Making A Pen Case

[my63]

I have been thinkingabout how to finish the two ten pen casesand the three pen notebook case my concern is pens may be difficult to remove from the slots.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2806/12306650665_abe93b5b39_o.jpg

IMG_6547 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3681/12307095084_d17de63945_o.jpg

IMG_6549_1 by my0771, on Flickr

My solution is to angle the top of the slots, First I will line them with a thinner leather which will also provide a slot for the clip as shown below

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7416/12122633693_96b20eef4a_o.jpg

IMG_6425_1 by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

[my63]

I made the decision to cut the open ends of the pen inserts so this morning i have made a template and cut the first piece this was not easy and requires a steady hand (which I dont have) and a very sharp knife which I do have lots of clamps and the odd cup of tea

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2818/12321233085_01ccc139a6_o.jpg

IMG_6558 by my0771, on Flickr

These pieces of dowel are 21 mm in diameter so most pens should fit

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2807/12321684894_9fa6a9c49a_o.jpg

IMG_6561_1 by my0771, on Flickr

I have also moulded the inserts for the second ten pen case I have been asked to make so I now have another three pieces to cut.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[my63]

Both sides are now cut to the correct angle for the black case

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7448/12326771754_ba4115a871_o.jpg

IMG_6565_1 by my0771, on Flickr

I know need to work out the correct distance between the two inserts it will be related to the thickness of the completed case it might require some trial and error and a few rolls of masking tape.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[kiavonne]

This is looking pretty nice, Michael! I like the cut downs.

[my63]

This is looking pretty nice, Michael! I like the cut downs.

Credit where it is due it was your idea first post on page 8 I just needed to find the right way to do it.

 

I need to work out the linings next then I can think about assembly.

The inserts shown will be glued and sewn to a piece of suede lining which will then be glued and sewn to the outer piece.

[kiavonne]

Nah, my ideas were spawned from the what ifs following your progress. You have really great inner sight, and I appreciate seeing your work!

[my63]

I have mentioned this case before but this is the first time I have shown any pictures of it it is called the red case ......... well because it is going to be red inside

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7362/12367163543_8549fd92ba_o.jpg

IMG_6577_1 by my0771, on Flickr

And red on the outside as well

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2882/12366980525_ece11e7f74_o.jpg

IMG_6570_1 by my0771, on Flickr

I need to dye the inside which I will do next week.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[my63]

I have finished moulding the pen holders for both cases the next step is to mould the inside linings to fit well inside

Inside

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7380/12371339093_1f5dedf30d_o.jpg

IMG_6580_1 by my0771, on Flickr

Outside

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7365/12371644794_7e7fafd356_o.jpg

IMG_6582_1 by my0771, on Flickr

I have two more to mould then I need to cut the strips that will form the pen clip holders.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[my63]

All four of the pen slots are now complete I have cut the slots for the clips and glued the liners into place

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3811/12389842634_2ff556cdcc_o.jpg

IMG_6584 by my0771, on Flickr

I have placed a couple of pens in the slots to show how they will fit

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7307/12390063784_1aee2ee85b_o.jpg

IMG_6587 by my0771, on Flickr

This is how the pens will look when in their slots

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/12389780453_0e3dd6a9c4_o.jpg

IMG_6592 by my0771, on Flickr

If you can imagine the pen slots with a piece of suede at the back joining the two pieces together which will then be glued and sewn to the outer cover and that will be it done.

The original design had a single strap across the middle with a sam browne stud the closer I get to that point the less I like the idea I am now thinking of an envelope type flap with a stud.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

Edited February 8, 2014 by my63

[my63]

I have been thinking about these clip holders my concern is that they are too low and the pens will be difficult to remove.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/12389780453_0e3dd6a9c4_o.jpg
IMG_6592 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I could cut another set of straps into the inside lining but I think this may weaken the upper part of the lining.

 

The next option would be to cut a thin strip of leather which will be glued and sewn into the slots when they are assembled.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[kiavonne]

Since this is a prototype, you could do that in addition to what you have and see if you like it better. The current cut strips may indeed be too low, if you have a shorter or smaller pen, but not by much, perhaps. It depends upon whether you want the clip to reach the end. It may be that you want to keep the cut bottom edge the same but make the top cut higher. If you did so here, you would essentially have 3 cuts to have two strips to choose from. Regardless, it is moving along with the trial and error process. Fascinating to watch!

