Making A Pen Case

[Anne-Sophie]

Michel, such beautiful cases! The Royale pen seems to be part of the oversize family.

 

The stamped pen's name, on each case, is a very nice and elegant touch.

Edited April 7, 2019 by Anne-Sophie

[my63]

Thanks Anne-Sophie I also think the stamping is a nice touch but it is down to each owner.

 

The 149 case is almost finished.

 

2019-04-05_06-31-50 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The brown case for a Conid King size pen is also almost finished.

 

2019-04-05_06-32-05 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The blue pair are a little further behind

 

2019-04-05_06-32-18 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks

[my63]

I asked the owner of the ASC Three Kings limited edition fountain pens if I could shre some pictures with his pens and this is what he sent me thanks Joe.

 

My63Leather-ASC 01_edited-1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

My63Leather-ASC 02 by my0771, on Flickr

 

My63Leather-ASC 06 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The pictures really do the cases justice.

[Anne-Sophie]

 

Such gorgeous cases, that picture showcase them so well!

[my63]

I thought I would share a picture of my workshop now the outside is finished.

 

2019-04-29_04-24-06 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Inside next

[Anne-Sophie]

 

Nice looking!

Edited May 1, 2019 by Anne-Sophie

[Anne-Sophie]

Are you ok Michael?

 

Or are you just too busy with the orders and the workshop?

[my63]

Hi Anne-Sophie

I have been busy on a number of fronts I wanted to get my waiting time in hand as it was up to four weeks so I set aside some time to focus on pen cases. This is my last two weeks production.

 

This case is for two Montblanc 149s

 

2019-05-22_06-35-43 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is a triple Emperor pen case

 

2019-05-22_06-38-08 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This case is for a single Montblanc 149

 

2019-05-22_06-37-33 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This case is for a pair of Conid King size pens

 

2019-05-22_06-36-24 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Most recently I have started a two pen cigar style case for Emperor size fountain pens.

 

2019-05-22_06-52-24 by my0771, on Flickr

 

As the pens are black and red I was commissioned to make a case with black and red pen tubes. The good thing about a custom case is you can select your colours.

 

I have not made much progress on the workshop I had a brief experimentation with spraying paint on the inside but it did not go well full details are on my blog if anyone is interested.

 

2019-05-22_06-52-40 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I finished the painting last week and I added the wiring to the trunking yesterday having given the paint a few days to fully dry.

 

The only down side to reducing my waiting time is my order book is now empty so I can spend more time on my workshop

[Anne-Sophie]

The pen cases are your most beautiful, to date. There is a precision in your craftsmanship that says master leather worker.

 

 

I am so sorry about the painting pains, despite the big box stores ads, which pop up the minute the weather is nice enough for paint to dry, the joy of painting only exist on canvas.

 

Designing and making a workshop, or as we call it in the U.S, a shed, is a very complicated endeavor which requires many skills and a lot of back breaking work.

 

I should have gone to your blog directly instead of bothering you on FPN.

 

I thank you for the pictures because I didn't understand some of the building terms,.

 

The workshop is beautiful and the bonus pictures of the rescue springer spaniel crew, really make the post extra special.

[Anne-Sophie]

Saw the restored cases on your blog, magnifiques!

[my63]

Saw the restored cases on your blog, magnifiques!

 

I am sorry I was sure I had replied to your first message, I foolishly mentioned in my last post that my order book was empty.

It did not stay empty for long and I now have a waiting list again I am going to continue working more often to keep the waiting as short as possible.

There is no workshop progress to report other than I have cut some wood for the first bench.

 

I can tell you that Namiki must be selling some Emperors at the moment as I am making lots of cases for them.

 

When you order a custom case you can pick your own colour combination

 

2019-05-22_06-52-24 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Outer covers

 

2019-06-06_07-29-56 by my0771, on Flickr

 

2019-06-06_07-30-08 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Inner section wrapped and used to form the outer covers.

 

2019-06-06_07-30-47 by my0771, on Flickr

 

2019-06-06_07-31-13 by my0771, on Flickr

 

2019-06-06_07-32-39 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Components ready for assembly.

