UPSB v3
Pens & Mods / [project][2.13] Pen-case DIY Kits
Creating a case Alternative
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Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 01:16:58
Project: Pen Modification Do-it-yourself Kits
Current Project Leaders: (more would be nice)- iMatt
Project description:- This is a collaborative research project to see if we can off-set the huge demand for pen cases without paying $20-$30 per case through trading or buying. A cheap alternative using common found materials on a budget with tutorials and alternatives
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Side-Note: I would like to get a number of people to work on this project and work on it actively, not just a status boaster. If your interested please post/discuss here. -
Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 01:20:00
I would say I would be interested, but I do tend to put these kind of things off >_<
We would need to figure out what kind of normal pen cases are common and easy to write on, and what kind of paints/designs stick to them well. Also designing stencils for the cases would be nice. -
Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 01:21:55QUOTE (Awesome @ Mar 24 2009, 08:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I would say I would be interested, but I do tend to put these kind of things off >_<
We would need to figure out what kind of normal pen cases are common and easy to write on, and what kind of paints/designs stick to them well. Also designing stencils for the cases would be nice.
Yeah, this is why I would like to have multiple people working on this. One for materials/building, graphics, design, tutorial, etc etc... -
Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 01:24:33
I would be interested in material/building, but there are no garentees I will get around to it >_<, you can consider me as a mabye for that part
So I guess we are supposed to make topics for each of those areas and discuss each one separately. -
Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 01:28:51QUOTE (Awesome @ Mar 24 2009, 08:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I would be interested in material/building, but there are no garentees I will get around to it >_<, you can consider me as a mabye for that part
So I guess we are supposed to make topics for each of those areas and discuss each one separately.
Well, it doesn't have to be one dedicated person. Right now what needs to happen, is to find out what exactly an efficient pen-case consists of.
My idea is, "It needs to small enough to carry in a backpack, strong enough to protect the pens and withstand heavy weights on top of it."
That's the generally goal, but also what sort of pockets to use etc. -
Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 01:29:19
I'd help, but I'm not much of a modder.
But if you have anyway I can contribute, I'll give it a shot.
Actually, I might be able to help with graphics. -
Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 01:34:08
So they buy the kits themselves and make it or does it use household items? I'll be in... but not as a leader... Hmm... I think they should be like PDS cases... maybe with an extra pocket or so for other stuff?
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Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 01:39:09
The goal is to make a DIY pencase with common found materials that spinners can buy and build. Trying to make things the PDS case will get spendy, especially getting into the zipper mechanisms and what not.
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Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 03:06:34
so what features do you want this case to have?
i think people are buying pen cases for brand, if you DIY, then what incentive is there left? -
Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 03:26:42
i think it would be a useful creation, i would like a pen case for functionality purposes, but i've no interest in PDS whatsoever
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Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 04:08:30QUOTE (Zombo @ Mar 24 2009, 07:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>so what features do you want this case to have?
i think people are buying pen cases for brand, if you DIY, then what incentive is there left?
it's cheaper. that's definitely an incentive.
let's not go overboard like the venom bk >.> it's nice and all..but overkill. -
Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 05:24:52
Regard Zombo's statement, yes people do want things like the PDS case for the brand, but this isn't being made for those people. If they want to track-down and buy an official pen-case from PDS or what not, let them do so.
The incentive is to be able to customize the case to your likings. Why do they have to buy them from us? This project is meant to find a way to create a pen-case that will the average spinner can use to store and carry pens without having the break the bank.
The general features what I specifically would want in a case would be as follows- Hard-shell case
- Adjustable sizes
- Support to hold 23 CM Pen Mods
- Adjustable pockets
- Transparency for display
- Ability to open and close (rolling pen-cases are a bit too prone to breakage from pressure)
- Insertable panels, add in any personal graphics or what not.
I know that's a lot, but it's merely just some things that I would look for in a pen-case
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Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 06:10:59QUOTE (iMatt @ Mar 24 2009, 09:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Regard Zombo's statement, yes people do want things like the PDS case for the brand, but this isn't being made for those people. If they want to track-down and buy an official pen-case from PDS or what not, let them do so.
The incentive is to be able to customize the case to your likings. Why do they have to buy them from us? This project is meant to find a way to create a pen-case that will the average spinner can use to store and carry pens without having the break the bank.
The general features what I specifically would want in a case would be as follows- Hard-shell case
- Adjustable sizes
- Support to hold 23 CM Pen Mods
- Adjustable pockets
- Transparency for display
- Ability to open and close (rolling pen-cases are a bit too prone to breakage from pressure)
- Insertable panels, add in any personal graphics or what not.
