Making A Pen Case

[my63]

I thought I would share this with you all those who have looked at the writing slope dilemma thread may remember I used steel wool dissolved in white vinegar to ebonise oak.

I know the best way to improve the colour is to increase the tannins in the wood soaking with a tea solution is a good way.

So I needed to dye the edges of this case black unfortunately due to the large quantity of wax in this leather the dye would not take and the usual edge treatments would not work very well either.

I looked up the process on a leather forum and indeed it works on leather

 

 

<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/13444113385/in/photostream/player/" width="500" height="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>

 

<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/13444236843/in/photostream/player/" width="500" height="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>

 

This reaction is instantaneous apply to leather and it turns black like magic

 

I am sorry it appears that flickr have changed the system for posting pictures again

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

Edited March 27, 2014 by my63

[kiavonne]

Thanks, Michael. This is my favorite thread, I think. I've had so much enjoyment watching cases come together, and you share information so readily. I appreciate it very much.

[Tinjapan]

That's amazing. I never would have thought that the same process would have the same effect on leather as it does wood.

[my63]

Thanks Kiavonne I am pleased to hear that you enjoy this thread and I hope it might inspire others to have a try at making their own case.

 

I was thinking the other day when nothing seemed to work for the edging that the leather is oak tanned and the wire wool solution reacts with the tannin in the oak so I looked it up and presto it is an old method it does not dye the leather it is a chemical reaction that alters the colour.

 

 

 

I have started sewing the inside together it is a long job as there are two thicknesses of leather and a piece of suede to get the needle through,

I do think it is going to look very good when complete.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

I am making slow progress sewing the black case interior together so I have switched to the red case and have stuck the interior in place.

 

 

Here is a peak at the outer cover it is much softer than the black bridle of the other case,

 

 

I am looking for something to add in between the inner and outer layers to add a little stiffness another piece of leather might be the best solution.

But if anyone has another solution I would love to hear it.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[Inkysloth]

How about something like 0.3mm polypropylene sheet? It's easy to cut, robust, adds stiffness without it being brittle or weighty.

 

Edit: Though it doesn't roll or fold, it will bend gently, but it resists and springs back. I have used the 0.5mm sheet to stiffen a handmade Kindle cover.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Inkysloth

[my63]

Inkysloth thanks for the suggestion I think I will have to go with leather I am aware that it will increase the cost however the insert needs to have similar properties to the leather and suede on either side. It will be folded almost in half in two places and needs to be glued and sewn together with the other pieces.

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[alc3261]

I'm sure you'll do a good job as usual!!

[my63]

Thanks I have to be honest I have struggled with these two cases they have been far more of a challenge than I had thought.

The black case is nearing completion

 

This picture shows the case with the inner section glued in place

 

IMG_6985_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Here the case is fixed in the open position as you can see there is a bit of stress at the points when the case is opened and fixed this has caused the joint to open.

I had suspected this might happen so I stopped the stitches short and only glued the ends I think I will just clean off the excess glue and allow a little give at this point.

 

IMG_6998_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I am pretty sure these two cases will be the only large cases I will make although I never say never .

 

I have made progress on the red case today I have cut another piece of leather as an additional liner and glued it to the pen slots and suede liner as I was gluing up the black case ready to start sewing again when I am able to.

 

Thanks to everyone who has offered support it is appreciated

 

Michael

[fuchsiaprincess]

Hi Michael, your cases are coming along rather beautifully!

[esterbex]

I am just too thrilled to have this red beauty in my possession! Michael, I can't thank you enough!!!

[my63]

Thanks Esterbex it was a pleasure to make it for you looks like I need to add an xxx large version for your Spirit of life pen.

I get a real sense of achievement when I see a picture of something I have made being used.

 

Michael

[my63]

I thought I would share this with you all, I know it has nothing to do with pens but I thought I would share it anyway.

 

One of the members of NESSR the dog rescue charity we support as a family gave me a box of used shotgun shells from clay pigeon shooting and asked if I could do anything with them to raise money.

So after some thinking and tea drinking this is what I have come up with

 

 

 

 

I call it shotgun chess it is time consuming it took two hours to do three all of the brass pieces are different heights so I am using the small ones for pawns and will use the bigger ones for the other pieces.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

Edited April 4, 2014 by my63

[kiavonne]

What a creative and inventive repurposing of something that would otherwise likely to be discarded! Great idea, Michael!

[fuchsiaprincess]

I thought I would share this with you all, I know it has nothing to do with pens but I thought I would share it anyway.

 

One of the members of NESSR the dog rescue charity we support as a family gave me a box of used shotgun shells from clay pigeon shooting and asked if I could do anything with them to raise money.

So after some thinking and tea drinking this is what I have come up with

 

 

 

 

I call it shotgun chess it is time consuming it took two hours to do three all of the brass pieces are different heights so I am using the small ones for pawns and will use the bigger ones for the other pieces.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

Wow!! You talents know no boundaries, Michael! Thanks so much for sharing.

[my63]

Thanks the pieces are sized to fit the cartridge base and take about an hour each to fit so it will take some time before it is ready to go to auction,

 

I am taking a few days from the larger projects this allows me to revisit the round pen case I have just finished a case which is in the style of the Nakaya case.

 

 

These cases are not as easy to make as they look I prefer the look of the cross stitch style but find cutting the right shape on the end very difficult but I am working on that

 

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[mhguda]

Nice pen case!

[my63]

Nice pen case!

Thanks

 

I have made a single case in Aqua it has come out quite well (I think) as usual I cannot decide which colour thread to use so I am asking for help (again) I have black white red and blue

 

Sorry I nearly forgot the pictures

 

The first picture shows the freshly applied dye before assembly

 

 

 

The final two pictures shows the assembled case ready to be trimmed and sewn together once we have decided the colour of the thread of course.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[mhguda]

Um... blue thread?

[alc3261]

Black? - for contrast.