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Description
I bought a new car recently, and it uses a fob for keyless entry and pushbutton start. You don't even need to push the buttons on the fob, just have it on you. However if I kept it in my pocket or on my keychain, it would get wrecked. I thought a little belt clip for it would be great, but such a thing does not exist. so I had to make my own.

This is the first time I ever tried molding leather. I made a mold by tracing the fob on a scrap of plywood and cutting it out on the bandsaw. I widened the cut enough for the leather, and rounded the edges of the mold. I nailed the center piece to another piece of wood, and put the leather in hot (but NOT boiling!) water until it was nice and soft, and then put it in the mold. Then I put it in a Vacuum Bag to really put the pressure on it.

Then I trimmed it to size, and made a back for it.

To assemble it, I decided on sewing, another thing I didn't have a lot of practice on. I used a tool to cut a groove for the stitching to sit in, and used a marking wheel to lay out the stitching. Alas, I wasn't so good at hitting the marks, but most people don't notice.

I made another piece for the belt-loop/flap by forming it around another chunk of plywood. I riveted it to the back, located and installed a snap on the flap and the front, and THEN stitched it up.

Definitely a learning experience, but I think it came out perfectly serviceable.

Description
I bought a new car recently, and it uses a fob for keyless entry and pushbutton start. You don't even need to push the buttons on the fob, just have it on you. However if I kept it in my pocket or on my keychain, it would get wrecked. I thought a little belt clip for it would be great, but such a thing does not exist. so I had to make my own.

This is the first time I ever tried molding leather. I made a mold by tracing the fob on a scrap of plywood and cutting it out on the bandsaw. I widened the cut enough for the leather, and rounded the edges of the mold. I nailed the center piece to another piece of wood, and put the leather in hot (but NOT boiling!) water until it was nice and soft, and then put it in the mold. Then I put it in a Vacuum Bag to really put the pressure on it.

Then I trimmed it to size, and made a back for it.

To assemble it, I decided on sewing, another thing I didn't have a lot of practice on. I used a tool to cut a groove for the stitching to sit in, and used a marking wheel to lay out the stitching. Alas, I wasn't so good at hitting the marks, but most people don't notice.

I made another piece for the belt-loop/flap by forming it around another chunk of plywood. I riveted it to the back, located and installed a snap on the flap and the front, and THEN stitched it up.

Definitely a learning experience, but I think it came out perfectly serviceable.