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Thread: Custom Bag

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    Default Custom Bag

    The bag I have been waiting for arrived on Friday.

    IMG_7968 by my0771, on Flickr

    As you can see the leather was dry and very flat

    IMG_7972 by my0771, on Flickr

    I applied half a tin of mink oil and left it to soak in overnight

    IMG_7978 by my0771, on Flickr

    I will apply the rest of the tin today and leave it to soak in.
    Once the leather is a little more supple I will undo most if not all of the stitching which may have once been brown but is now a dirty red colour.
    When the bag is in pieces I can add the new lining and extra pockets and then begin to rebuild.

    When I was looking for a suitable bag I trawled an auction site for suitable bags at low prices and I mean low, I selected three and made what I thought were minimal bids just to mark them for my reference.

    I referred to this one as bag 2
    2 bag 1 by my0771, on Flickr

    2 bag 2 by my0771, on Flickr

    Bag 2 was a top of the range bag in its day trimmed with leather on the inside as well as the outside

    And this is bag 3 I know technically it is not a bag

    3 bag 1 by my0771, on Flickr

    3 bag 2 by my0771, on Flickr

    3 bag 3 by my0771, on Flickr

    bag three is a bit of a basket case I am afraid it will be a challenge.

    If you have not worked it out I won all three bags

    Thanks for looking

    Michael

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    morningtundra (June 28th, 2016), Robert (July 19th, 2014)

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    Senior Member Robert's Avatar
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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    Mink oil works miracles!

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    Dreck (August 23rd, 2014)

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    This project is on hold for a few days or at least until the other bag arrives so the client can pick between them.
    There is another small problem I now have a one in one out policy on boxes and I have been assured that these count as boxes.
    I am not really interested in the briefcase as my days carrying one are done (I think) but I did want to keep the barrister box, (how do I know it is a barristers box.)
    Watch the video
    http://www.mlworkshop.co.uk/videos.php

    I hope you enjoyed it

    Michael

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    I love his philosophy of refurbishment! Restore it to a working condition and keep the character.
    Draw close. Hold hands. Life is short. God is good. - Jan Karon

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    All systems go all decisions have been made.

    Tiffany is right do enough to make it useable however it must work as a bag.
    The original plan was to strip this bag completely and re sew and customise the interior when the bag arrived it looked really good and I decided to just customise the interior.
    Today I started to remove the interior dividers which were too small to support the new interior I found that the thread was just snapping in fact all of the thread was useless.

    So the bag looks like this now

    IMG_8165_1 by my0771, on Flickr

    The inside will be lined in suede and the pockets will all be made in leather dyed by hand and also lined in suede the new stitching will be red waxed linen thread.

    Thanks for looking

    Michael

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    This gives you the opportunity to dye any part you want to dye and reinforce anything that you want to reinforce. It is going to be fabulous, Micheal! I am already enjoying the process vicariously.

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    Scrivelry you are right it would be an ideal time to dye any parts the owner wants it to look like an old case (old bag did not look right some how) the brass is to remain tarnished

    This is the bottom of the case and it has had the same treatment as the rest of the case washed with saddle soap conditioned with mink oil and finally polished with carnauba wax
    The old thread has been cut out and replaced with red waxed linen thread

    IMG_8229_1 by my0771, on Flickr

    The inside has also been cleaned and dried and is now ready for its lining

    IMG_8231_1 by my0771, on Flickr

    The two pieces of suede that make up the lining have been glued and sewn together it will be fixed in place when the dividers and the rest of the case are sewn together

    IMG_8235_1 by my0771, on Flickr

    Thanks for looking

    Michael

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    The inside of these bags were at best utilitarian this bag is getting upgraded

    IMG_8243 by my0771, on Flickr

    This is the inside panel of the front the lock mechanism side the inside area around the lock was a little messy so I glued a piece of card to the panel first and then glued the suede in place.
    It was very hot here today and I was using contact adhesive as soon as the suede touched the panel it was stuck fast as you can see it went on well first time.

    Thanks for looking

    Michael

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    This looks like a long but satisfying project.

    You are obviously an expert in your trade.

