Members Deemer Posted January 17, 2018 Members Report Posted January 17, 2018 I finally finished my first thing. The concept was for a pocket information exchange caddy. I wanted a way to give analog information out (calling/business cards), taking down information (Field Notes journal). I also wanted to make this modern, and have a way to take and give digital information, as well as a way to store critical copies of sensitive data (hence the PIN secured USB drive). I feel like I learned a ton making this as I made it mostly without the "right" tools or materials. The leather I started with was ordered for a heavy bag, therefore is thicker than what I'd want for something pocketable, and what I received was heavier than I intended to order. In addition, I ordered quite a bit of other stuff that never arrived (shipments take months to arrive and many things get lost in transit, that's life here) What did come, I was happy for: stitching chisels, hole punches, heavy waxed thread and a boat load of various sized button studs (that's the extend of leather specific tools I had access to) Thankfully, on a tiny island, you've got time on your hands. I've found that patience, man-hours and ingenuity can make up for (some of) a lack of proper equipment. My biggest time suck so was thinning 1mm off of my entire double shoulder with a hand plane (the plane iron alone took a couple of hours to make it serviceable - ocean air is hell on steel) then thinning another .5 mm off just the leather for this project (I started out with leather that was 3.5 mm thick in parts) Comments, critiques and (especially) suggestions are encouraged! Anyway, some pictures. This is the "glamour shot" - the parts that really suck are either hidden or out of focus. This does have a couple weeks use on it, so it's got some scuffs rubs and dirt already. The wet forming for the USB cap was part of the original design, and I'm pleased with it, though it's slowly shrinking away from the flush edge. I underestimated how much "play" I would need to have for the cards and journal, so once it was all stitched up (and I realized everything was a very tight fit) I made some plastic forms and slowly wet the back piece of leather, being careful to not get any other leather wet, and then slid the form in and worked it down with a metal chopstick, which you can see some black smudges from, especially in other shots. Repeat for the card slot. The edges look terrible in this photo. In person they are much darker and shinier, but still not great. I need to sand with some finer paper I guess, and then really go to town with the denim. Maybe a proper edging compound too - I used glycerin shave soap. My beveller envelope arrived empty, so I tried to bevel by sanding, but that didn't seem to work. Does anybody have any makeshift bevelling techniques that work decently? I suppose I could try to learn to do it freehand. I've got the time and maybe enough leather. Man that stitching on the right side kinda sucks, but it's passable for me for now. Just don't look at the back side. I'm not sure why it spreads out at the top. Probably has something to do with wetforming after it was stitched Oh, come on! I asked you not to look back there. I thought we had something - I trusted you! Yeah, it's pretty bad. I think I didn't have the chisel perfectly vertical - the top side stitching isn't *that* bad. I think the wet forming post stitch-up also made those stitches look worse, if that's possible. Exploded view. I did the stitches under the pen first because I knew they would be mostly hidden so I could mess them up and they wouldn't be seen unless the pen was out. Little did I know... Overall, I'm OK with it because I learned so much. I ended up with a working piece that while it isn't beautiful, I think it will look a bit better with some wear and tear. Thanks for your time! Quote
bikermutt07 Posted January 17, 2018 Report Posted January 17, 2018 Man, that is an ambitious first project. I love the design and it is a wonderful concept. Everything you need to send a message in a bottle. If you have some woodworking and metal tools you could make some tools. Bend the end of an old flat head screwdriver. Take a small round file to it and you got a beveler. Stitching will come with time. Time practicing and taking time to slow down on them. No worries. In 6 months you will be able to do so much better that you will wish for this protector to disappear, but it will out last you. It is a really great effort. Great great first try. It is always cool to see what someone else will come up with around here. Even someone who has never made anything before can have a completely original idea. Quote I'm not paying 80 bucks for a belt!!! It's a strip of leather. How hard could it be? 4 years and 3 grand later.... I have a belt I can finally live with. Stitching is like gravy, it's only great if you make it every day. From Texas but in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Members falcon45 Posted January 17, 2018 Members Report Posted January 17, 2018 Deemer, you did a fantastic job for your first project. Keep it up!!! Quote
Members Tugadude Posted January 17, 2018 Members Report Posted January 17, 2018 Neat idea and good start for your first project. Work on your thread tension as it looks like you pulled it way too snugly in some spots. Needle priority might be off also. Dropped stitches sometimes result from losing track of which way the threads cross. Looks to me you have a neat row of stitching then, whoops. So pay attention to that. I describe stitching as somewhat robotic. Lose concentration or vary your amount of pull and expect irregularities. Keep up the good work and post your future projects! Quote
garypl Posted January 17, 2018 Report Posted January 17, 2018 Hey Deemer, thanks for posting your first project! I like the concept and as others have already commented, with practice your stitching will become more uniform. The key is consistency - holding your chisels straight, sewing sequence, etc. If you have a very sharp chisel or knife you can try cutting a 45 degree bevel by holding the leather on the edge of a table and carefully cut the bevel with the chisel or knife. Welcome to the forum! Gary Quote Cowboy 4500, Consew 206RB-4
Members bullmoosepaddles Posted January 17, 2018 Members Report Posted January 17, 2018 Great first project. Very intelligent layout. Execution will come with time and practice. I will be copying this soon, as it covers all the things I want to carry with me and am not smart enough to figure out. Thank you for sharing. Quote
Members olfart Posted January 17, 2018 Members Report Posted January 17, 2018 That's a nice first project. It shows hope for future improvements and gives hope to those of us who've yet to complete a first project. Good work! Quote
Members kiwican Posted January 17, 2018 Members Report Posted January 17, 2018 Great job and a great concept Quote
Members Grumpymann Posted January 17, 2018 Members Report Posted January 17, 2018 How can I be down!? GREAT job! Quote
Members motocouture Posted January 18, 2018 Members Report Posted January 18, 2018 Trying to muster sympathy as I sit here in 15F weather hearing about ocean air, and seeing palm leaves as leather backdrops That said, great work! Love the design, appreciate you sharing it, and will probably be copying it at some point, too! Quote
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