IPhone Wallet in Embossed Alligator

[YinTx]

Just finished this up, custom color by request!  The edges were a bear with this leather, and did not come out quite like I'd wanted.  But, customer was happy, so thats what mattered!  I opted for the unlined version since I was unhappy with the wrinkling liners.  Second version of this had the black dye bleed all the way through the leather to the front:  aarrrghh.. ruined.  start again!

anyhow, hope ya'll like it.

 

YinTx

[garypl]

Looks very nice and I like the color - good job!  How do you keep the phone in place?

[Wedgetail]

That looks very nice indeed!

I presume the case is just glued in there?

You can get magnetic ones... But only found them in volume which is annoying if you are not making a lot for the same phone.

[bikermutt07]

Looks really great, Y.

[YinTx]

Thanks for the compliments.  I have not seen the magnetic ones, and not sure how they would work?  You wouldn't happen to have a link would you?

I just used a soft plastic case, and I stitched it onto the leather to make sure it would not come off.  I don't think I would trust just glue, but others may be able to speak up about how well that would hold up?

YinTx

[TinkerTailor]

I wetformed around a plastic case for mine. This is 4-5 oz veg and the leather is  formed up and over the edge of a plastic case full thickness. Note i chose a piece of leather with a scar right in the middle. It gets cut out. Waste not want not. This is how I did it:

Case is glued in from the backside, and then the hole is trimmed out. This is also after dying obviously. Though it is 2-tone, it is just one  piece of leather:

 

FYI: above pic is before i edge finished the camera hole and a few other details.

 

Edited December 9, 2016 by TinkerTailor

[Wedgetail]

On 10/12/2016 at 0:47 AM, YinTx said:

Thanks for the compliments.  I have not seen the magnetic ones, and not sure how they would work?  You wouldn't happen to have a link would you?

I just used a soft plastic case, and I stitched it onto the leather to make sure it would not come off.  I don't think I would trust just glue, but others may be able to speak up about how well that would hold up?

YinTx

Stitching is better for sure, though glue should hold up fine... Most of the cheaper ones are just stuck down with a double sided tape and they stay together pretty well, glue is more "permanent"! Haha

I really like the magnetic look and function. Means you can take the phone out to talk on without having all your cards and stuff up at your ear. It is usually just a magnet in the case, and a bit of metal or a magnet in the cover. Both are under a lining to hide them, and I am not sure if they have any shielding etc.

Here is an example, but you can probably just find a magnet supplier elsewhere to make your own... Just that this style come embedded in the case already.

https://m.alibaba.com/product/60554935173/Premium-high-quality-Detachable-Magnetic-cell.html?s=p&spm=a2706.7843667.1998817009.13.Ykz0fp

 

[Wedgetail]

Neodymium magnets, I think. And I think you use them with steel...

So you could put the steel on the phone case (I.e some washers), hidden with an inset style lining, and some flat round neodymium magnets under the lining in the back of the case.

Magnets are surprisingly strong!

I'd imagine you would get better results with two small magnets though, one each at top and bottom of the case. That way it won't spin around, because the two magnets will hold it from two points.

Actually... I think I just found my next personal project! This sounds fun!

 

[YinTx]

TinkerTailor:  That looks really slick!  Does the plastic piece stay in place then, just surrounded by the leather which holds it down?  Really nice carving too.

Wedgetail:  I looked at the magnets, this is a cool solution too because you can take to phone out easily and pop it right back in easily if you desire.  I always worry about magnets and credit cards:  is it an unfounded fear?

Sorry it took me a while to get back to this one!  and thanks for the suggestions also!

YinTx

[Brianm77]

No I think your fear is valid.  If the magnet is to strong, and cards come in and out of the magnetic field a lot, you can wipe your card.  I would also be scared to put the magnets next to my phone.  I purposely do not make card wallets cause I worry about choosing to strong of a magnet and wiping someone's card.  I don't want the liability or the bad press that would follow. 

As far as the two pictured,  very nice pieces. 

Edited April 29, 2017 by Brianm77
Added something

[Wedgetail]

 

No I think your fear is valid.  If the magnet is to strong, and cards come in and out of the magnetic field a lot, you can wipe your card.  I would also be scared to put the magnets next to my phone.  I purposely do not make card wallets cause I worry about choosing to strong of a magnet and wiping someone's card.  I don't want the liability or the bad press that would follow. 

