Tool Bag Project

[Loft Leather]

I used a pattern from a Romania leather guy off of YouTube.  I think he's probably pretty well known.  My hands hurt afterward, but I learned a lot and am excited to start my next project.  I want to make large leather goods like this...maybe a duffle bag, hand bags, or a backpack next.  I don't want to be a seller of my projects.  I hope to become good enough where I can gift these items.  I included a link to two pictures of my tool bag.

Tool Bag

Edited yesterday at 01:12 AM by Loft Leather

[fredk]

Please post your photos directly on here. Over time, for various reasons photos hosted on other sites go away making the posting here empty

2 hours ago, Loft Leather said:

I used a pattern from a Romania leather guy off of YouTube.  I think he's probably pretty well known. 

Would that be dieselpunk.ro? His patterns are well liked

2 hours ago, Loft Leather said:

 My hands hurt afterward,

You get used to it

2 hours ago, Loft Leather said:

  I want to make large leather goods like this...maybe a duffle bag, hand bags, or a backpack next.  I don't want to be a seller of my projects.  I hope to become good enough where I can gift these items. 

A good plan

[dikman]

Everything Fred said - and the bag looks good.

[Loft Leather]

Yes,  dieselpunk.ro.  

[fredk]

Very nicey indeedy

But . . . . we like more information, eg what weight or thickness of leather did you use? What thread? Stitching chisels or awl ? I see you didn't dye it but there is something on the edges, what?

[Loft Leather]

58 minutes ago, fredk said:

Very nicey indeedy

But . . . . we like more information, eg what weight or thickness of leather did you use? What thread? Stitching chisels or awl ? I see you didn't dye it but there is something on the edges, what?

The pattern called for 7-8 oz veg tan.  I bought the thickest I could find at Hobby Lobby called tooling leather; I'm guessing 3/16ths (4.5mm?) inch thick..maybe 12-14 oz?  Much thicker than what Tony (Diesel Punk) used in the YouTube video.  I thought a tool bag needed to be thick and tough and at this point had not been to a real leathercraft shop where other options are available.  I used a 1, 2, 4, and 6 hole punch for the holes.  It took probably five hits on average to get the 6 hole punch through.  I'd say I'm above average in hammering strength.  I wore noise canceling headphones throughout or I might have had hearing damage.  1.5 mm holes and 1mm white waxed thread off Amazon.  The edge are painted with brown ArtMinds edge paint.  I bought a little roller tool off Amazon and it got a little sloppy...the roller head keeps falling off.  I used a fine beveler.  

I was hoping for better results overall.  Most of the edges are not even and my stitch lines are not straight in several areas.  The leather didn't bend as nicely as I hoped where the side and the front/bottom/back come together.  Cleaning up the leather from my dirty hands caused some creases/wrinkling on the surface.  The handle is the worst for part for bringing two edges together.  The leather edges were pulled inward instead of making a nice square edge.  The stitches were too close to the edge to sand and make it even...I would have sanded the thread.  

I didn't have an awl to start, but bought one and found it really helped with lining up the holes for stitching.  I broke probably 10 needles.  They kept snapping at the eye.  Eventually I started using needle nose pliers to pull the needles through as my hands ached from the work.  If I followed instructions of 7-8 oz, stitching probably would have been easier and the edges might have matched up better.   

I ordered some hardware from Amazon, but my wife said it was cheap stuff and encouraged me to return it.  I went to Tandy Leather Shop in Livonia MI and found the clasps I used.  I'm happy with the quality of the clasps from Tandy.  I had to make some modifications to use this hardware.  The rivet above the swing clasp was a hole for the original Diesel Punk plan.  I just put that in to fill the hole...I don't think anyone would think it's to cover up a change in plans mid project.

I'm going to clean the bag a little more than apply some Filson's Original Oil/Finish/Wax to protect it from staining.  I'll test the product on some scraps before I apply it to the bag.  I'm currently using the tool bag to hold my leather tool.  I'm also planning to add magnetic clasp/buttons to the inside pockets to old them closed...I haven't looked into my options for this yet though.

Edited yesterday at 02:11 PM by Loft Leather

[DoubleKCustomLeathercraft]

Bags can be hard, they're time consuming and they use a lot of leather. I have made a few purses and a laptop bag. I prefer not making them so I price any bag items extremely high in hopes of not getting the order. If they still want me to do the work then it's a good payday. As an example, the laptop bag was a $1200 profit for me after materials not including my time though. I rarely charge for design/build time unless it's a one off piece, like this. It was made from bison with veg tan lining for support, a divider inside, external pocket and pen sleeves. Kept the natural edge on the flap which made for a really sweet look. By far my best bag.