cue case building?

Article? Holy crap - I have enough going on as it is... lol.

I thought about it - I have enough pics of stuff in progress - maybe in the back of my mind that's what I was planning - who knows.

My wife wanted a leather bag - I didn't give it too much thought until I saw how much leather bags (handmade of course) go for... I doubt the case business will slow down, but I know a few people who would pay a pretty penny for a custom bag.

Brian
www.nittanyleather.com
 
After reading about what happened at Snookers RI, I think I want a new case made. I want it to have a lockable top, and have a cable (like the one I have for my bike) and lock built in to it. That way you can lock it to something and lessen the chances of some scum bag, yes scum bag stealling it and your stuff.

Pete
 
Pete said:
After reading about what happened at Snookers RI, I think I want a new case made. I want it to have a lockable top, and have a cable (like the one I have for my bike) and lock built in to it. That way you can lock it to something and lessen the chances of some scum bag, yes scum bag stealling it and your stuff.

Pete
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Pete why not have your casemaker install/sew a computer tracking chip under the carrying strap D shield/tab. The type use for animals. Or maybe a remote shocker device.

Rangercap / Jb Case we got a traveling cue bag. When will someone make a rain jacket case for those cue cases?

I would thought guitar strap more profit.
 
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Rangercap said:
^^^ Agree with studying other people's work. Can;t go wrong here...

There are enough pictures of cases out there, that if you can simply scale one element, like a zipper or a buckle, you can pretty much pull off everything you need prior to cutting leather. I made countless cardstock mock ups before cutting any leather. It also helped to put my patterns into AutoCAD, and plot them full size for testing.

Also - it pays to pay attention to what others craftsmen, not just leather workers, do to make things easier. For instance - instead of purchasing a clicker press(still on my wish list) to punch holes, I developed a jig based upon one of those plastic jigs used to drill evenly spaced holes in kitchen cabinets. It works like a champ and only cost me about $15. It certainly takes a little longer, but I won't loose any fingers in the process.

One other thing - get into repairing cases - much like cue building. I have a good following locally because people need a strap replaced, or have a bottom of a case that blew out. You'd be amazed how easy they are to put together once you can figure out how they are build. And, like cue building, you'll learn what works and what doesn't. I bet your town doesn't have a case repairman!

As for Leather Crafters Journal - its a good source for ideas for leather work - well worth the subscription.


Brian
www.nittanyleather.com
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Case Repair (hehe)

When I sold Instroke I started a little business called Cue Case Repair.com

I did that at shows for a while. I had all my tools in a Craftsman rolling toolbox and a little Craftsman worktable that folded up. It was great.

I did new latches, handle repairs, interior repairs, zipper head repairs. For replacing zippers I would take the cases to a local luggage repair shop in whatever city I was in. I fixed Instroke, Whitten, Justis, and every knockoff brand you can imagine.

This is how I got such an in-depth look at how all known cases are made. I got paid to take them apart :-)

It was actually a pretty decent little business at the big shows. Guido Orlandi, the traveling cue repairman, asked me to teach him how to fix a latch and when I did he said "and you only get $25 for all that work, forget it!". I didn't think of it as that much work but he was used to getting $20 for a five minute tip job and changing a latch took at least 15 minutes.

But yes, opening yourself up to doing repairs is a great way to get paid to learn. I always tried to do a better job on the case than the original maker if possible. Make the handle a bit stronger, reinforce the latch a bit more, etc....
 
Pete said:
After reading about what happened at Snookers RI, I think I want a new case made. I want it to have a lockable top, and have a cable (like the one I have for my bike) and lock built in to it. That way you can lock it to something and lessen the chances of some scum bag, yes scum bag stealling it and your stuff.

Pete
Click to expand...

I once built a case for Oliver Ortmann to replace his stolen one. In his new case I put an alarm that would go off if the case was moved. He disabled it after one tournament because another person accidentally knocked his case over and the shrieking alarm sharked the whole pool room. :-)
 
Rangercap said:
My wife wanted a leather bag - I didn't give it too much thought until I saw how much leather bags (handmade of course) go for... I doubt the case business will slow down, but I know a few people who would pay a pretty penny for a custom bag.

Brian
www.nittanyleather.com
Click to expand...

Actually I have an order for a purse. Still designing it however. Here is a picture of one we already made though.

DSC04760.JPG


My wife also keeps asking when I will make her a "JB Case (purse)" I guess the custom camera case wasn't enough. :-)
 
On leatherworker.net there is a thread about burnishing and one of the guys made his own motorized burnisher and he uses waxed canvas wrapped around the head. His edges are the best I have ever seen.
 
JB Cases said:
Actually I have an order for a purse. Still designing it however. Here is a picture of one we already made though.

DSC04760.JPG


My wife also keeps asking when I will make her a "JB Case (purse)" I guess the custom camera case wasn't enough. :-)
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Wow, damn nice Flowers:D you dahhhhhh Man John
Can't wait my new Case my Friend:thumbup:
Ralf
 
I jut got a steal on all three vol of the art of making leather cases. Hopefully everything works out well for me... wish me luck guys
 
filluptieu said:
I jut got a steal on all three vol of the art of making leather cases. Hopefully everything works out well for me... wish me luck guys
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I heard rumor there was a freebie included in the package. A use "The Art of Hand Sewing Leather" by Al Stohlman.

But if you want to see how good a steal check this out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/6-GREAT-VINTAGE...ryZ28133QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Or scroll down this list:
http://search.ebay.com/Al-stohlman_W0QQfromZR40QQfrtsZ0

You should of bought the other books for a even better steal.
I hope you enjoy and it was a Pleasure doing busines with you.
 
A simple chart to tube case coverings

This is a simple chart for the type of top loading tube case where the outer covering is stiff and can't be turned, Examples, Swift, Justis, Murnak, Most JB Cases, etc.....
 

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will8834 said:
What OZ leather would you use for a cue case.
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If you're asking me then my answer is it depends on what I want to do. You can use any weight of leather really and if it's not heavy enough to make a free standing tube then you can bond it to a stiffener which can be another type of leather or specially made woven board.

If I really want to be able to do some deep carving then I will use a heavier weight veg tan. 6-10oz

Here is a chart for what thicknesses leather weights correspond to:

http://www.hidehouse.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=tools_convert
 
billiardshot said:
Rangercap, are you using the "Motorized Fantastic Leather Burnisher" if so. How do you like it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uMUSZlgyjg

View attachment 89751
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I bought a grinding wheel from Lowes for $35 - the burnishing wheel I made from stacking about 2" of leather washers I punched out (1.5" OD and 3/8" ID). Just stack them, and sand them flat. I cut grooves for different radii for burnishing. I used to use gum tack, but switched to beeswax.

Brian
www.nittanyleather.com
 
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