First Case Build (In Progess)

[victorl]

Hey all, first post in a very long time lol.

Just wanted to share some pics from my first attempt at a cue case build, which I started last month due to being stuck at home.
I wanted to try something original, but I figured I should play it safe and just stick with the standard cue-case style for my first build.

I'm using Japanese Tochigi vegtan leather, and the interior is the molded foam tubing taken from an old case.
The main body and pocket are mostly finished, I just need to add a handle, rivet everything together, and then I'll start building the lid.

A few things I would do differently next time:
1. Add more height to the pocket to make it easier to use.
2. Add a border or more accents to the tooling.
3. Get some better sewing thread. The hemp thread I used isn't bad, but comes overwaxed and frays easily.

Making the pocket:

 

[victorl]

Finishing the pocket and backplate, and sewing to the body:

 

[victorl]

Pocket attached and finished wet-molding the body to the tubing:

 

[Beebop21]

That's really cool. Would love to see more pics as it comes along.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[RickLafayette]

That work is superb! Keep it up. What kind of machine are you using to sew the leather?

 

[victorl]

Thanks Rick!
I'm sewing by hand with a traditional saddle stitch.

 

[RickLafayette]

OK. Now that I look at it with my glasses I can see the hand stitching. Awesome work. I did leather work a lot back in the 70's. Mostly floral carving on my custom holsters and belts and also carved live oak blanks for a local saddle maker. I miss working with leather. You do nice work. Keep us posted.

 

[victorl]

OK. Now that I look at it with my glasses I can see the hand stitching. Awesome work. I did leather work a lot back in the 70's. Mostly floral carving on my custom holsters and belts and also carved live oak blanks for a local saddle maker. I miss working with leather. You do nice work. Keep us posted.

Wow, oak blanks too? That is pretty awesome, would love too see that.
One of my goals is to do a case with floral carving someday, but I would need a ton of practice to get my carving level up to where I want it to be.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Well I hope the artist continues posting photos of this project. Very nice work.

 

[CavinTan]

must be a ***** to saddle stitch such an inaccessible tight spot such as the pockets to the body

 

[victorl]

must be a ***** to saddle stitch such an inaccessible tight spot such as the pockets to the body

Yea, that wouldn't be fun at all... actually the sewing was done while the body was still flat, so I could mount the whole thing onto a pair of stitching ponies.
It was a little unstable, but still a lot easier than sewing inside a tube.

Here's what it looked like:

 

[King]

Hand stitching the zippers to the pocket and the pockets to the body, is usually the longest part in the case assembly! Believe me I know. Lol
Keep up the great work.

 

[half fast bankr]

Very nice, clean work right there!

 

[victorl]

Some updates on the cue case build...
Getting a little more done everyday!


Built the handle and attached it to the body:

 

[victorl]

Back plate and hardware attached to the body

 

[victorl]

Last parts are the lid and bottom piece (in progress):

 

[Bavafongoul]

As the case maker, artistry of the finished product must be very important to you.
Two tone leather designs can accentuate the style and appearance of the case.

IMO, not really this time because the darker brown leather you chose is fabulous.

It looks so rich and luxurious that the entire case would be more attractive if you
built the case using just that instead of the two tone design. But you do got talent.

 

[Ken_4fun]

You should be very proud of yourself.

Really nice.

Ken

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Looks awesome.

 

[victorl]

Thanks for the comments everyone, much appreciated!

As the case maker, artistry of the finished product must be very important to you.
Two tone leather designs can accentuate the style and appearance of the case.

IMO, not really this time because the darker brown leather you chose is fabulous.

It looks so rich and luxurious that the entire case would be more attractive if you
built the case using just that instead of the two tone design. But you do got talent.

Thanks for the input. The dye actually came out a different color than I expected, but it was a pleasant surprise. You're right, a case with just the brown would be amazing, perhaps an envelope style with some floral carving :smile: