Leather Chalk Case

[victorl]

Your chalk cases look amazing Victor, keep up the great work! Would love it if you had a magnetic feature on them.

I did some experimenting with magnets and I found these powerful little neodymium disc magnets. I found the easiest and cleanest way to use them is to tape it to the bottom of the chalk, and just pop it into the holder.

I can include a magnet with the holder but they are pretty powerful and I don't think the mailman will be happy with a bunch of envelopes getting stuck together. (They're really cheap, I picked them up at the local hardware store for less than a dollar a piece)

 

[victorl]

Voila! Instant fridge magnets

 

[ZeroSkylineX]

I did some experimenting with magnets and I found these powerful little neodymium disc magnets. I found the easiest and cleanest way to use them is to tape it to the bottom of the chalk, and just pop it into the holder.

I can include a magnet with the holder but they are pretty powerful and I don't think the mailman will be happy with a bunch of envelopes getting stuck together. (They're really cheap, I picked them up at the local hardware store for less than a dollar a piece)

Great to hear your process Victor! Personally I would prefer a thinner piece of magnet that covers a wider area. By having a thick magnet, you're effectively using up a portion of the chalk box space. An example would be this one from eBay:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=301430690192&alt=web

The dimensions are 25mm x 2mm, just barely fitting your chalk box width of 28mm.

Or a thinner and smaller piece, 20mm x 1mm.
http://r.ebay.com/K1rJ85

I would go with the 20mm x 1mm due to its thinness, it will hardly be noticeable when gluing to the bottom of the chalk box. For me personally, I would glue the magnet to the bottom of the chalk box rather than inside so I won't wear down the leather. A magnet is easily replaceable, a unique chalk box like yours is definitely not.

 

[victorl]

Great to hear your process Victor! Personally I would prefer a thinner piece of magnet that covers a wider area. By having a thick magnet, you're effectively using up a portion of the chalk box space. An example would be this one from eBay:

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=301430690192&alt=web

The dimensions are 25mm x 2mm, just barely fitting your chalk box width of 28mm.

Or a thinner and smaller piece, 20mm x 1mm.
http://r.ebay.com/K1rJ85

I would go with the 20mm x 1mm due to its thinness, it will hardly be noticeable when gluing to the bottom of the chalk box. For me personally, I would glue the magnet to the bottom of the chalk box rather than inside so I won't wear down the leather. A magnet is easily replaceable, a unique chalk box like yours is definitely not.

That sounds like a good idea as well. The magnets I got were pretty strong though, so it would take a lot of force to remove it if it were attached to a piece of metal directly.
Another thing is that I started punching a hole in the bottom of the holder so that the chalk can be taken out more easily and a magnet on the bottom would cover that up.

 

[ZeroSkylineX]

That sounds like a good idea as well. The magnets I got were pretty strong though, so it would take a lot of force to remove it if it were attached to a piece of metal directly.
Another thing is that I started punching a hole in the bottom of the holder so that the chalk can be taken out more easily and a magnet on the bottom would cover that up.

I've used a chalk holder ever since I got my first cue and I've been through various chalk holders in the years I've been playing. One of the things that a player should know if they use one, is that one should never pull the chalk box from magnet holder, always slide the chalk box off. This will reduce the wear and tear significantly. By doing so, the only thing that will wear down (but will take a long time) is the magnet itself.

As I said before, I currently use a Chalk Shark and I strongly believe that you're going in the right direction Victor. Here's my review of the product should you it inspire you some ideas in any way:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=5262215
(See second post for additional photos)

 

[victorl]

I've used a chalk holder ever since I got my first cue and I've been through various chalk holders in the years I've been playing. One of the things that a player should know if they use one, is that one should never pull the chalk box from magnet holder, always slide the chalk box off. This will reduce the wear and tear significantly. By doing so, the only thing that will wear down (but will take a long time) is the magnet itself.

As I said before, I currently use a Chalk Shark and I strongly believe that you're going in the right direction Victor. Here's my review of the product should you it inspire you some ideas in any way:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=5262215
(See second post for additional photos)

That's a very interesting product. Thanks for all the ideas, I'll take a shot at designing a magnetic version when I'm done filling my current orders.

Oh, and another thing I could do for you is leave the bottom of the holder blank with no design to make it smooth and easier for you to attach a magnet to it.

 

[Jonwow]

Very nice chalk holders. I would like to order 2 from you.

 

[victorl]

Thanks for all the orders guys, I appreciate it! I'm think I'm going to stop taking new orders for now, as I've got just about all I can handle and I'd like to start working on other projects (the wife keeps nagging me for a new purse).

Here's a handful I finished last night that are shipping out today.
I hope you enjoy using them as much I did making them, and for those waiting, thanks for your patience!

Vic

 

[victorl]

I pressed my supplier for the cleanest, whitest vegtan leather he had in stock and it looks great! I only have a very limited amount, but it should be enough to fill everyone's orders.

 

[ZeroSkylineX]

That's a very interesting product. Thanks for all the ideas, I'll take a shot at designing a magnetic version when I'm done filling my current orders.

Oh, and another thing I could do for you is leave the bottom of the holder blank with no design to make it smooth and easier for you to attach a magnet to it.

Yes definitely, as I see no point in you putting extra work when one side of the chalk box would be covered anyway. If you have any more room for an extra order Victor, count me in!

Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk

 

[victorl]

Yes definitely, as I see no point in you putting extra work when one side of the chalk box would be covered anyway. If you have any more room for an extra order Victor, count me in!

Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk

It'll be a bit of a wait, but you're definitely in! :wink:

 

[victorl]

For those getting 2 pieces, I can also do a strawweave pattern on top so you can tell them apart.

 

[Allen Brown]

That is beautiful. I'll take 3 with that pattern.

 

[jazznpool]

Beautiful craftsmanship!

 

[victorl]

I've had lots of requests for pictures of the different colors and designs, so here are some pieces that are in the works.

The top 2 pieces are the body done in natural (undyed leather darkened with oil and sunshine for a little character).

The square pieces (from left to right):

White basketweave
White strawweave
Natural basketweave (tooling shows up very nicely!)
Bottom piece in walnut brown
Bottom piece in natural
Carved maple leaf (for a Canadian member, of course)

 

[victorl]

Carving and embossing on a 1-inch square surface is a nightmare!

 

[victorl]

I'm getting lots of requests for the natural basketweave tops, so here's a couple fresh pieces that will give you an idea of what it looks like when assembled.

The piece on the left is natural on walnut and the one of the right is a handsome all-natural undyed piece.

 

[Allen Brown]

Those are nice. Each time I look at these I get excited.

 

[victorl]

Those are nice. Each time I look at these I get excited.

Thanks for waiting, just one more big batch and then yours will be coming up!

 

[victorl]

I've had some special requests for items that I'll be attempting when I have some free time (or need a break from making chalk cases!), so I'll post pics as I get them done.

Here's something I recently made for a local customer. He liked the chalk holder so much, he asked me to make him something to match it, and we decided on a key wallet. It's not perfect, but I think they make a nice matching pair