 

2019-06-06_07-33-44 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Finished case

 

2019-06-06_07-34-22 by my0771, on Flickr

[my63]

Up next is a single case for a Namiki Emperor in red urushi not surprisingly it has a red suede interior.

 

2019-06-06_07-32-04 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Under the suede is a hard liner made from kydex which is a thermos plastic moulded at high temperature to make a hard tube to protect the pen.

After the suede I wet form an outer leather cover around the tube from vegetable tanned leather shoulder this is around 2.2mm thick.

 

2019-06-06_07-32-15 by my0771, on Flickr

 

After the basic form is achieved I apply the dye then it is back into the clamps the top section is in a plastic bag to slow down the drying process until the lower half is ready.

 

2019-06-06_07-32-48 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is the lower section drying out after gluing the glue is only there to hold things together before stitching.

 

2019-06-06_07-33-07 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Lower section stitched and ready for trimming

 

2019-06-06_07-34-13 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Once the lower section has been trimmed I can form glue and stitch the upper section.

 

2019-06-06_07-34-42 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Both pieces trimmed and ready to have the edges finished with dye and beeswax.

 

2019-06-06_07-35-52 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I make a wooden toggle / pen rest for these cases this one is from Brazilian walnut carved by hand polished with pure beeswax.

 

2019-06-08_07-51-50 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The only thing left to do is final assembly a leather thong dyed the same colour as the case holds the upper and lower sections together along with a disc for the initials and the pen rest / toggle the only item I don't make are the little metal end caps on the thong.

 

2019-06-08_07-51-01 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Now on its way to its new home.

[Anne-Sophie]

 

I am sorry I was sure I had replied to your first message, I foolishly mentioned in my last post that my order book was empty.

It did not stay empty for long and I now have a waiting list again I am going to continue working more often to keep the waiting as short as possible.

There is no workshop progress to report other than I have cut some wood for the first bench.

 

I can tell you that Namiki must be selling some Emperors at the moment as I am making lots of cases for them.

 

When you order a custom case you can pick your own colour combination

 

2019-05-22_06-52-24 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Outer covers

 

2019-06-06_07-29-56 by my0771, on Flickr

 

2019-06-06_07-30-08 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Inner section wrapped and used to form the outer covers.

 

2019-06-06_07-30-47 by my0771, on Flickr

 

2019-06-06_07-31-13 by my0771, on Flickr

 

2019-06-06_07-32-39 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Components ready for assembly.

 

2019-06-06_07-33-44 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Finished case

 

2019-06-06_07-34-22 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is the first time you showed the inner kydex wrapped in suede protected by the plastic shield.

 

You talked about it before, but it is nice to see your setup.

 

Namiki Falcons have a nice following of aficionados.

 

 

I think that a couple of those owners have discovered your unique toggle pen cases.

 

Such beautiful pens need a mean to be transported safely and a portable showcase, your two part cases do just that. This design is unique, I have never seen it anywhere until you posted pictures of their fabrication, on this thread.

 

Being able to customize the case and the toggle color adds to its exclusivity.

[my63]

Kydex is one of my favourite materials it is made in the U.S.A and each piece has all of its details printed on the back so you know you are getting the right stuff.

 

2019-06-09_08-15-59 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I buy it in A4 sheets it is a good size for me and easy to store. After cutting to size I heat it and shape it around a wooden dowel to get this.

 

2019-06-09_08-12-45 by my0771, on Flickr

 

These tubes are for one my up coming projects a three pen cigar style case.

 

I have my own way of joining the kydex along the seam which I am not going to describe it is quite easy to get kydex too hot and it can cause burns very easily.

 

My next project is a matching (well I hope they match) single pen case and a Seven Seas writer notebook cover.

 

2019-06-09_08-12-23 by my0771, on Flickr

[Anne-Sophie]

The owner of the pen case and the notebook cover made the right choice!

 

Thank you for taking the time to show us your process and the gorgeous results.

[my63]

Thanks Ann-Sophie

 

The next installment will show the making of both parts of the set.

