Tooled and Wet Molded Multi-Tool Case

[David Bruce]

 

This is a custom case for a leatherman tool that I did recently. It's 5 oz. Hermann Oak that I wet molded on a wooden last that I made.  It' has a hand tooled floral/engraving style design and initial. I used Fiebing's Medium Brown dye and Angelus Matte Finish. I also used a hidden magnetic closure to show off the tooling. It's lined with calfskin and hand stitched.

Edited November 29, 2017 by David Bruce

[Stetson912]

This is awesome. How did you tool that? What size tools? I would think you would need something fairly small. 

[Rohn]

That is very beautifully done!  Your magnet closure interests me and also I'd like to know how the belt loop is attached.

[David Bruce]

Thanks,

I used a few different Barry King tools for this along with a modeling tool. The belt loop is attached with brass rivets that are flattened so as to not interfere with the tool.

[KingsCountyLeather]

Beautiful clean detailed work! 

[mikesc]

Beautifully done.

[DGoutdoors]

Very Nice!

[Tpc]

This is really lovely work.  I have made a couple myself but I've not been able to get the bottom corners anywhere near as clean as yours. What's the best way to go about it?  T

[battlemunky]

Man, that wayyyyyy outclasses the Leatherman for sure. It is the $5,000 dollar rims on the $500 dollar car. That ain't your fault. Wonderfully clean and well executed.

[garypl]

Really nice job on the tooling and the molding!

[MichaelT]

Outstanding work, I second everyone else' s comments on how nice and clean it is.

I really like the color. Could you share your dyeing technique? My attempts at using Fiebing's medium brown come out much darker. I've tried airbrushing it diluted 1:4 with denatured alcohol (not enough penetration) and swabbing with diluted dye. I can get an even color that looks good, but its much darker than yours.

[YinTx]

That is wicked tiny tooling!  awesome.

YinTx

[David Bruce]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad that folks like my work. The customer requested a  "western style" design so I thought that this would be a good time to try out this type of look that I'd been wanting to do for a while. I think they were surprised at how intricate it was but, that's what happens when you take pride in your work right? I only use Hermann Oak leather for tooling so that may be why the color comes out as it does and why it molds well. I haven't tried other veg tan leather to know either way.

For molding, I made a simple last out of pine and used a modeling tool to smooth out the edges prior to clamping. I wet the leather completely before molding. I didn't even use an upper frame like some do.

For the dye, I used an airbrush set at 30 psi and lightly sprayed the dye until I got the tone that I was after. I sealed it with one coat of RTC, applied fiebings mahogany antique paste and finished with Angelus Matte.

Edited December 1, 2017 by David Bruce
Incomplete info

[Sporty1]

Very nice, clean work!

[plinkercases]

really good looking piece of work.

[Talaman]

Beauty!