    I can't wait to see the final results in the 'after' pictures

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    Pukka-J (October 10th, 2016)

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    Thanks Chrissy
    I am not an expert I have been working with leather since October last year.

    I took the medium sized hide I bought for this project a very sharp knife a long and a short ruler.
    And after three hours I had this


    IMG_8280 by my0771, on Flickr

    I had wanted to show you a before and after however we had heavy rain all day the weather also prevented me from dying any leather today is looking better though.

    Thanks for looking.

    Michael

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    Thanks for the positive comments I am pretty sure the owner of this bag frequents this forum so I will continue to post updates here.
    I have cut most of the leather and suede for this project and today had a chance to start applying the dye it is mahogany colour

    IMG_8384_1 by my0771, on Flickr


    IMG_8382_1 by my0771, on Flickr


    The first picture shows the two pieces that make up the covers for the dividers they will have the pockets sewn to them they will then be sewn into the base and ends of the case.

    Don't worry if it is not clear now things will come together slowly at first, as there is a lot of hand sewing to be done.


    Thanks for looking


    Michael

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    The four small pieces I showed yesterday have been joined together to form a pocket for a Mac book in its case, I will make a similar pocket for the ipad and the paper notebook


    IMG_8397_1 by my0771, on Flickr


    This pocket will be sewn to the leather that will cover the divider I will be making a flap to close the pocket.


    IMG_8399_1 by my0771, on Flickr


    Thanks for looking


    Michael

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    I love the colour you have dyed it. Looking forward to watching the progress as it unfolds. On a personal note, I deeply appreciate your wanting to restore and refurbish an existing piece.

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    Hi Caribbean_skye
    Thanks for the kind words I would rather restore an old item than make a new one, that does not mean I would not make a new bag if I was asked to.

    Here is a sneak peak at the next stage the dividers hold the whole bag together in this picture you can see the kydex dividers without their leather covers

    IMG_8402 by my0771, on Flickr

    I have started attaching the pocket to the cover

    IMG_8405 by my0771, on Flickr

    I am learning as I go here so it takes time to get things right, clearly there is not as much space as I thought in this case.

    Thanks for looking and especially thanks for contributing

    Michael

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    This has been much more interesting than I thought it was going to be. Thank you, Michael, for taking the time to show us each step along the way.

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    Thanks Dan

    I have started the final pockets for this project it has taken some time to get these right

    IMG_8574_1 by my0771, on Flickr

    IMG_8575_1 by my0771, on Flickr

    IMG_8577_1 by my0771, on Flickr

    I have found that it is easier to cut the leather to size and then add the suede once that is done I scored the fold lines and punched the stitching holes.

    IMG_8578_1 by my0771, on Flickr

    I have started to pre assemble the sides of the bag to the base and sides so I can test fit the interior more pictures to follow soon

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    Here is the outer shell of the bag tacked together to enable me to test fit the dividers which need to be attached before the front and back pieces are sewn together

    IMG_8588_1 by my0771, on Flickr


    IMG_8590_1 by my0771, on Flickr

    Lots of sewing to follow

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    Tracy Lee (September 12th, 2014)

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    The next stage is to make the flaps to cover the pockets


    IMG_8657_1 by my0771, on Flickr


    Using the dividers to mark the distance from the edge than a pricking iron to mark the holes


    IMG_8661_1 by my0771, on Flickr


    Unfortunately it takes a long time to mark everything and punch the holes and then sew it all together the owner has been very patient.

    Thanks for looking

    Michael

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    Tracy Lee (September 20th, 2014)

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    Two hours later I have sewn around the edges of three sides the forth side will attach the flap to the back of the pocket I may use a double line of stitching along the back just to be certain

    IMG_8672_1 by my0771, on Flickr


    IMG_8673_1 by my0771, on Flickr



    Thanks for looking


    Michael

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    Default Re: Custom Bag

    I'd be interested to know if you do these for your own personal use or if you've ever contemplated selling one?

    I've been actively looking for a new brief case and the thought of something custom made within my budget (preferably below $500, but no more than $1000) is particularly intriguing.

    I don't want to offend you as it looks like you have a great deal of time invested in these, but I'd love to know if you'd entertain the thought.

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