Making A Pen Case

[Anne-Sophie]

A bracelet, as was written in the description, well you'll thought I'll be able to read a French name, but that's how it goes when trying to add my 2 cents after a long and tiring week.

 

Anyhow, it is beautiful and inventive as are all your creations!

Edited October 6, 2017 by Anne-Sophie

[my63]

The bracelet is not something I plan on making a lot of but as you said the technique could be used for other things bag handles or straps my daughter thinks a watch strap for an Apple Watch might look good.

I hope you have a relaxing weekend.

[Anne-Sophie]

The bracelet is not something I plan on making a lot of but as you said the technique could be used for other things bag handles or straps my daughter thinks a watch strap for an Apple Watch might look good.

I hope you have a relaxing weekend.

Smart as her Dad!

 

The weekend was indeed relaxing.

[my63]

Smart as her Dad!

 

The weekend was indeed relaxing.

She is way smarter than me as she does not have an apple watch (yet)

[my63]

I am always on the look out for new ways to make pen cases. You never know where inspiration will come from.

 

20171021_102835%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have had this little box sitting on my desk for a couple of weeks I needed some thinking time from another project (not pen related) so I wondered if I could make a hexagonal one.

 

My first effort involved marking out score lines on a flat piece of kydex.

 

20171021_105857%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

To get the shape I ended up cutting half way through rather than scoring.

 

20171021_111108%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

After folding I used a soldering iron to try to seal the cuts.

 

20171021_114100%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Unfortunately the cuts would not fully seal hot glue may have been an option but I decided heat forming would give a stronger end result.

Forming requires a form which I make from dowel so I selected an oversize piece of dowel and marked out the desired shape I then marked lines down the length of the dowel and started planning and sanding the flat edges.

 

20171021_150115%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

It is quite easy to make round tube with dowels and kydex a hexagonal is a different story altogether. Mini clamps and strips of wood were used to form the heated kydex to the dowel.

 

20171021_172437%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

The next step was to wrap the kydex tube in red suede.

 

20171021_185704_004%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Outer cover next.

[my63]

I freely admit it was a lot more difficult to persuade the outer covers to take the shape I wanted but I guess it is passable.

 

20171024_184219%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

20171024_213822%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

20171025_105404%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[Anne-Sophie]

 

It is so different! A perfect case for a one of a kind pen!

[my63]

Thanks Anne-Sophie it was a proof of concept project and is not something I intend to make again.

I am starting a project I think you will find interesting I will share it soon.

Thanks

Michael

[my63]

I was recently commissioned to create a special notebook cover with a protective pen case attached

 

20171024_184517%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Fortunately I was able to use an existing mould to form the kydex and the suede and leather components.

 

20171026_170046%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Here are all of the pieces ready to start assembly.

 

20171028_165339%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Time to apply some oxblood dye.

 

20171028_190726%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Time for a dry fit of the components

 

20171029_135413%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

At this point I realised that rather than adding the pen case to the front I had put it on the back. I made a replacement inner cover complete with flap.

 

When I had everything right I stitched the pen case to the front of the notebook cover on the third attempt I found a position for the strap that I was happy with.

 

20171031_105536%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

After marking and punching the stitching holes I stitched the components together using black Lin cable thread in two sizes 332 and 532.

 

20171101_160236%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Here is the finished cover

 

20171101_191549%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[zaddick]

I like the new case and the book cover. I just wonder how awkward it will be to write on the left pages as the book cannot lie flat.

[my63]

Hi Zaddick

I think it is used in the hand there is nothing for scale in the picture the notebooks are 7.5 x 12 cm.

It is a replacement for an existing cover.

[Anne-Sophie]

I was recently commissioned to create a special notebook cover with a protective pen case attached

 

20171024_184517%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Fortunately I was able to use an existing mould to form the kydex and the suede and leather components.

 

20171026_170046%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Here are all of the pieces ready to start assembly.

 

20171028_165339%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Time to apply some oxblood dye.

 

20171028_190726%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Time for a dry fit of the components

 

20171029_135413%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

At this point I realised that rather than adding the pen case to the front I had put it on the back. I made a replacement inner cover complete with flap.

 

When I had everything right I stitched the pen case to the front of the notebook cover on the third attempt I found a position for the strap that I was happy with.

 

20171031_105536%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

After marking and punching the stitching holes I stitched the components together using black Lin cable thread in two sizes 332 and 532.

 

20171101_160236%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Here is the finished cover

 

20171101_191549%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

It looks beautiful and handy. I had a feeling it was a small notebook.

[Anne-Sophie]

 

Any new design Michael?

[my63]

Hi Anne-Sophie

I am sorry I have nothing new to share at the moment pen case orders have dried up I guess everyone that wants one has it by now.

I am still working on other projects including more belts but not for sale (yet). The pen cases funded the materials for everything else leather suede and even the thread are really expensive.

 

2018 will be starting with more surgery on my right hand so I guess I will be taking a break then.

[Anne-Sophie]

 

I was worried about not hearing from you, it is a relief to see that it is not your health but, no new projects that are the reasons for you not being on the forum.

 

Thank you for sharing about your surgery, so sorry about it, hope your hand feel better soon!

[my63]

Thanks Anne-Sophie for your concern I am currently working on some belts but nothing pen related at the moment.

[my63]

Just before Christmas I was asked to make a pen case it is some time since I made one of these cases so I was pleased to agree.

 

I formed the kydex core with a dowel and a heat gun.

 

20171219_080935%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

Once I had formed the tube I cut a length of emerald green suede and wrapped the tube with it. The stitching at the bottom of the lining remains free from glue and acts as a cushion at the bottom of the tube to protect the pen from the hard kydex shell.

 

20180102_095118%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

After wrapping the tube I cut some pieces of leather and soaked them in water.

 

20180102_154115%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

After shaping the leather I applied some chocolate brown dye.

 

20180102_162159%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

I glued the outer cover to the inner core and applied some pressure to bring the pieces together.

 

20180108_120010%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

I trimmed the edges and rounded them with a special tool I then shaped the top section around the lower section and applied some glue before stitching.

 

20180108_170442%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

After trimming the upper section rounding and dying all of the edges I made the toggle / pen rest and selected two antiqued gold coloured ends for the thong.

 

20180108_211156%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

The final step is to put all of the pieces together and give it a final polish

 

20180108_214824%5B1%5D by my0771, on Flickr

 

It is now on its way to its new home.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[zaddick]

Glad to see you back in action! Happy new year.

[my63]

Thanks Zaddick happy new year to you too.

[Anne-Sophie]

 

Thank you for sharing the step by step process of this beautiful new pen case, I am sure the owner is delighted!

 

Emerald green suede and chocolate leather look beautiful together!