The $2 "leather" pen case

[Darkbulb]

Being a newbie I don't really have 'accessories' for my puny pen collection (I mean..I have like six pens now) - but I have started to carry some with me these days (including 3-4 brush pens) and gotten tired of having the pens rattle around in a pocket of my bag. I wanted something simple and inexpensive that would look ok and keep all the pens somewhat safe and organized.

You see a lot of pouches/wraps on eBay selling out of China for a buck or two but I haven't been too fond of the high-shine, deeply embossed ones that I seem to come across the most. I did however spot this one the other night and for $2 including shipping its now slow-boating its way over to me.

It's "synthetic leather" and measures;
Coiled size: 20x7.3cm / 7.8"x2.87"
Tiled size : 20x22cm / 7.8"x8.6"

I have no real expectatins in it in terms of quality but I hope these two dollars will help me see if this is the style of wrap/pouch that I'd want down the road.
And hey, who knows - it might even last for years...I bought a bag (actually the one in my avatar) for over two years ago for little to no money out of China and it is holding up amazingly well with near daily use!

If anyone is interested I can post some photos and a mini-review of it when it arrives

[pensplash]

I'd be interested to hear about this after you've checked it out.

Thanks,
Dana

[Haefennasiel]

Looking forward to your review!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[katherine]

I'd be very curious in a review! I keep eyeing pen cases on eBay, but so far haven't pulled the trigger.

[Darkbulb]

Couple of more photos from the ad;

[Flounder]

I'm guessing its mother was made of chrome based dyes and its father was half-plasticisers, half VOCs. Burn it and bury the remains in a sealed drum!

[scrivelry]

Now, now, insulting its parents when you haven't even met it!

That guy out in the West of Scotland makes tubes which are lined and protect the pen much better, of course, but he doesn't make enough of them to go around - the rest of us must do what we can... http://fpgeeks.com/forum/images/smil...wink.gif:wink:

And I have no idea why the winking emoticon won't just show up and wink...

[katherine]

Flounder -- what are chrome based dyes? it sounds like they're probably bad for me?

[MY63]

I am an amateur leather worker who specialises in pen cases I have been working with leather for about 3 years now.
Leather is expensive I can testify to that.
I want to say this without causing offence to anyone but one of the ways to reduce the costs of leather is to use animal skins that would not normally be used for making leather.
So please be aware that your $2 pen case may well be made from leather just not the type of leather you were expecting.

[Darkbulb]

I am an amateur leather worker who specialises in pen cases I have been working with leather for about 3 years now.
Leather is expensive I can testify to that.
I want to say this without causing offence to anyone but one of the ways to reduce the costs of leather is to use animal skins that would not normally be used for making leather.
So please be aware that your $2 pen case may well be made from leather just not the type of leather you were expecting.

I think the description "synthetic leather" implies that it's "pleather"

[carlos.q]

http://fpgeeks.com/forum/images/smil...wink.gif:wink:

And I have no idea why the winking emoticon won't just show up and wink...

I believe you have to leave a space between the URL and the emoticon.

[scrivelry]

http://fpgeeks.com/forum/images/smil...wink.gif:wink:

And I have no idea why the winking emoticon won't just show up and wink...

I believe you have to leave a space between the URL and the emoticon.

When I look at it in editing mode there is no space... ah, well, not like it's going to hurt anyone this way...

[MY63]

I think the description "synthetic leather" implies that it's "pleather"[/QUOTE]

There have been a number of reports in the UK of goods in particular gloves and small items that have been advertised as being synthetic or pleather that have actually been made from leather. One of the replies to your post on fpn reports that their case is actually leather.

[Darkbulb]

There have been a number of reports in the UK of goods in particular gloves and small items that have been advertised as being synthetic or pleather that have actually been made from leather. One of the replies to your post on fpn reports that their case is actually leather.

Interesting. I'll be sure to report back on what the material seems to be when it arrives.
Taking into consideration that it's the free shipping option out of China it can take anywhere from 7 to 40 days

[katherine]

Oooh. Definitely let me know if it's real leather. I've been in the market for a pen case/roll for months. I have the jankiest sleeve now. -__-

[Darkbulb]

Oooh. Definitely let me know if it's real leather. I've been in the market for a pen case/roll for months. I have the jankiest sleeve now. -__-

Sure, I'll let you know in X weeks

[Flounder]

Flounder -- what are chrome based dyes? it sounds like they're probably bad for me?

They won't harm you as the end user, but at this kind of price, the environs of the poverty stricken sweatshop/human misery factory will likely be cancer-contaminated with hexavelent chromium

Here in the first world, there have been FPN discussions of the salts reacting with base metals to tarnish clips, trim etc. So... worse than having no pen case at all!
1, 2, 3

[katherine]

Oh whoa -- totally didn't know that was possible. Very good to know, thank you for sharing!

[MY63]

Normally at this point I would provide evidence that chrome tanned leather is safe and would not damage your pens but in this instance I cannot. Tanning leather takes time and costs money the way this leather is sourced and produced it is actually cheaper than vinyl. So the choice of chemicals is one of the first things to cut.
I would ask anyone thinking of ordering one of these cheap Chinese cases to consider that it was probably made by a child and from an animal many of us consider our best friend.
Sorry if my bluntness offends anyone.

[Crazyorange]

Normally at this point I would provide evidence that chrome tanned leather is safe and would not damage your pens but in this instance I cannot. Tanning leather takes time and costs money the way this leather is sourced and produced it is actually cheaper than vinyl. So the choice of chemicals is one of the first things to cut.
I would ask anyone thinking of ordering one of these cheap Chinese cases to consider that it was probably made by a child and from an animal many of us consider our best friend.
Sorry if my bluntness offends anyone.

Awhile ago, I signed a petition to stop gap selling fake fur, which was actually dog fur. Also as a Chinese medicine practitioner, products from China can deceiving. Several years ago, the fda took an Chinese herbal diaper rash cream off the market because it was actually a steroid cream. In fact, the Chinese dry herbs by driving over them in vehicles. The exhaust quickens the drying process. Of course, the herbs contain high levels of toxins...so toxic it can damage your organs. Be cautious of cheap Chinese products.