I know that's a lot, but it's merely just some things that I would look for in a pen-case
Sounds like a lot to accomplish. Do you have any idea what you're going to use to make it? -
Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 06:34:23
Material wise is what I think needs to be researched, cloth, rug based materials, plastic, etc. Are all things to look into
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Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 07:02:33
Outer Shell
I have 2 cases now. One with canvas-like material, and the other with a soft vinyl material that's more pliable than the PDS case. For non-bank breaking purposes, the canvas-like material MIGHT be the cheapest.
Shape
Do we want it to be the conventional PDS case shape where it's like a planner, or do we want something else? The common shapes I've seen are circular tubes, flat pouches, rectangular pouches with no spine, and variations of the aforementioned shapes. The most cost-effective shapes I think are the circular tubes and flat pouches. Although, often times they don't hold many pens and does not give much room for customization as far as pockets go.
Customization
Depending on the material, certain customizations can be done on the outside, whether it's by sewing or by iron-on patches.
All in all, the cost of making just 1 case for yourself will end up being a lot more costly than you expected. Not everyone has a sewing machine or kit and the tools necessary to make a good case. Now, if the person was willing to put up with a not-so-great job on the sewing then I guess it won't be that big of an issue.
By the way, here is a link with some ideas: http://www.threadbanger.com/post/9093/week...ncils-and-cases -
Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 11:37:02
i would try and look if tackle boxes could be adapted because they fit a lot of the description
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Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 13:50:02
I think we should set a general guideline of cost. I think it's safe to say $15.00 would be a good goal to shoot for price-wise.
Regarding the tacklebox idea, it's not a bad idea, but problem is it's a bit bulky. I'm thinking a bit more simple.
@Eso, what type of materials precisely are you using/where did you get them/costs etc.? -
Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 14:39:45
you can make a tacklebox very small and only fit 2-3 pens and put in pocket
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Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 17:18:51
I think the most obvious thing is to use actual pencil cases and work off that, tackle boxes could work as well, I think it was K4S (might be someone else) who already used those for his pens.
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Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 17:53:34QUOTE (Awesome @ Mar 25 2009, 10:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I think the most obvious thing is to use actual pencil cases and work off that, tackle boxes could work as well, I think it was K4S (might be someone else) who already used those for his pens.
We can give both ideas a try. What I currently use for a pen case is a small bag made of cloth. It gets the job done.
I say it'd be nice to have a small version of the case that is more portable and another that's bigger perhaps. -
Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 21:04:55
You could use a miniature tackle box, but would it be adjustable to hold up to 10-15 mods with the same efficiency?
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Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 21:10:08
if you make the design modular, i imagine tacklebox being attached together for larger load, and then seperated to carry less pens.
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Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 21:47:45QUOTE (Charlie @ Mar 25 2009, 01:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>We can give both ideas a try. What I currently use for a pen case is a small bag made of cloth. It gets the job done.
I say it'd be nice to have a small version of the case that is more portable and another that's bigger perhaps.
For simple cloth cases I suppose you could use spray paint and a stencil to put a design on them, there are instructions here;
http://laura.moncur.org/archives/2007/09/12/slc-geek/
Although it might only work on white cases, but I assume you could put a paint of white on then put another coat of a color on over the white.
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Date: Wed, Mar 25 2009 23:26:06QUOTE (iMatt @ Mar 25 2009, 09:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>@Eso, what type of materials precisely are you using/where did you get them/costs etc.?
Well, these 2 cases I have were store bought. The canvas one is a pretty decent case. If it were a little longer and the openings a little wider, it would be great. The costs for them are um... $10 and $5, I believe. $10 for the canvas one. -
Date: Thu, Mar 26 2009 03:22:29
What I'm thinking is trying to find your canvas like stuff doing a cloth cover or something of the sort to get down the basic shape shape for the outer shell.
What im thinking is embedding some earth magnets into the cloth and use that as the open and close mechanism instead of the zipper. That way it's not nosy as [explicit], better for public/classroom environments. -
Date: Thu, Mar 26 2009 03:38:50
wait a cloth case?
didn't we say hard case? -
Date: Thu, Mar 26 2009 03:58:18QUOTE (Zombo @ Mar 25 2009, 10:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>wait a cloth case?
didn't we say hard case?
Hard shell, but cloth on the outside wouldn't be a bad idea though.
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Date: Thu, Mar 26 2009 08:07:38
Is the main focus of this project cost? If so, then cloth would be the way to go. Adding a hard skeleton such as vinyl underneath or something else would drive up the cost.
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Date: Thu, Mar 26 2009 14:47:26
well there isn't definite better way as of yet, so im just planning on trying both methods and then figure out the pros/cons
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Date: Sun, Mar 29 2009 02:44:38
I think we should also focus on portability. Making a big case that will protect your pens is hella easy. Making it small will be harder. Plus, I don't think people will enjoy carrying around tackle boxes to school, etc.
