot of thought and agree there needs to be some sort of shape cut from the top to allow any pen to be easily removed.

I will also add the strips for the clips to prevent smaller pens being lost but also to prevent larger pens moving around too much

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[kiavonne]

The engraving on the case could perhaps be buffed out, or the plate replaced, but then again, it shows the true age of the piece as over 100 years old. That it could still be practically used so much later is a conversation starter, if nothing else.

[my63]

Thanks Kiavonne

The little plate is brass which i think has been plated with silver the post was missing so I removed the rivets and started thinking how I was going to replace it.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3704/12255382595_c9037a227b_o.jpg

IMG_6498 by my0771, on Flickr

This is my solution a small brass screw which I filed down to size

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3672/12255830844_d2a2afd9bc_o.jpg

IMG_6502 by my0771, on Flickr

I made a shoulder to stop the post going too far through the hole in the plate and then rivited the end over then I folded the plate back over the end of the strap and used the original rivets to fix it back in place.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5496/12255979416_9eb4cba10e_o.jpg

IMG_6504 by my0771, on Flickr

 

It appears to work ok now

 

thanks

 

Michael

[my63]

I have added a little mink oil paste to condition the leather a little I am still unsure wether or not to dye the worn parts

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3681/12256037205_3da6629fb4_o.jpg

IMG_6513 by my0771, on Flickr

To be honest I dont know what I am going to do with it.

It is never going to be perfect but I think it has history

Thanks for looking

Michael

[scrivelry]

 

 

I have added a little mink oil paste to condition the leather a little I am still unsure wether or not to dye the worn parts

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3681/12256037205_3da6629fb4_o.jpg

IMG_6513 by my0771, on Flickr

To be honest I dont know what I am going to do with it.

It is never going to be perfect but I think it has history

Thanks for looking

Michael

 

Imperfect, but with history, and in need of a dye job - I am beginning to identify with the poor little thing! I think it needs a story...

 

If you want the whole thing black I suspect you will have to dye it. I've used water based shoe polish for that for years, and magic markers (which I would not use on a vintage piece of leather) and my results have not been entirely satisfactory.

 

T

[mhguda]

Those worn patches look like they might break anytime though, or is that too pessimistic? If they will hold, I think to dye them would not be remiss. Otherwise they might have to be replaced? I can imagine you won't want that... It does look really special.

[my63]

Those worn patches look like they might break anytime though, or is that too pessimistic? If they will hold, I think to dye them would not be remiss. Otherwise they might have to be replaced? I can imagine you won't want that... It does look really special.

In my haste to point out the bad points I forgot to mention that the inside is like new it is only the outside that is worn. Patina I think is a good word for it I will post pictures of the inside later.

[my63]

Like many people I have been using craft knives to cut leather I asked in the store what they used and I was shown a clicker knife,

The black handle unscrews and the lnog blade is loaded into the handle this makes the knife easy to use and very stable.

 

These are the components of the knife

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5510/12283740206_23e3a35c40_o.jpg

IMG_6534_1 by my0771, on Flickr

Just because these blades are new it does not mean that they are ready for use I hope you can see the vertical lines on the cutting edge of the blade above when cutting leather these imperfections cause the blade to drag in the leather so they need to be removed.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3686/12283194845_1c784272e8_o.jpg

IMG_6540 by my0771, on Flickr

The first stage is to use some sort of stone to flatten the cutting edges and make them smooth following that a piece of leather stuck to a piece of wood and coated with jewellers rouge ( a light abrasive compound) called a strop is used to polish the edges.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5525/12282785495_683870fcc6_o.jpg

IMG_6524 by my0771, on Flickr

This is my first attempt at making a strop and preparing a blade for cutting leather.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7336/12283324276_6367a626c6_o.jpg

IMG_6518 by my0771, on Flickr

If you want to do this yourself please be aware that these blades are sharp to start with and are designed to cut tanned hide smoothing and polishing the edges makes the blade cut almost without effort it is possible to cut your finger just by touching the blade so please be careful !

Thanks for looking

Michael

Edited February 3, 2014 by my63