Finished up another Bible cover

[RockyAussie]

5 hours ago, YinTx said:

Probably shouldn't be if you have the tension exactly correct.

Just a tip if it helps...if I have a drop of say 1mm or 2oz if you like, I turn the main tension knob back 1/2 turn and tighten again when it gets thick again. Practice on a few scraps and you'll get it pretty quick.

[jonlrussell]

Really nice work. I've been thinking once I get a little more experience under my belt I'd make a cover for my wife's Bible. Not sure I could  do the machine stitching though, I've never used any kind of sewing machine and I'm not sure the wife's would handle leather. If I have to hand stitch it though, no biggie.

[tsunkasapa]

Very nice job. I've never done Bibles, but I did quite a few Boy Scout Handbooks back in the day.

[PastorBob]

Good looking indeed.  Couple of questions:

1. Why did you choose to have the cover and spine as different pieces versus just wrapping the cover all the way around?
2. What is the thickness of the leather?
3. Is this strictly a cover for a Bible?  Where it slips over existing cover of Bible?  If so, is the Bible hard or soft cover?
4. If not, did you remove the existing cover and glue the leather one in its place?

Thanks.  Love the color choice as well.  Very classy.  What was your dyeing and finishing process?

[YinTx]

On 11/29/2021 at 6:02 PM, JLSleather said:

I'm with battlemunky .. I HATE that stitch that just stops in the middle o' nowhere   Still, I 'get' why you didn't.. SUCKS when the machine doesn't adjust to the new depth (I've been known to just pull it out and hand stitch through the same holes, honestly).

Stopped by because I'll be making a number of Bible covers coming up directly, and wanted to snoop what you were puttin up.  Gals round here will want some type of closer .. zipper, snap, tuck-tite, ... etc.  Got a picky batch up here

 

Picky batch here too.  They want nice, but less than $20 because that is what the local Christian bookstore charges for the ones from India.  This was my effort at reducing my total materials and labor cost.  I have a chrome tanned version of this using 3 pieces of leather (no separate spine piece) that I may be able to put out there for $35, we'll see how that goes.

9 hours ago, jonlrussell said:

Really nice work. I've been thinking once I get a little more experience under my belt I'd make a cover for my wife's Bible. Not sure I could  do the machine stitching though, I've never used any kind of sewing machine and I'm not sure the wife's would handle leather. If I have to hand stitch it though, no biggie.

I've made several bible covers all hand stitched until now.  A bit of work, but worth it for something like this imo.

8 hours ago, tsunkasapa said:

Very nice job. I've never done Bibles, but I did quite a few Boy Scout Handbooks back in the day.

Thanks!  Haven't done one of those... no requests what so ever.

5 hours ago, PastorBob said:

Good looking indeed.  Couple of questions:

1. Why did you choose to have the cover and spine as different pieces versus just wrapping the cover all the way around?
2. What is the thickness of the leather?
3. Is this strictly a cover for a Bible?  Where it slips over existing cover of Bible?  If so, is the Bible hard or soft cover?
4. If not, did you remove the existing cover and glue the leather one in its place?

Thanks.  Love the color choice as well.  Very classy.  What was your dyeing and finishing process?

I designed this one with a separate spine because I wanted it to be more rigid than the rest of the cover.  It is 9-10oz, versus 4-5 oz for the body.  The interior pockets are 2-3 oz.

This was made for a specific Bible that I will be including with the cover.  I purchased a set of six, they are paperback, and thin covers at that.  I did not remove the covers, the book can be removed and replaced if desired.

After I did the design and construction work, it dawned on me it looked awful similar to Don Gonzales.  So I got his pattern, and sure enough, dimensions are within 1/2" of the ones I used, so if you are curious on construction, he has a video on it and everything.  Difference is I didn't line this one because I am trying to make a more affordable version than my usual stuff. That cuts about $10 of leather out of the material cost.   I'll post some pics of the inside later this evening if I get a chance.

YinTx

[YinTx]

On 11/29/2021 at 6:53 PM, RockyAussie said:

Just a tip if it helps...if I have a drop of say 1mm or 2oz if you like, I turn the main tension knob back 1/2 turn and tighten again when it gets thick again. Practice on a few scraps and you'll get it pretty quick.

Thanks for that.  I'll practice on a few pieces, and if it works for me, I'll give it a go on the next one that I am currently working on!

YinTx

[YinTx]

As promised the inside images.  sorta.  Anyhow.

Forgot to reply re the finishing process.  This time around I think I used Fiebings Saddle Tan Pro Oil.  It came out a lot darker than the last time I used it, which I thought was highly unusual. I really wanted a lighter color.  But as it turned out, I really liked the end result.  Leather does leather, not what I tell it to do!  If I recall, I used 50/50 resolene as resist, and some Fiebings highlighter for the antique, and resolene as a seal coat.

YinTx

[Simplejack1985]

That looks nice. Now I want a set of those letter stamps

[JLSleather]

13 hours ago, YinTx said:

They want nice, but less than $20 because that is what the local Christian bookstore charges

Yeah, I know the ones.  Still, some of them are quite nice, and the fabric usually allows a much thinner finished product than is generally seen in leather.  Tough to tool nylon, though

13 hours ago, YinTx said:

This was made for a specific Bible

And THERE is the rub.  Have to have the book dimensions to make a "legit" case for it.  Some of the ladies at the Sunday service have those fabric covers that are FAR too big for their Bible.  Some of them cover LEATHER bound  Bibles - seems they just wanted the zipper closure to protect it and keep in contained should it get dropped or bumped (which causes me to wonder why they didn't buy the HARDCOVER Bible).

MY Bible is hard cover, and I've been hesitant to make a nice leather cover for it ... for fear that it will get seen and EVERYBODY will want one.  HOW would I find time to make all those covers AND be here complaining ...

Congrats and thanks on your willingness to do your own designing ... that's getting SO rare these days - everybody wants to click a link and have it all done for them ...

[JLSleather]

14 hours ago, YinTx said:

So I got his pattern, and sure enough, dimensions are within 1/2" of the ones I used, so if you are curious on construction, he has a video on it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIICvf7D7Ng

Don' seems like a decent fella (though to be honest, that's what gets him paid).  Nothing new going on here, though  - this is the same principles laid out in Stohlman's book "Art of Making Leather Cases, Vol 2" like 40 years ago.  

https://tandyleather.com/products/the-art-of-making-leather-cases?_pos=1&_sid=0b0d18e83&_ss=r

Al shows construction with a zipper closure, and about a gajillion other principles a leather guy would benefit from knowing ..