As far as the two pictured,  very nice pieces. 

It entirely depends on the type of magnets you use. There are so many different kinds, and it is absolutely a risk if you get it wrong.

That said, there is product out there using them, which means it is feasible.

[Brianm77]

I know it is feasible, but I don't want the risk.  If I knew for 100% how strong of a magnet I could use then maybe. But for me the cost of finding out is to high. 

[YinTx]

Yes, I've seen the magnet closures and wondered if there was a shield there, or if they were just too weak to affect things... but lack of information puts me in the same boat as Brianm77... not worth the cost to find out!

YinTx

[Brianm77]

My feelings are they are just to week.  Some week magnets can be useful, my iPad case has a week magnet that puts the iPad to sleep when closed.  And to large of a magnet is no good for electronics and I don't know we're that line is

[Wedgetail]

Its also about duration. Even the weakest magnets could wipe a credit card or phone if they have enough exposure time.

But then again, your phone itself emits a magnetic field and could also wipe your cards over a long enough period... maybe even demagnetise a small magnet too.

It is an interesting subject that I also don't know enough about to say definitively what will work and what won't... and I'm not sure who would be able to speak on the topic with authority. Maybe an electronics engineer? Any of those on this forum?

[Wedgetail]

Ok @YinTx and @Brianm77, I just had an epiphany...

If magnets are too risky, then I suppose all you really need is something to snap them together. And the smallest snaps I can think of which would also be strong enough to hold a phone securely under normal use, are glove snaps.

Not as seamless as a magnet hidden under a lining... but I have seen less elegant solutions sold commercially!

For my choice, I would probably put the male ends in the case/wallet side and the female on the phone cover side so it felt better in your hand.

Two snaps, one each centered near the top and bottom would do the job.

Just thinking out loud.

Edited June 14, 2017 by Wedgetail
Reworded for clarity

[RockyAussie]

2 hours ago, Wedgetail said:

And the smallest snaps I can think of which would also be strong enough to hold a phone securely under normal use, are glove snaps.

Is that not what tinker tailor has used in the pictures above? I personally think that 1snap would be fine.Brian

[gigi]

25 minutes ago, RockyAussie said:

Is that not what tinker tailor has used in the pictures above?

BTW: where is he? Haven't seen him around in a while. 

Edited June 14, 2017 by gigi

[Wedgetail]

1 hour ago, RockyAussie said:

Is that not what tinker tailor has used in the pictures above? I personally think that 1snap would be fine.Brian

For the strap closure yeah, I am talking about using them on the plastic phone case that goes inside the wallet so that you can remove the phone from the wallet.

[Ferg]

I get the plastic cases to fit whatever phone. Use velcro to attach the plastic to the leather inside. 

Never moves and you can take the phone out anytime you wish and snap it back in.

My leather case has a partial "Wrap-Around" with a snap. Leather case protects the entire phone when closed, everything accessible when open.

 

Ferg

[Wedgetail]

Velcro would absolutely work well for this too, great suggestion @Ferg.

Do you glue the velcro, rivet, or stitch it somehow?

[Ferg]

I use the Velcro with adhesive already on the back side of both pieces. I cut the strips 3" long, they are 3/4" wide.

I have actually removed the Velcro after some weeks from the leather as well as the plastic case. Mostly to see what damage was done to either which was 

very little.

Ferg

[Wedgetail]

7 hours ago, Ferg said:

I use the Velcro with adhesive already on the back side of both pieces. I cut the strips 3" long, they are 3/4" wide.

I have actually removed the Velcro after some weeks from the leather as well as the plastic case. Mostly to see what damage was done to either which was 

very little.

Ferg

Nice!

I like the idea of a customer being able to buy more than one (say, different colours) and swap between them quickly... Or just rip your phone out to talk on it without your whole wallet up to your ear.

The next time I get a few hours in the shed for myself, I might make myself a prototype... though my 6 week old kid might make that a long wait. Haha

[YinTx]

I'm liking this velcro idea... not traditional leather but neither is a phone!  I think it will work really well...  I'll try it on my next version!

YinTx