DIY Brief/Attache Case?

[bigbris1]

I saw this case but refure to spend anywhere close to the asking price so I thought I'd make my own or at least commision someone to make one for me. Anyone ever done this? I've seen some threads where people have made their own gloves and such. How much of a stretch would this be?

The lock can be ordered here: Nickel version:

Now to find the leather/weight/construction method

 

[Xiaogou]

I bet Saddleback could make it for you.

 

[bananananana]

I'm raising my cow right now to do this as well. Will let you know when I slaughter that son of a ***** or maybe just skin it alive and let it walk around looking like a groteque inverted creature.

 

[Mr.K]

YOU can get almost anything made you want. You just need to have the right tools or someone that knows how to make what you want.

 

[Pantisocrat]

Not a bad idea...if you know how to do it yourself. Commissioning someone else to do what YOU WANT is never cheap.

 

[voxsartoria]

Big B, why not deerskin?

- B

 

[JCHolmes]

I know a company that does exactly this type of work.
What are you willing to pay for the case plus shipping?

 

[Philip1209]

The company Renaissance Art mainly sells leather journals, but they also hand-make a variety of custom leather bags for what I consider a competitive price. You may want to peruse their site and send them an email about this.

 

[Macallan9]

Search the forum for SAB briefcases. Theres a video floating around that shows the whole process. It looked doable if you wanted to take the time.

 

[chasingred]

If you go ahead with this, you should extensively document the process. It would make for a great SF thread.

 

[Macallan9]

http://science.discovery.com/videos/...riefcases.html

Please do document it. Actually, who knows...I might give it a try. I do have access to a machine shop.

 

[chasingred]

After seeing that video, I'm not so sure it would be cheaper to get this made by someone else. The attache that the OP posted is an RLPL model. There is one on eBay right now for $1,000. Getting something to look as nice as that would take a lot of work, and a lot of high quality leather, and this will run you a lot more than $1,000 I'd imagine.

Still, if you want to give it a try with your own hands, it could be a great experiment.

 

[Macallan9]

Originally Posted by chasingred

After seeing that video, I'm not so sure it would be cheaper to get this made by someone else. The attache that the OP posted is an RLPL model. There is one on eBay right now for $1,000. Getting something to look as nice as that would take a lot of work, and a lot of high quality leather, and this will run you a lot more than $1,000 I'd imagine. Still, if you want to give it a try with your own hands, it could be a great experiment.
I don't think it would run you more than $1K, but it'll cost a pretty penny for probably shoddy worksmanship. But: http://justleather.com/catalog/produ...48ba61c20e1bc6 leather $150 bucks

 

[bigbris1]

Originally Posted by Macallan9

I don't think it would run you more than $1K, but it'll cost a pretty penny for probably shoddy worksmanship. But:

http://justleather.com/catalog/produ...48ba61c20e1bc6

leather $150 bucks

Thanks! This is just what I needed, a leather source. There's some hides on ebay cheap but nothing in the 7+ oz range that's good. I may still buy some and make my own gloves.

B, I'll do deerskin only when I become a master leather worker.

I think I might just do this.

 

[bigbris1]

Originally Posted by Macallan9

http://science.discovery.com/videos/...riefcases.html Please do document it. Actually, who knows...I might give it a try. I do have access to a machine shop.
According to this video I will need: Leather stitch marker Leather knife Bone marker Awl Waxed thread Leather needles Leather hole punch Rivets All of this will be about $100 in addition to: Leather hide Thinking about going with (6/7 oz):

for $75 or (5/6 oz)

$36

$49

$44 Fabric for lining (maybe) Lock hardware ($30 each) So the total cost at this stage would be around $200 for supplies to make the first bag but I will have enough leather left to make like 3 or 4 bags if I get the 22sq ft piece of leather on top.