Safety Match Box

[c2369zulu]

Hello all.

when I was a kid (70’s, 80’s, early 90’s), my parents had an all leather two piece box (roughly 3” x 3” x 12”) that sat by the fireplace. The box held long safety matches to start fires in the fireplace.  The top half slid over the bottom half, and both halves were roughly the same dimensions. I am not sure what the box was originally used for, where it is, or where it came from, but I would like to make something similar. I am curious if anyone has any suggestions on how to make something like this. I can’t remember if the corners were stitched or folded, but seems they were folded. The leather was fairly stiff so I am guessing it was some sort of heavy veg tanned or skirting or similar.

[DieselTech]

Might look into the books. The secrets to case making, by Al Stohlman. There is 3 different books. 

 

 

[toxo]

2 hours ago, c2369zulu said:

Hello all.

when I was a kid (70’s, 80’s, early 90’s), my parents had an all leather two piece box (roughly 3” x 3” x 12”) that sat by the fireplace. The box held long safety matches to start fires in the fireplace.  The top half slid over the bottom half, and both halves were roughly the same dimensions. I am not sure what the box was originally used for, where it is, or where it came from, but I would like to make something similar. I am curious if anyone has any suggestions on how to make something like this. I can’t remember if the corners were stitched or folded, but seems they were folded. The leather was fairly stiff so I am guessing it was some sort of heavy veg tanned or skirting or similar.

This is one way to do it: cut a piece of ply to the size of the interior of the box. Cut another piece of ply to the the same size PLUS 2 thicknesses of the leather. Cut the two pieces of leather allowing for the sides of the main box on one piece and allowing for the sides of the lid on the other. Place the ply pieces on the leather and cut a groove all round on both. Cut out the corners, this is the tricky bit depending on the thickness of the leather. You can end up with the two pieces butted up or you can mitre the corners for a much nicer job. Once you're happy with the way it folds, (wet the grooves), lay the pieces flat and punch the stitching holes starting from the same point all round. I would do it with scrap first. Good luck.

Edited Monday at 03:53 PM by toxo

[DieselTech]

They also make these jigs for making square corner leather boxes. These jigs will cut a 45° or 60° angle at the corners.