Pen cases

[MY63]

I still love making pen cases here is my latest commission I went to get the chocolate dye today and when I returned the suede for the interior had arrived.

DSC_0067[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I have a sheet of kydex and my hot air gun so off we go

[MY63]

Once the components are together it is time to start I heated the Kydex with a heat gun it starts to lift at the edges as it heats up. When ready I used a piece of leather to wrap it around a dowel. The one in the picture below was a little too short so I made another which was fine.

DSC_0070[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The next step was to glue the seam and wrap it in suede.

DSC_0075[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The glue needs to dry before I start on the leather outer cover

[MY63]

Time for the outer cover 2 mm thick veg tanned leather shoulder for those who like extra detail I have marked out the inside ready for cutting.

DSC_0078[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After cutting the edges are square we don't want that so I used an edging tool to remove the edges you might have guessed that eh! anyway a little moisture and a slicking tool and the edges are round and super smooth.

DSC_0084[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

[Lady Onogaro]

Here are the final picture of the two single pen cases starting with the Black and red case the pen I the pictures is an M B 149

DSC_0375[1] by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0377[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Here are the final pictures of the Black over red case the pen is a Danitrio

DSC_0380[1] by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0384[1] by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0387[1] by my0771, on Flickr

These cases are flying off to their new homes next week

Thanks for looking

Michael

Michael,

Can you give us an estimate of how many hours of work a case like this entails?

Thanks.

[MY63]

I have started applying the dye to the leather I cut earlier

DSC_0093[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I sealed up the end of the suede covered tube to stop the wet dye being absorbed into the suede

DSC_0094[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After shaping the leather I removed the plastic cover and glued the leather outer cover in place once it was secured I started to mark the stitching holes as soon as the holes were made I started stitching the case together.

DSC_0096[1] by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0100[1] by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0103[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The plan for this case is to reduce the overhang at the end of the stitching so I have stopped the stitching short on the round end.

[MY63]

Hi Lady Onogaro
I have been trying to work that out with this current project it is not easy as sometimes I can only work for ten minutes before I have to stop and other times I can work for an hour.
My best guess is about five hours over two days but sometimes it takes longer. Especially if I don't like the stitching and pull it all out and start again This does happen but fortunately not as often as it used to.

For anyone who does not know I charge £50 for a single case although I am thinking of asking £40 for the single slip case.
I think is fair for the work and materials involved I think I am safe to discuss this here it is not allowed on other forums.

[MY63]

I have trimmed the bottom piece and then started shaping the top piece

DSC_0104[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After shaping and gluing I followed the same steps as for the bottom piece marking stitching holes and sewing the joint together. After sewing I carried out final shaping.

DSC_0108[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Edges are next

[davegt]

More than fair, Michael... The pen case you made for me is one of my prized possessions because of it being a high quality handmade case. It puts a smile on my face each time I pick it up.

[MY63]

Thanks Dave
I appreciate your feedback and support.

I have just finished the chocolate and orange case and think I might have to readjust the amount of time required to make one as I had forgotten about the wooden toggle and the disc for the initials the sanding and preparation of the edges cutting and dying the thong.

DSC_0018[1] by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0005[1] by my0771, on Flickr

[Crazyorange]

The chocolate brown is beautiful.

[scrivelry]

Micheal, your work is always staggering. Well, it makes me stagger, even though I already know, when I open up your posts or blogs, that I am going to see something interesting and possibly gorgeous. (I only say possibly because you are a brave soul who lets us see the things that you are not satisfied with as well - very educational, and kind on your part. The finished objects are all gorgeous.)

[Vera]

The pen case is gorgeous!

Sent from my E6683 using Tapatalk

[davegt]

Yes, it is!

My long range plan is to match my pens, journals, pen cases and my cameras. Right now I have Michael's Ox-blood case matching my Nikon. Journal too. The Nakaya Ake-Tamenuri will take awhile! LOL..

After that, a case for my M205 Pelikan.

[MY63]

Thanks Scrivelry I really do appreciate your comments. I am still learning about leatherworking and do sometimes make mistakes often because I ignore the lessons I learnt as an apprentice metal worker. Like measure twice cut once

Davegt I look forward to helping you to realise your plan.

