With Winter down time I thought I'd try and make Fly Rod Case #2. A few years ago I put together Fly Rod Case #1 and it came out pretty good, but as usual, there were a couple of areas for improvement.
The first step was to cut out some leather. I took a sample piece of leather and wrapped it around my fly rod tube to get the proper width of the leather that I would cut, then cut it out: TIME = 4 hours
The next step was to mark out lines around the edges and then to trace the design on the leather that I wanted. I chose a floral design with a couple of Redfish. The rectangles will be where the strap and buckle hardware are attached.
I went ahead and cut out and made a bunch of buckle and D ring holders...
Then I used a swivel knife to cut out the pattern on the leather. By the way, the leather has been "cased" with water to allow the swivel knife to cut the leather like butter. TIME =2.5 hours
TOTAL TIME = 6.5 hours
Multiple stamps were used to complete the design, then everything else was stamped with a background tool..
And finally, the finished tooled piece of leather. Stay tuned for dyeing and finishing of the leather!
TIME = 7.75 hours
TOTAL TIME = 14.25 hours
Punching holes for later stitching
Beginning the back ground dying - I'm using Forest Green
All finished with the back ground dying!
Dying the fish! After I dyed them, let them dry, I "blocked" them with a finish.
After the "block" was dry, I wiped an antique stain over the entire project.
All the staining is done. I'll put a finish over the entire thing, let it dry, then move on to putting the hardware on.
TIME = 4 hours
TOTAL TIME = 18.25 hours
Straps were stained and finished then riveted to the case. I also reinforced them with some stitching.
I glued the leather to the fly rod tube and tried lacing with the holes that I had punched earlier. It didn't work. So I had to take a rotary hole punch and make each hole bigger.
TIME = 4.5 hours
TOTAL TIME = 22.75 hours
The tube is about 32" long. I begin the lacing using a bent needle!. And more lacing! This is 1/8" wide lace.
TIME = 3.75 hours
TOTAL TIME = 26.5 hours
Sewing on the end cap
Made some straps and finished up the top cap and attached them both.
TIME: = 6.5 hours
TOTAL TIME: 33.0 hours
And here's the finished Rod case! Now I need to make the Reel case to finish up the project.
Cutting and punching the reel case pieces, then carving a design
Sewing a lining into the reel case
Lacing the reel case together
The finished Rod and Reel Case!
