Pen cases

[MY63]

This weeks project is a single pen case of the flat backed style with* a flap closure.

I could not find the right sized mould so i made a new one I started with 3 pieces of marine plywood which i laminated together with contact adhesive and some screws for good measure.

20170216_143457[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Having marked out the size of tube I wanted to create I cut it out.

20170216_150942[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Shaping and lots of sanding

20170216_160437[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Forming the Kydex

20170216_194302[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Here are the first three

20170216_201334[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Pen tube wrapped in turquoise suede.

20170216_210802[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

After wrapping the kydex pen tube in turquoise suede I cut some leather (1.8 mm shoulder) there is a mistake here which I will come back to.
*
20170217_140320[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I shaped the top edge of the largest piece which will form the front panel I also dyed all of the leather pieces black

20170217_155229[1] by my0771, on Flickr

As the shaping progressed I used the original mould to keep everything together. I used a wooden tool to form the leather around the mould this working causes the leather to become burnished (shinny) so I continued this over all of the leather.

20170217_205416[1] by my0771, on Flickr

20170217_213138[1] by my0771, on Flickr

At this point I realised that when I had cut the back panel which is also the closure flap to the size of the inner pen tube and had not allowed for the thickness of the outer cover on each side so a replacement piece was cut and dyed black

20170217_221912[1] by my0771, on Flickr

There is a strip of kydex under the suede on the back panel which will meet the edges of the pen tube kydex when the pieces are stitched together.

Almost there, thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

I did say almost there, stitching is next this involves marking the line where the stitches will go and then going around with a pricking iron to work out where I want the stitching to lie especially around the step between the front and back panel. Then the stitching holes are punched ready for the awl and needles and thread.

20170218_114821[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The case with a length of thread for those interested this is Lin Cable a French linen thread that is made from multiple strands cabled together it is also very expensive.

Stitching is quite relaxing once you are in the swing of it. I counted the number of holes to put the strap one third of the way down clearly I did not count correctly.

20170218_142916[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Unfortunately I did not realise until I had stitched all around the case so I spent an unhappy hour unpicking the stitching until I could straighten up the strap.

20170218_160310[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Strap corrected and stitching finished I used a pair of dividers to mark out the edges and trimmed them to the correct size. Shaping and sanding next.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

This week I was asked if I could make a case for two Parker 51 size pens with a belt loop.

I have a couple of ideas here is number one which is based on my two*pen case.

*20170222_212333[1] by my0771, on Flickr

These are the two pieces of kydex moulded over a medium form this may be a little larger than required. Although adding the suede may reduce the inner dimension.

20170225_155341[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Leather outer cover moulded ready

20170225_153056[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I have made a strip of suede which is stitched to the centre of the pen tubes and will run along the back of the case to allow pens to be clipped in place.

20170225_183229[1] by my0771, on Flickr

20170225_183237[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I just need to make a back panel and a belt loop next.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

Here are the components ready for dying I was planning on black but it appears I may have run out.

20170226_173640[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Included in the picture above is a belt loop which may not be used I think it might be better to have slots in the rear panel and a lining leather inside the case rather than have the additional piece on the back.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[ms8109]

what would it cost, to have a two pen case made to hold a Visconti Speakeasy LE and a Stipula Faceted Bianca Spaghetti Red Resin LE 2 of 8. ? I bought them both from ChatterlyLuxuries.com


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Best Regards,
Mike

[ms8109]

I can provide the measurements if you like?
Best Regards,
mike ( ChiTown)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Best Regards,
Mike

[MY63]

Hi Mike
I would need dimensions of the pens. The price is a little more difficult I have tried set prices in the past but there are so many options.
A simple two pen case with a flap closure and kydex liner would start at £80 prices rise with the size of the pens.
More complex cases like the cigar style cases start at £120 and again the prices rise with the size of the pens.
All of my cases are hand made by me they have a hard kydex liner which is wrapped in suede with an outer cover made from high quality veg tanned leather.
I hope the information is useful prices are in £ sterling and postage is included.
Regards
Michael

[MY63]

Dying time

20170228_114556[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After the dye had dried I added some red stitching to the strap.

