hard materials to support leather bag

[miker]

Hello! Recently a friend asked me to make a bag! The bag is the one in the photos. This is a model i made from plastic  not leather. My concern is about how to reinforce the leather so that it stays hard after a couple of year. I'll explain myself. On photo 4 you can see an extra piece of plastic (not so shiny). Under this piece i want to add something thin and strong to keep the leather in position (in the photo, you can see i have already test a piece of pvc but i don't like it). I am thinking of something like a  thin piece of aluminium. Cardboard is something I do not want to use. The same problem on the handle!For the little strap for the handle i want something flexible and able to maintain the U shape. I hope i made clear what i want!
Merry christmas to everybody

[Rockoboy]

1 hour ago, miker said:

On photo 4 you can see

First thing, I can only see 2 pics. Second, I have never used any Kydex, but from what I have read, I wonder if that might sort out both of your problems, the handle and the body of the case maintaining shape as it gets older?

[kgg]

I also can only see two pictures. Have you thought of using really thin HDPE as reinforcement. The drawback with rigid reinforcement that I would be concerned about is that would need to be attached to the leather, sewn or glued, and as the leather ages it probably would stretch with use. That may lead to wear through from the inside.

kgg

[RockyAussie]

I am not sure if this is of use but here are some pictures of some flexible plastic that has an excellent memory for springing back into shape. I just buy the binders from an office supply place when I occasionally need them. As you can see they work well for holding the shape and they last for ever. Merry Christmas to you and family.

Regards Brian

[ScoobyNewbie]

Nice bags!

[Dwight]

That's also why Tandy sells a product called "bag stiffener"

It works

May God bless,

Dwight

[LatigoAmigo]

I see that you are in Greece, so this might not be a helpful response, but The Hide House, located in Napa, California (and ships leather all over the world), carries a black leather they call Belt Grade California Latigo. It is a wonderfully firm black leather that comes in various weights. I have used their 4-5 ounce, and found it to be light-weight, firm and very durable. I know this might be a reach for you, but wanted to make sure that you knew about the resource. I have been very happy with this product.

I have included a copy of their catalog, and a photo of some totes I made using their 4-5 ounce. You can see that it stands right up without any lining or support from other products.

Hide House Catalog 2018.pdf

[miker]

You are right about the photos. I took 4 but i posted only 2 .No1 and No4! That's why i said No4!

i like the suggestion of RockyAussie! it's easy to find! I will also make a search for the other materials.

 

[councilman24]

I haven't used it for leather but for cordura nylon we use MDS loaded nylon as a stiffener between two layers.  It can be sewn easily and is much less likely to crack than HDPE or normal nylon 66. Its about like the cover material from office supply above except more durable.  We use 0.031 (1\32) or 0.060. Below is one source as an example I found on google. I usually purchase in 2x4 sheets. Don't remember where I actually purchased it.

https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn/Raw-Materials/Plastic-Sheets?searchterm=mds+nylon&navid=4287921892

[miker]

Councilman24 is there something wrong with the link?

I get

'MSCdirect.com is currently not available for your use.'

That's the commersial name of the material? MDS nylon?

I also found a material from shoes industry. I get a sample, polytex its name. Shoemaker use it to harden the heel of the shoes. It's some kind of thermoplastic because you have to use an iron to attach it to leather. Haven't use it yet.