Shaping a bag - sewing texon/bontex

[blue duck]

A picture is always a big help. 

If you choose to go with veg tan, for this or another project, you need to consider the temper not just how it is tanned. Some very thin veg tan is quite stiff as well as thicker being softer. Just something to keep in mind.

Since you have already finished the outside, I think I would laminate two pieces of texon together, size to fit bottom of bag, cover with leather  (preferable) or lining material (won't hold up as well, if it is fabric) and then just lay it in the bottom.

Keeping the shape of the bag even when empty may not be a feasible goal with this project. Usually chrome tan has a soft temper that won't do what you are wanting. Even veg tan, when broken in, will not retain the shape first created. Almost certainly, the bag for sale was stuffed for the pictures to keep the shape.

[Klaken]

2 minutes ago, blue duck said:

A picture is always a big help. 

If you choose to go with veg tan, for this or another project, you need to consider the temper not just how it is tanned. Some very thin veg tan is quite stiff as well as thicker being softer. Just something to keep in mind.

Since you have already finished the outside, I think I would laminate two pieces of texon together, size to fit bottom of bag, cover with leather  (preferable) or lining material (won't hold up as well, if it is fabric) and then just lay it in the bottom.

Keeping the shape of the bag even when empty may not be a feasible goal with this project. Usually chrome tan has a soft temper that won't do what you are wanting. Even veg tan, when broken in, will not retain the shape first created. Almost certainly, the bag for sale was stuffed for the pictures to keep the shape.

 

For the bottom of the bag I have used plexiglass which turned out quite nice. I have never made an item of this size so there are many steps I am unfamiliar with. I have filed down all sharp corners on the plexiglass but maybe an additional layer would be good in order to protect the lining. I think you are right that I should expect any bag to "loose" it shape a bit after a while and probably should be what I would go for when working with the stiffener to avoid an unnatural look of the bag.

 

The box would consist of 4 parts to cover the inside of the bag. This is due to the form of the bag where the bottom of the bag is boxed and the upper not being boxed, resulting in different widths for the bottom and top part. In my head I divide the bag in a lower and top part which also is formed when the bag is closed and the top is tied down. I have attached a picture of what I have been playing with below, this is the lower part and the top part would then be attached to this two parts. I choose to separate the box as I made the bag inside out with a fold on side running from the bottom to the top of the bag. The way I was thinking was that if the short sides and the wide sides were to be attached to each other it would take away possible quirky corner effects occurring when the leather moves. This, after attaching the top part, would be lowered into the bag and glued to respective sides of the bag.

[LatigoAmigo]

4 hours ago, Klaken said:

I should expect any bag to "loose" it shape a bit after a while and probably should be what I would go for when working with the stiffener to avoid an unnatural look of the bag.

I found a stiffener that you might find interesting, as it is made out of real leather. That might just help it behave more like the leather that is it being bonded to. It is called Leather fibre board, also known as leather board, bonded leather or Salpa, and it is available from a company in the Netherlands. Here is a link:  

https://www.hollandindustries.nl/en/products/shoe-materials/leather-fibre-board/

[beltbuckles]

On 3/26/2019 at 5:52 PM, Klaken said:

 

For the bottom of the bag I have used plexiglass which turned out quite nice. I have never made an item of this size so there are many steps I am unfamiliar with. I have filed down all sharp corners on the plexiglass but maybe an additional layer would be good in order to protect the lining. I think you are right that I should expect any bag to "loose" it shape a bit after a while and probably should be what I would go for when working with the stiffener to avoid an unnatural look of the bag.

 

 for the bottom part, you can use like a rubber mat carpet... it is heavy and it flexes pretty well. 

Edited March 29, 2019 by beltbuckles

[Klaken]

A quick update, in the end I decided to use some cheap, stained veg-tan of 1.8mm I had laying around. I have however not ruled out using Texon in the future, I think 0.6mm Texon it shaped the bag quite similar to the leather I decided to go with in the end. The reason to why I went with the leather is that it was just easier to attach and put in the bag at this stage, in the future if I will use Texon it will probably be incorporated into the bag at an earlier stage of the process. I really appreciate all the help I got in this thread!

[Katrice]

Hi! I realize I’m a little late to this discussion but am curious how other solutions have worked. I have bought and used the stiffener from Tandy but have found it to be too stiff and rigid. I think I could swing my bag as a weapon! I’m in search of something just a slight bit more supple. 

[Rockoboy]

On ‎10‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 10:15 AM, Katrice said:

I’m in search of something just a slight bit more supple. 

If you wet the leather then dry it with a very low heat, the leather will stiffen. Alternatively, glue and sew a thin backing (like 2.0mm leather) to your project, that can assist with stiffening up the project.

[Frodo]

I am working on the same problem as you at this moment.

The last bag I worked on i stiffened it up with a thin strip of metal,,that bends with the bag and ''springs''  back into place

I am incorporating it into the 4 side corners and the opening...

Edited October 6, 2019 by Frodo

[PatC61]

Katrice am I happy I read your post.  I just practiced a bag (totally glued together) and used Bontex.  That bag is a weapon in disguise.  I was going to buy the product from Tandy but since your bag is also weaponised I will refrain from purchasing it.  I too am in the market for a good bag stiffener that helps the bag keep its shape but not rock hard.

[toxo]

On 3/26/2019 at 7:55 AM, Klaken said:

I am making a weekender bag out of chrome-tanned leather which is quite soft. Therefore, I need to stiffen the bag up to make hold the desired form when empty. After the bag is stiff enough I will also drop in a lining. To make it stiff enough I have been experimenting with texon/bontex. I was thinking if I can apply the same way of thinking as with the lining by sewing a box which I drop in the bag and sew at some strategic places? I have thought about just adding some thick leather to stiffen the bag but it will make the bag quite thick and too heavy. I have a few things I am still unsure of:

1. Saddle stitching texon/bontex - will it hold over time? Is it a better way to put two pieces of texon together?

2. Sewing corners with texon - Is there a good way of doing this so I can shape a box out of texon sheets?

 

I had exactly the same problem a while back. I had some nice faux croc that I wanted to make a gym bag out of but it wouldn't stand up. I ended up lining the whole inside with veg tan and it ended up more like a stylish suitcase. I sold it.