My Nightmare "the Briefcase"

[Mrs Barry Hicks]

This was a nightmare to make. It's a custom sized briefcase I made for my Father In Law for Xmas. I am finally going to be giving it to him tomorrow. I still have to wax the outside and seal the inside with a poly sealer in the morning. And I have to attach the monogram as well. It's covering up an accident where permanent cement spilled. I am grateful to be done. For what it is I learned a lot and will listen to my husband when he says to make something that might be easier (I ended up asking my FIN what he would like instead). I pray to God he loves it. I'm totally burnt out on it. I'll make a soft case any day, but this was just a frightening path from the beginning. I made it from the Leather Cases 2 book by Al Stohlman, the Attache Case. If you are thinking of making one, I suggest you make the one where you build a box frame first. It will save you a lot of time. Ok I'm done. Anyways here it is...

[Timd]

Beautiful job!

[Northmount]

Great work! And a coverup is often the easiest and best fix. Keep it up, you have done really nicely.

CTG

[DoubleC]

  On 2/26/2012 at 2:41 AM, Mrs Barry Hicks said:

This was a nightmare to make. It's a custom sized briefcase I made for my Father In Law for Xmas. I am finally going to be giving it to him tomorrow. I still have to wax the outside and seal the inside with a poly sealer in the morning. And I have to attach the monogram as well. It's covering up an accident where permanent cement spilled. I am grateful to be done. For what it is I learned a lot and will listen to my husband when he says to make something that might be easier (I ended up asking my FIN what he would like instead). I pray to God he loves it. I'm totally burnt out on it. I'll make a soft case any day, but this was just a frightening path from the beginning. I made it from the Leather Cases 2 book by Al Stohlman, the Attache Case. If you are thinking of making one, I suggest you make the one where you build a box frame first. It will save you a lot of time. Ok I'm done. Anyways here it is...

You must be the best DIL in the world. Beautiful case.

[Saddled LEather]

I'm sure he will cherish it! Beautiful work.

[deadline13]

Hi Mrs. Barry,

Great job! What stiffener did you use? Was it the Masonite 1/8"?

I'm also planning of making one for my dad.

Thanks!

Marian

[Mrs Barry Hicks]

Thank you everyone.

deadline13, I used 1/8" plywood. If it gets wet it won't swell and not go back down to it's original size. I got it at my local hobby shop Michael's. they sell 12x24" boards. I didn't have a sander or a fancy table say to cut stuff down and make it perfect. All I have is a dremel and that doesn't work as well as I would like for this kind of project. I hope your Dad loves it! I'll keep an eye out for pictures on the board.