I do have a new project to share it is a pen box or might be a pair or desk set I have not fully decided yet. I am not sure if I should start a new thread or just add it here.

[Hawk]

Looking forward to your new project. I will find it wherever you post it.

[MY63]

OK the next project is a pair of boxes or a pair of boxes sitting on a plinth to make a desk set. This idea came from an inkwell that was given to Tracy Lee or legally inked from Instagram. She had also posted some great pictures from the space centre. I found them very interesting and as I had been looking for something interesting to carve into leather and the idea just grew from there.

I printed the two images out and used some blank boxes I had made but never used.

DSC_0041[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The next step was to cut two leather panels out of the thickest leather I had available which is about 4mm thick

DSC_0057 by my0771, on Flickr

After soaking the leather in cold water I used a pointed modelling tool to trace the outline of the image onto the leather after tracing I cut the lines into the leather with a special knife called a swivel knife.

DSC_0060 by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0061 by my0771, on Flickr

After finishing the carving I left the panels to one side on a flat surface to dry out for 24 hours.

DSC_0063 by my0771, on Flickr

So far so good however I don't like the results and my blank boxes are not both symmetrical and I don't like that either so I am going to make two new boxes and I am considering other methods of replicating the images on the top possibly veneer

Thanks for looking


Michael

[MY63]

I was not too happy with the carving so I decided to return to veneer and see if it would give a better result I have made veneered boxes before but never something this complex.

Starting with about six copies of the printed image I cut pieces to fit

DSC_0079[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Red stripe and white letters

DSC_0082[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The loop is made from boxwood soaked and bent to shape finally waste paper was trimmed away

DSC_0089[1] by my0771, on Flickr

All of the gaps between the letters were then filled with black veneer the logo was then taped to the background

DSC_0092[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Then cut around the outline and remove the waste from the back which allowed the veneer to lie flush. This takes forever to do I now know why I don't make veneered boxes anymore.

DSC_0093[1] by my0771, on Flickr

This is the back with all of the waste removed ready to be glued to the top of the box

I am not able to make the boxes at the moment but we will come back to this soon.

[MY63]

The next stage is to add the veneer to a box these boxes are made as four sides a top and a bottom and then cut in half to make the box.
Everything will become clear as we proceed.

DSC_0153[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Removing the masking tape once the glue had dried. Very carefully

DSC_0159[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The image is not perfect letters are very difficult to make in veneer

DSC_0161[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The edge of the box did not look right so I trimmed the veneer back and added a border of premade banding

DSC_0163[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I have veneered all around the box and it is ready to be cut in half the best way to do this is on a table saw or a band saw as I don't have either I will cut it by hand.

[MY63]

I have not shared one of these cases for a little while as I thought people might be getting a little sick of them

So here is the flat piece of kydex cut from a large sheet.

DSC_0547[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Heated and rolled around a piece of dowel using a scrap piece of leather.

DSC_0549[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Seam glued and sanded.

DSC_0554[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I cut a strip of red suede and stitched the bottom over a rounded dowel which was then glued into the kydex tube

DSC_0557[1] by my0771, on Flickr

This is the finished inner core of one of my pen cases

DSC_0559[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

Once the inner liner was finished I started on the outer leather cover.

After cutting to size and soaking the leather I started to form the shape.

DSC_0583[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The inner liner has been wrapped in shrink wrap to protect it during the forming process.

Time to apply some dye.

DSC_0587[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Before the dye has dried out and when I was happy with the shape I added some glue and inserted the liner applying pressure from my clamp.

DSC_0591[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Stitching holes marked with a pricking iron the rest of the hole is made with an awl.

DSC_0601[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Stitching complete

DSC_0603[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After the lower body was sewn I started the upper part which had been waiting in a plastic bag to prevent it from drying out.

DSC_0608[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After sewing the upper part I started preparing the edges trimming sanding and shaping the final part is dying and sealing with pure beeswax.

DSC_0612[1] by my0771, on Flickr

While dying the edges I managed to get some dye onto the thread so I cut it all out and re stitched the case.