 

After rough cutting all of the components I soaked them all in cold water some of the leather needs to be formed in to shapes and needs to be wet to allow this. Wet leather also takes dye more evenly, If i dyed one piece wet and one dry the colours would be totally different.

 

2019-06-13_07-32-13 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Before cutting to my final size I allowed the leather to dry the size changes during the drying process.

 

2019-06-13_07-32-33 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The edges that are going to be joined have to be thinned or skived to allow nice thin joints a very sharp round knife is used to achieve this.

 

2019-06-13_07-33-38 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Almost finished the notebook cover.

 

2019-06-13_07-34-18 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I don't really like the look of unfinished leather so I have used a strip of suede to cover it.

 

2019-06-13_07-34-29 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Before the leather for the pen case dries out I have formed the leather around the actual tube before gluing it in place.

 

2019-06-13_07-32-45 by my0771, on Flickr

 

2019-06-13_07-33-11 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Once the lower section had been stitched and trimmed I removed the leather for the upper part from its plastic bag which slows down the drying process until I am ready to form it.

I treat all of the leather the same way so it is only wet once as wetting leather can alter the finished colour.

 

2019-06-13_07-33-51 by my0771, on Flickr

 

After stitching and trimming I made a toggle and put all of the components together.

 

2019-06-13_07-34-52 by my0771, on Flickr

 

There maybe a third part to this set but I will share that if it goes ahead

[Anne-Sophie]

The green suede lining of the notebook cover is soo classy, even more with the matching pen case.

[Anne-Sophie]

Any more picture of your June batch of pen cases?

 

Yes, I checked your blog before asking here.

[my63]

Hi Anne - Sophie I am sorry I have been neglecting my blog recently as well as FPN I have so much going on it is difficult to keep on top of everything.

I have paused work on the workshop to focus on my leather work.

 

I have made quite a few cigar style cases for two pens but this is only the second for three pens they are more difficult to make but I do my best.

 

2019-06-28_10-33-33 by my0771, on Flickr

 

After wrapping the Kydex tubes in bright red suede I started fitting the inner leather covers.

 

2019-06-28_10-34-24 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Outer covers were next.

 

2019-06-28_10-35-01 by my0771, on Flickr

 

After cutting the sides in half I glued them back together as the top and bottom.

 

2019-06-28_10-36-02 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Stitch stitch stitch with the thread more expensive than gold

 

2019-06-28_10-36-28 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Making the toggle / pen rest.

 

2019-06-28_10-36-53 by my0771, on Flickr

 

2019-06-28_10-37-16 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Edges polished

 

2019-06-28_10-37-28 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Making the centre band.

 

2019-06-28_10-37-41 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Finished well almost I did put it together before I shipped it .

 

2019-06-28_10-48-23 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have also been doing some prototyping this is for a member here. I will be making it soon. It is for a Seven seas writer notebook.

 

2019-06-28_10-36-40 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have also started these two pen cases which are also going to have matching Seven seas writer covers.

 

2019-06-28_10-53-36 by my0771, on Flickr.

 

More soon I promise.

[my63]

I did promise I would add more so here it is.

 

Previously I have made boxes for pens and have also converted my share of boxes to hold fountain pens. This project involves a small antique mahogany chest of drawers. I dont have the drawers but I do have accurate measurements to help.

The commission is to make 8 trays to fit the drawers to hold 10 pens each.

My first task was to make a wooden frame to act as my drawer for sizeing purposes.

 

I asked the timber merchant to cut the timber to my exact sizes which saved me a lot of time.

 

2019-06-28_06-03-41 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have cut the timber to length and mitred the ends I have also cut a groove to accommodate the base.

 

2019-06-28_06-04-12 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The making method is quite simple masking tape is applied to the outside and glue to the inside the base is added and the sides are folded around it.

 

2019-06-28_06-04-24 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Halfway done well the trays are halfway done the inserts are another job.

 

I used a small moulding to create the pen slots as the dis not quite fit I had to remove 0.5mm from both sides before gluing them to a card base.

 

2019-06-29_09-02-17 by my0771, on Flickr

 

More to follow if anyone wants to see all of the pictures and read the step by step then have a look at my blog.