Need Help On Making Bag Handles And Finishing Edges.

[Gurkirand]

I am in the process of making a bag similar to the hermes depeche briefcase. Its definitely a daunting task and i have recently been stuck on making the handles.

http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_mall/maison/cabinet/item-spec10/6000031301.jpg

As you can see there is something inside the leather and i dont know what to put inside. i was thinking maybe something like in this video

at 1:15 theres something that he puts into the handle and i wanted to know if that could work although i have no idea what that is, maybe rubber?

Also i dont have the filetuesue or whatever its called from mando (the edge burning tool) and i know that hermes uses that to finish edges. If i follow Bob Park's tutorial on finishing edges without doing the polishing is it possible to get the same kind of matte edges that hermes has?

Thanks

[Jazznow]

You could use a piece of thick veg tan as a filler that you shape with your skiving knife. He described ths in one of his case making books,I think vol 2.

[ReneeCanady]

In the video it looks like he is using rubber to me. I am sure you could get the same using the veg tanned leather as suggested above.

[DoubleC]

I looked at the handle on the case and watched him doing the other one, and it just looked like two pieces of veg tasnned back to back. However I know on rolled handles (and I guess these two) you could mold them around a nylon rope, small diameter if you wanted to add a rounded look to your handles. Cheryl

[leatherdog]

i couldn't see the video, but the handle....most likely it has shaped foam rubber type product inside. kind of a dense foam thing, light weight. probably about 5 inches long, whatever width, that is, less wide than the leather, and with a curved profile. what you see on the outside is describing what is on the inside. makes sense? you won't find this kind of product laying around, so you will have to improvise. good old backyard technology to be put into action............

[conceptdiba]

Campbell-Randall has made a simple 'fileteuse' for a much cheaper price which I use. Worth looking into. The matte finish comes from the edge paint. Some are glossy, some not so much. I'm organizing a group buy for the edge paint Hermes is using, if you're interested.

In regards to the bag, I believe leather such as veg-tan is used in the handle. I'm pretty sure that is what they do on their Kelly bags.

[Gurkirand]

Thanks So much your answers were very helpful. I think i will try to use veg tan leather to fill the handles.

[Jimbob]

just use rope....whatever size you need to be the handle...use hemp or nylon rope....works ust fine...