Galaxy Note 2 Case

[SmokeCigars]

Hey guys and gals,

This is the first complex project that I've done so far. It is a case for a Galaxy Note II, which is an absolutely huge cell phone, and there really isn't any cool cases available for it. A friend of mine saw that I had started doing some leather working and asked me to make him a case for it.

This wasn't a very easy project since I didn't have his phone to mold (made a wood replica), and I had my tracing of his phone and some computer print outs to get all the button holes in the right location. Long story short, by absolute miracle when he slid the phone in, everything lined up perfectly.

He wanted it to look antique and kind of rustic. He intensionally asked for the corners to be freehand and rough (no idea why on that one).

There is a little wallet flap, and it is lined with a nice thin and soft suede.

I know I have plenty of room for improvement. Feel free to give honest comments and critiques. (i've got thick skin, and I need to learn).

Thanks for looking!

I know this picture looks like I cut it too short, but that was the first time I folded it over with the phone in it, so the leather was still fairly stiff. After a day or two it has settled in nicely and is dead even.

Edited January 20, 2013 by SmokeCigars

[RavenAus]

Nice work! Love the finish, how did you dye it?

[SmokeCigars]

I rubbed it out with neatsfoot oil first, then did two coats of eco-flow coco brown so it was nearly black. After that dried I used the natural leather balm with atom wax since I knew it kind of removes some of your finish in an irregular way. After I buffed that out I coated it with some super sheen.

It was more or less an experiment on my part since I was going for an antique and well worn look.

[Aurelie]

nice one! i like the "old look" of it!

[narrowsuch]

Looks nice, i like the strap and leather buckle look! I know wat you mean, i did a case for a freind for a htc sensation, HUgE phone case was a lot bigger than i expected !

[Handstitched]

G'day

I quite like it. Is that Supa Shene that you used to get that nice shine?

Also, not knowing too much about these, are those holes for the mic or a camera perhaps??

I have also found that talking to those that have these handheld devices, the cases that come wth them ( if any) are ...well... crap, according to their owners.

So I'm finding an increase in demand for a nice case, custom case , and/or hardcase to go with them, especially tradies.

Now , changng the subject a bit, here in Australia, all ciggy packets now have plain packaging, and have some pretty graphic health warnings on them , and now as a result more people are asking for cigarette/tobacco cases to hide the ugly health warnings. I hope to come up with a 'quick & simple to assemble' design to suit all ciggy packets.

But good work on the Galaxy case

All the best

Handstitched

[SmokeCigars]

Yes, that is super sheen as my top coat. It does give a nice shine if you take the time to buff it out for a while. That case took a lot of holes. There is a front camera and mic, as well as a rear speaker, camera, and LED.

A cig case shouldn't be too hard to do. Make a block of wood the size of a pack, then mold your leather to it and come up with some kind of flap.

My next project is going to be cigar sleeves. I manage a cigar store part time, so I have a pretty good market for them.

[MadMorbius]

So have you used it? What do you think of it's functionality? Anything you'd improve based on your usage of the final product?

That's the "continuous feedback and improvement" methodology I use on my stuff...I'm very picky, so if I find a problem with something I've made, I wouldn't expect anyone else to use it (or pay for it, for that matter)

I like the way you formed the note-side. Did you use a wooden block or wrap the phablet in plastic wrap?

I would suggest beveling any exposed edges and burnishing where appropriate.

Nice work!

[SmokeCigars]

The gentleman I made it for is extremly pleased with it. The phone is held firm enough where you know it will not slide out on you. I did form it with a wood block since I couldn't get a cell phone store to give me a dummy phone. I used some paper printouts of the phone to locate all the holes I needed to cut.

The final finishing of all the edges could have used a bit of use, and I've learned a lot to use on future projects.