20170228_130528[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Earlier I had added a inner strap for the pens to clip onto but it was to low so I moved it a little higher.

20170301_073255[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Here you can see the belt loop where I have started to attach unfortunately I had shortened it a little to much so I will have to remove it and make another.

20170301_220559[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

Starting assembly, the upper and lower sections are glued together then stitching holes are marked with a pricking iron a sharp*awl is then used to make the holes before the needles and thread are passed through.*

20170304_091020[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After stitching the edges were trimmed sanding is next.

20170304_113403[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I could not resist trying some Parker 51 pens in the case

20170304_113349[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Almost finished

Thanks for looking

Michael

[Hawk]

Looking good!

[MY63]

Hi Hawk
The only issue I can find with this case is getting pens in and out. The clip strip works well unless the pens have really tight clips.
If the pens are loose in the tubes I have made the tubes too long as it is difficult to get hold of the top of the pens. You could tip the case and in normal circumstances that would be fine but as this case would be attached to a belt then it would be more difficult.
So this case is destined to join the others that reside in a box under my desk.

Now where is that drawing board.

[BamaPen]

This idea may not come up to your very high standards, but...

Rather than toss this beautiful case into the "box under my desk" a simple solution would be to add spacers that drop into the tubes to lift shorter pens so that they can be easily grasped when the case is on a belt and cannot be tipped. Many pens are longer than a Parker 51, so would not require the spacer. The spacer could be wrapped with the same material you used to line the tubes, which would provide some grip to retain them in the bottom of the tube. You could provide some sort of extension or such so that the spacer could be gripped with long tweezers or needle nose pliers to remove it if necessary.

John

[MY63]

Hi John
Thanks for the idea it was as much a proof of concept to answer a question about belt loops. I am not expecting to be swamped with orders for them.

I am making some cases in unusual colours that I will share later I have added them to my blog as that is where the orders came from if anyone needs a fix of custom pen cases.

Thanks again
Michael

[MY63]

I do as some of you may know make a lot of protective cases for pens of all sizes of late most orders are for cases for large and supersize pens this one is for a Namike Emperor in vermillion.
The colours are navy blue leather with red suede and*stitching.

As always the starting point is a sheet of Kydex which i cut to the required size allowing a small overlap to enable the edge to be welded.

20170320_114537[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Here are the items to make a pen tube kydex dowel scrap leather and a heat gun.

20170320_115921[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After a few minutes and quite a lot of heat.

20170320_120143[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I am waiting for suede to arrive so rather than wrap the kydex tube in suede I turned my attention to the outer covers.

20170322_185033[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After trimming the leather to rough size I have rounded the edges that will show on the finished case I then dyed the leather navy blue.

20170322_193602[1] by my0771, on Flickr.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

Red suede for the interior arrived and was cut to size the end was stitched up ready for fixing to the kydex tube.

20170323_183256[1] by my0771, on Flickr

here is the red suede lined tube along side a leather lined version for a different version of this case.

20170323_223415[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Outer leather covers starting to take shape

20170324_135550[1] by my0771, on Flickr

20170324_110745[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Stitching in progress

20170324_135825[1] by my0771, on Flickr

20170324_135753[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

I have had some difficulties with projects this week.

When I make this style of case i just make the lid around the base section there is not a lot of measuring I just do what looks right unfortunately when i finished*the lid it did not look right.

So I made a second lid

20170326_212202[1] by my0771, on FlickrAs you can see it is quite a bit smaller than the first one.

Finishing touches tomorrow

[MY63]

The finishing touches include the toggle / pen rest whic fastens the two halves of the case together, because of*its shape*it also acts as a pen rest. I cut a small piece of wood I don't measure I just guess larger cases need larger toggles and larger pens need larger rests.

20170327_143510[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I chose the larger of the two for this case which was made from walnut. I drilled a hole for the thong and applied a little wax.

Finally a finished case.

20170329_080845[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

[kevmid]

Very impressive! Worthy of an Emperor.

[ms8109]

Michael, how much is this case?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Best Regards,
Mike