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Date: Sun, Mar 29 2009 04:06:30
I REALLY love Zombo's idea of having it be modular. Like a big one that has smaller parts that can slide out of it that hold 5 or so pens for portability. But I only have 1 pen I spin all the time, its so awesome I don't bother making others, so my opinion might now matter.
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Date: Mon, Mar 30 2009 14:54:35
Modularity? Add velcro strips so that you can add modules such as pockets, elastic loops, etc. Easiest "snap on, snap off" option I can think of.
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Date: Mon, Mar 30 2009 15:44:01
velcro strips get dirty easy
i prefer some sort of plastic interlocks or hooks. -
Date: Mon, Mar 30 2009 18:23:25
The velcro isn't a bad idea for modularity. The hooks/plastic clips I think would become a bit spendy since you can simply just buy a few strips of velcro.
I still think the magnet idea for silence. I'm working on finding the right materials now aka Scouting. -
Date: Tue, Mar 31 2009 05:08:15
i dont see anything wrong with zippers, they're quite easy to open silently if you do it right..
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Date: Wed, Apr 1 2009 15:45:30QUOTE (Shadowserpant @ Mar 31 2009, 12:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>i dont see anything wrong with zippers, they're quite easy to open silently if you do it right..
But they are tedious to put it and its a bit too spendy/not everyone has access to buying them.
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Date: Wed, Apr 1 2009 20:35:44
Zippers are quite cheap. You can get them for about $2. I wouldn't say that's a big splurge on the budget, is it?
http://www.joann.com/joann/search/search_r...questid=2867465 -
Date: Wed, Apr 1 2009 22:55:38
Yeah, but there's the problem of attatching it in the first case. I like zippers, as long as someone can attatch it to the rest of the case.
Dammit, I spelled something wrong... -
Date: Thu, Apr 2 2009 18:44:45
It's a bit annoying having to JUST order a zipper online, right now I'm scouting out prices on materials and trying to get a hold of some earth magnets.
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Date: Thu, Apr 2 2009 18:52:33QUOTE (iMatt @ Apr 2 2009, 01:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>It's a bit annoying having to JUST order a zipper online, right now I'm scouting out prices on materials and trying to get a hold of some earth magnets.
Theyre pretty easy to find.
You can get them in Walmart and stuff.
pretty much any clothing place.
But yah, im working on a desk organizer than can be taken apart...
its hard to find materials that everyone can get. -
Date: Fri, Apr 3 2009 13:46:18QUOTE (Stevieboy7 @ Apr 2 2009, 01:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Theyre pretty easy to find.
You can get them in Walmart and stuff.
pretty much any clothing place.
But yah, im working on a desk organizer than can be taken apart...
its hard to find materials that everyone can get.
Yeah, so far I'm trying to confine my supplies to Wal-mart and maybe then finding multiple places to carry just pure textile stuff
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Date: Wed, Apr 8 2009 04:05:36QUOTE (Stevieboy7 @ Apr 2 2009, 11:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Theyre pretty easy to find.
You can get them in Walmart and stuff.
pretty much any clothing place.
But yah, im working on a desk organizer than can be taken apart...
its hard to find materials that everyone can get.
about zippers... would huge teeth or small teeth look better? just for visual appeal -
Date: Sun, Apr 12 2009 03:03:17QUOTE (Sankaku @ Apr 7 2009, 11:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>about zippers... would huge teeth or small teeth look better? just for visual appeal
small teeth would be alot more streamlined. -
Date: Fri, Apr 24 2009 17:07:25
Well, I think the bubble wrap inside of the mailers also used for trade can be modified well with tape for example, combining this with cloth for example wouldn't be very expensive and easy to make. For closing it, zippers or magnets would be fine I think. Also, they're easily gettable for every trading penspinners since most have them at home.
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Date: Sat, Apr 25 2009 02:57:58QUOTE (kuhfi @ Apr 24 2009, 01:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Well, I think the bubble wrap inside of the mailers also used for trade can be modified well with tape for example, combining this with cloth for example wouldn't be very expensive and easy to make. For closing it, zippers or magnets would be fine I think. Also, they're easily gettable for every trading penspinners since most have them at home.
Well, this would make the case very noisy. Since it's plastic, it'll crackle and might even pop if enough pressure was applied to a single point. For cushioning, if we even need any at all, foam would make a better alternative. Heck, even sponges be a good alternative. -
Date: Sun, Dec 13 2009 20:51:35
Sorry if I'm reviving a long-dead topic of research, but in the off-chance anybody is still working on this, while reading through I thought of glasses cases for a small case, that's what the UCPSB ones look like to me anyway. If you could get some elastic bands in there somehow to hold the pens to the top and bottom so when you open it they're not all just piled up, I think it would be really nice.
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Date: Mon, Dec 14 2009 04:23:40
well hot glue doesn't exactly work, i've tried it
and its quite a lot of effort to build it PDS style