Making A Pen Case

[my63]

Today I have made the mounting discs for the Sam Browne studs that will hold the lid in place this case will have 2 sets of 4 studs.

The first 4 will be fixed to the main body and will hold the upper section in place the second set will be on the upper section and will secure the lid to the upper section.

There will be four straps and each strap will have two sets of holes.

If that is as clear as mud then all will become clear over the next few days

 

IMG_8186_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_8189 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Each stud will be thread locked in place so hope fully wont come loose, once dyed they are ready to be fitted, I wont fit them until the straps are fitted to the lid which is my next job

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[Kosmic-kowgirl]

gorgeous gorgeousness, I cant wait to see it all put together!

[Fox Point]

Hi Michael, !!!

 

The quiver is gorgeous too. I look forward to seeing those studs in place.

 

Fox Point

 

Edit: if that is not high enough quality to read, how do I upload a higher quality image?

Edited August 3, 2014 by Fox Point

[Fox Point]

"Hi Michael,

 

Wow! I'm so glad it made you happy! Your work IS inspirational, both in the meticulous beauty of your pieces and in your personal triumph. I am in the early recovery from knee surgery and admire your fortitude greatly - I look forward to doing the knee equivalent (dance!) in a year or so's time.

 

I am not really in a position to work with leather or kydex, so may I take you up on your crafting offer? It is very exciting, and I would in turn be honored to see the creation process of something I helped begin!

 

More technically, would studs on a single, large flap cause a problem if the case was only meant to roll with them facing outwards, or is the problem more in the tension put on the leather? I was thinking of a soft and almost loose connection between the tubes so that rather than rolling, the action is almost like folding each join until the next tube stops it. I also favor smaller pens, if that might make the tube to give ratio easier to achieve. What do you think?

I would worry with individual flaps about them opening in the case, god forbid, of a fall. In my drawing the single unit stud was drawn at an angle which I have no idea how to achieve. But that also would not necessarily be needed if there was no or minimal overlap when rolled.

 

Thank you again for your offer, and for your creative and instructive posts which have been so amazing to read these past few days!

 

Fox Point"

[my63]

Thanks I wish you a speedy recovery from your surgery.

 

Sam Browne studs are fixed with a screw from the back and need something substantial to be fixed to.

 

IMG_8199_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

A picture may explain it better.

I tested the other wraps that I made and once they were rolled up it was not possible to pull the flap open.

Fixing the kydex tubes in place may be the biggest issue as I never got that far in my earlier efforts,

 

I will think about the problem and drink some tea.

It would be useful to know what size pens you wish to keep in the wrap and what colours and materials that you have in mind.

 

Michael

[Fox Point]

Hi Michael,

 

Now that I think of it, having it extra securely closed when wrapped seems like a nice safety feature - closed and locked!

 

I have two tiny pens which I swap out, max measurements 121.2 mm long and 11.7 mm wide, with clip. My mid sized pens max at 17 mm wide and 132.2 mm long, and my one wide pen is 20.1 mm wide but the same max length of 132.2 mm.

 

I adore the teal/aqua/mid blue colours you have been using, and I'm curious about what you think of using the carved purple leather for the visible interior. Otherwise, black suede would be very attractive, with red or case-dyed thread. May I ask which type and weight of thread you use?

 

What do you think of doing two or three case widths? variable widths would increase rolling capacity, but also work, so I am happy to use the little bag trick if you would prefer.

 

Other ideas: for short pens in a long case, a less tidy trick could be to attach a ribbon at the side of the entrance which the pen could be clipped to. The free end would need enough length to protrude from the slot, and could then be used to pull the pen up.

 

Also, a rolling pen wrap with three disparate lengths would look rather like a set of pan pipes! Not the most stable of rolls, perhaps, but a style with a name!

 

I hope your tea was nice.

 

Thanks,

Fox Point

[my63]

Hi Fox Point

I don't see a problem with having increasing diameters as long as the smallest sizes are on the inside more for aesthetics as anything else,

I am not sure if kydex will roll to 12 mm but I will try I now know that I cant do big tube with this thickness so I will find out how small it can go.

 

Colours if it is suede I have a small amount of the light turquoise/teal colour, the purple embossed leather is actually quite fragile on its own so I usually back it onto leather 1 mm thick to give it strength. I would normally use a suede inside and leather outside suede will pick up marks and stains easily and can be difficult to clean where as once the leather has been waxed it is pretty hard wearing.

 

I have tried various methods of securing smaller pens in cases I found pens slid off ribbons unless they were very long and they looked untidy when not in use. I also thought of having a ribbon attached lower down inside and coming out of the front at the half way point.

The best solution I have found is a strip of material as a clip strip usually across the back. it may be possible to use leather/suede rather than ribbon as it is more substantial.

 

I still have not worked out how to fix the kydex tubes in place but I am sure we will get there.

[Tinjapan]

It is fantastic super smooth

It looks like I will just have to get one then. Already got a pen case for it, that's to you!

[my63]

Thanks to you for introducing me to the joy of Japanese pens my original collection was purely Parkers and although I still enjoy them I don't actually use them anymore,

I know this is sad but I am limited as to how long I can hold a pen, and my Sailor can write at almost any angle thanks to its stunning nib, My small collection of Delta's and my Dani-trio being oversize are very easy for me to hold and write with. So these have become my go to pens for everyday use.

 

I am going to ink up a 51 or 61 each week in future and make an effort to use them.

[Tinjapan]

I am glad that we were able to get you using fountain pens regularly again! AND that you found a new line of pen to love. I had no idea that you were no longer able to use your Parkers anymore.

Please share picks of your new pens when they arrive.

[my63]

This is me trying to be creative with photography

 

IMG_8209_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Well actually it is the lid for the round pen case with the fastening studs on their mounting disks as you can see there are eight discs but only seven studs "oops" they come in bags of ten and I have two bags one bag has seven and the other has six but they are slightly different, I am not sure how I did that but never mind I will get another pack.

 

IMG_8203_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

These are the straps that will be sewn onto the lid and will fix to the studs once they are sewn to the sides of the case.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[Kosmic-kowgirl]

great pics Micheal!

[my63]

It has been some time since I last updated this project From the post above I have finished the edges of the straps and sewn them to the lid

 

The following pictures should show exactly how this case is going to work each strap will have two sets of holes one for studs in the top section and one for the bottom section

IMG_8339 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

This is the point where I stopped yesterday the four studs in the top section are sewn in place and the second set are glued in place awaiting sewing

 

IMG_8347 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The final stages are to fit the handle and the bottom and give it a polish

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[sevenof9]

Outstanding work. That one looks so cool. 7

[my63]

Hi 7

Thanks I think it is pretty cool too especially as it is finished

 

IMG_8353 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is the final picture if you would like to see more just click on the picture and it will take you to my flickr account where you will find the rest of the set.

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[mhguda]

Wow.

[Tinjapan]

A true master piece! Outstanding! You should start regular production.

[my63]

here is the starting point for a new pen case.

I have cut dowels to the correct length and have wrapped them in card to make a full size model

 

IMG_8427_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This case will be a fold over like my ten pen cases and will stand on a desk (hopefully) when finished

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

After the last post I spoke to the member who commissioned this case and it was decided to increase it to a five pen case rather than three.

 

I made the necessary adjustments to the form and started forming the leather.

 

IMG_8461_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

It is most definitely pink.

 

IMG_8467_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

It has taken most of today but I am now at the point where tomorrow I can join the inner and outer pieces together well after a little sewing first,

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael