Key Fobs

[Storm]

These new Conchos that you can get at Tandy are very nice. Best I have seen there in awhile!! The photo does not do them justice. They are all in the latest catalog.

Edited October 22, 2009 by Storm

[Angel]

The conchos are nice, but your color and stitches are beautiful!

Not that anyone would have expected anything different from you.

All the same, still really beautiful.

Angel

[wildrose]

I'm with Angel on that one!

BTW, I like the new dragons they have too. Going to be stocking up soon...

[Storm]

Thanx much ladies! The color is two parts EcoFlo All-in-one (Desert Tan) and one part distilled water.  Becasue these EcoFlos are water based I decided to try and see what would happen. I think I was running short on dye and had to finish something. Anywho...it does work and allows me to modify the color by diluting it. 

As for the stitching...just two needles and some 4oz. artificial sinew. I really like the natural sort of color rather that white or black or dark brown.

[Spence]

Great job, and yes the stitching is great.

btw, I need a source for key fob blanks? Or has anyone see a mallet punch for them?

tks

[Storm]

Great job, and yes the stitching is great.

btw, I need a source for key fob blanks? Or has anyone see a mallet punch for them?

tks

Hi Spence,

These are made all made and sewn by hand. It was a design I came up with as the Tandy ones don't do the trick. If you would like I can supply you with the pattern and you can use it to make your own or have a clinker made. I will look through my files for the original for you. Drop me a line.

Storm

[dscott]

love the design

does look alot better that the stock ones

great color and stitching

David

[Storm]

For anyone that can use it or wants to try it please find the pattern I use for the above key fobs here with. I like the way it hides the back of a consho and gives a clean line.

Storm

[leatheroo]

very nice and clean, thanks for the pattern

[KRLeather]

They are fantastic!! beautiful colour leather! and nice shape!

[Storm]

Instructions On How To Go About Making it. Some people have asked and so here are some instructions to help anyone needing same.

First cut out the fob carefully after tracing it to the leather.

Punch your hole for the concho

I will then die using and all in one from ecoflo. Front first and then the back in the center where there will be no glue.

I put the key ring on and attach the concho.

Then I fold over the two halves without gluing the and while holding them in place I mark both pieces, top and bottom on both s with a pencil. You are locating the upper most part of the gluing area.

Now open it up and on both sides draw a curved pencil line to each of the two points on both side. This curved line is the upper limit of you gluing.

I then burnish the inside between the two circles of the fob where the keyring goes.

Take the contact cement and carefully apply to both sides. Let it dry until tacky.

Once tacky carefully fold over the two sides and join them together slowly and as closely as possible.

Use a shoemakers hammer to tamp on the surrounding edges.

Of course it is very likely there will be variations and a little unevenness. This might happen even if you did have them die cut.

This is when I bring out my Dremel tools and use a drum sander attachment. Then by hand I get rid of the imperfection. The subtle sanding also has a way of prepping the edge for finishing.

I use a groover and then hand sew the two sides together.

The I use a bone folder on the water moistened edge and smooth it down.

I come back and use the all in one on the edge and let it dry.

The finally I finished the edge to a glossy finish.

[rhona]

These new Conchos that you can get at Tandy are very nice. Best I have seen there in awhile!! The photo does not do them justice. They are all in the latest catalog.

Yes yes to these key fobs!! I like the diluted brown shade. Nice choice of conchos too! very neat job!

rhona