Edited February 9, 2014 by kiavonne

[my63]

Prototype yes that was in my original plan however I would have had to buy more leather to make the prototype.

As this leather is expensive I wanted to keep waste to the minimum so this is the real thing nothing like a little pressure

My new plan is to leave the current slots as they are, and add another strip along the back which will be glued and sewn in place I think this will allow all types of pens to fit in these cases.

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3750/12414304623_4af3651378_o.jpg
IMG_6593 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3797/12414309123_6f325352ee_o.jpg
IMG_6594 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I think the top of the strip should be level with the bottom of the cut out.

 

Thanks

Michael

[my63]

I did not plan to take this picture I have always worried that I would never get the two halves to match up correctly.

I reasoned to myself that as both halves came from the exact same mould they should match when brought together.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7418/12416831454_f44237388c_o.jpg

IMG_6597_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I knew trimming would be a key point as any mistake would mean starting again and as they are a matched pair from the same hide it would also mean wasting half a hide an expensive mistake so I marked out all the cuts and then went for a cup of tea in fact I have spent the whole afternoon checking rechecking all of the measurements.

In the end I decided to cut the pieces in stages stripping the knife between each cut my knife will now cut 2 mm of leather in one cut so the edges will require little work before finishing.

As you can see from the picture everything matches really well the two edges butted together will form the base.

The next stage will be to dye the components black for this one red for the other then they will be stitched and glued to the suede inner then that assembly will be glued to the outer and then sewn all around.

 

I am still thinking about the closure method and keep flipping between an envelope type flap and a strap I currently favour the envelope type closure as it will be more secure.

My leather supplier suggested adding some book binding board between the inner and outer layers to add strength but this will also add weight but I am thinking of adding some kydex sheets which will do the same job.

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[my63]

I started early this morning (having taken a deep breath) and have applied 10 coats of black dye to the first 10 pen case this is the outside of the inner part if that makes any sense.

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3832/12498042394_6cb5f302ac_o.jpg
IMG_6634_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is the inside of the inner part this is the soft leather that will touch the pens

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3821/12498034394_8894f7eedd_o.jpg
IMG_6631_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is not fully dry as yet when it is dry I will check to see if I have missed anywhere and if more coats are required.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[Tinjapan]

Looks good!

 

T

[my63]

Looks good!

 

T

Thanks T I am pleased that you like it especially as I am making it for you

 

As I was applying the dye this morning I had a single case ready for dye so I applied some black dye to it.

If you remember the blue case that I made with the red stitching well I followed that theme

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2850/12506048403_164b023b80_o.jpg

IMG_6646_1 by my0771, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3816/12500833053_64a6baa670_o.jpg

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7342/12505940135_f97b7d4ea1_o.jpg

IMG_6649_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7455/12506070453_1d4a230295_o.jpg

IMG_6652_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I like the contrast of the black and the red

 

Thanks

 

Michael

Edited February 13, 2014 by my63

[kiavonne]

Oh, gosh. I like that combination, too!

[scrivelry]

Very nice. And perfect for those who like Black and red notebooks, or just a black padfolio, as the red is a nice uptick... T

[my63]

I had forgotten how much I enjoyed making the smaller cases

 

I started by forming a piece of leather on the same form as the kydex. The next step was to drill a hole and insert the stud fastener.

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5516/12520780414_8e4fdd1013_o.jpg
IMG_6665 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have managed to acquire some silver plated studs which I thought would make a nice change.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/12520415653_2b878ed353_o.jpg
IMG_6667_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The upper piece of leather was wet formed over the kydex by hand and left to dry

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/12520405573_ac2cf8530b_o.jpg
IMG_6664_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I am planning on dyeing this case red

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

I have not only been working on single pen cases today I have also been working on this three pen and notebook case for Alc3261 I finally found a way to form the kydex to the correct shape.

I have cut slots in the lining to allow pen clips to keep smaller pens in place.

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2826/12527035754_69cf9996d4_o.jpg
IMG_6674_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The notebook holder still needs a little work in fact I will possibly replace it as I want to fold all of the edges over to give a neat finish

 

My plan from here is to glue and sew the pen slots and the notebook holder to a piece of leather that will be the inside lining this will then be glued and sewn to the outer leather cover.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael