Laser Cut Bag | Making a Laser Cut Leather and Wood Backpack (Glowforge Friendly Project)

Here's another Laser Cut Bag! Today I'm making a Laser Cut Backpack. This laser cut bag is something I'd use in place of a handbag, not in place of a canvas backpack.
I've been wanting to design a living hinge backpack on the laser cutter ever since making the living hinge handbags this fall; And here it is! I love the possibilities that living hinges bring to the table for building 3 Dimesional shapes to incorporate within fashion design. I cut this in Walnut and leather on the Laguna EX Laser Cutter at the Makerspace but all of the individual pieces are a size that will fit on a Glowforge bed size as well (because I know that's more accessible in most cases).
If you want the files to recreate this, my files will all be available in the Virtual Makerspace right HERE: makersworkshop...
If you give it a go I would love to see photos!
-Brooke
Tools Used:
Laguna EX Laser Cutter
Mikita Subcompact Power Drill
Leather Upholstery Needles
Awl
Sanding Sponges
Clamps
Benzomatic Torch
Materials Used:
Glowforge Proofgrade Medium Walnut
Leather, here is the Amazon Scrap Bundle I always purchase:
Waxed Leather
Metallic Embroidery Floss
Strap Material
5 Minute Epoxy
Titebond III Woodglue
Music: All from KZbin Free Audio Library
"Animal (Sting),"
"Ready Or Not"
"Subway Dreams" Dan Henig
"A Night Alone" Tracktribe
"Good Morning!" Reed Mathis
"Greedy"
"African Drums (Sting)"
"Future Girl"
"No Talk" VYEN
"Demilitarized Zone (Sting)"
"Bright Morning" Nate Blaze
"Communicator" Reed Mathis
"Karma Cat"
"Morpho Diana"
"Ella Vater" The Mini Vandals
"Manic. No Depression" Jeremy Korpas
"Sunset Dream" Cheel
"Honey" Corbyn Kites

[@jennieanddavis]

This bag looks awesome! Turned out beautiful

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it

[@tribaltiz8613]

bravaaa!!

[@WiredWorkshop]

That came out so good, and really loved the whole video. The notebook laptop also gets me every-time😂

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

It was an impulse Amazon buy and I think I’ve repurchased the same case at least 3 times at this point bc now I can’t just... NOT have it be a notebook.

[@kylekinsey2624]

This is the coolest thing I have ever seen! I need one

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

Thanks so much! It truly means a lot bc I kept second guessing this whole concept over and over again as I designed it. Get your project files right here 😉: makersworkshop.com/member_downloads/laser-cut-backpack/

[@davebauerart]

Cool seeing the design and problem solving process along the way. It looks great.

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

This threw me a lot of curveballs, but I enjoyed the challenge of it overall. Thanks so much for watching!

[@trevorscott8252]

Came from r/woodworking great project and build!

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

Welcome :) I super-appreciate that you were interested enough to check it out over here as well

[@BeInspiredwithDominic]

Awesome piece of functional art. Great to see the iteration and design process. Thanks for sharing!

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

Thank you so much. I love sharing so it means a lot that you watch :)

[@vdub2002]

You're adorably amazing!

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

Aw thanks. You’re the best 👊

[@aomade6439]

Love this idea! Filing away this concept for later use when I either have access to a laser, or bite the bullet and buy my own. Thanks!

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

I’d love to see what you come up with when the day comes. Do you have access to a makerspace near you?

[@aomade6439]

@@MakersWorkshopLLC I have access to a laser at my local library. Did a few projects on it for Christmas (all engraving only). Time is the limiting factor at the moment, but looking forward to getting back to it eventually.

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

@@aomade6439 that's fantastic that you have access to one there. I know its something a lot of libraries have worked towards

[@bigguyfilms]

THIS IS SO DOPE! Also, just good video in general.

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

Thanks so much. I worked hard on it so the compliment means a lot :)

[@DepartmentofWackyIdeas]

Great energy and thanks for including the files to make the project. Your work is inspiring ...thanks.

[@IMEEMADE]

Man, so many elements to the backpack! You did an awesome job bringing every detail together. We love it!

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

There were a lot of details, that’s for sure, but I’m really happy with how it came together

[@donny6363]

This turned out really cool! Great video 👏🏻👍🏻

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

Thanks for watching, you’re the best

[@pezz86]

Hi! Here Giulio from Italy... i really love the way you show your project, you have a lot of skill and your sympathy it's a plus in your video. It's wonderful that you show also your failure, that make an artist like you more like we are, people with a passion that works around problem to have a wonderful result. I'd pay to have a neighbor like you XD XD. Really good job and glad to see your channel.

[@oupaswoodshop1325]

Very nice usefully project

[@garagemonkeysan]

Great video. Nice backpack. Cool and unique. Mahalo for sharing! : )

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

Thank you! I’m really happy with how it turned out for me

[@SimonLanz]

Cool idea and well made! :)

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

Thank you! Can’t wait to use it

[@glynnL]

Was the reason you didn’t have the sides, bottom, and top all one piece because of trying to keep the pieces small enough for a smaller machine? If you did another, I think it would help to have at least the sides and bottom one piece so the weight is spread out and isn’t only relying on the glued in bottom piece. Changing the hinge to be more spread out made a huge difference, definitely agree with you on that one. Pretty cool, and there’s lots of ways to tweak and change this design by replacing some wooden pieces with cloth or leather or whatever so people can add their own flair.

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

I can’t pictured what you’re describing for the main body of this; as in one carved out piece of wood for the main compartment?

[@glynnL]

@@MakersWorkshopLLC the left, bottom, and right side pieces would all be one strip (possibly include the top living hinge part as well), with either living hinges, or relief cuts and bent, or hinged and then glued at the corners near the bottom, instead of the way you have it now with the square cutouts which is 3 or 4 separate pieces that are then glued together. So for the main body of the bag you’d have the same back piece with the straps, and the same front piece (with the smaller pocket) and then either one or two other pieces for the sides and top. The side would be: Top Living Hinge - left side flat - hinge - bottom flat - hinge - right side flat all from one solid length. Does that make sense? I’m not sure if I’m explaining what’s in my head very well. Edit: you could probably make the body an all in one and fold up, but that seems quite wasteful of wood.

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

Ah hah; I’m following now. I think that would have been more fragile and also have been difficult to design around in a way that didn’t have holes. A glue joint is actually stronger than wood itself: paired with the leather lining it should be pretty solidly on there with the route I chose to take. I bet the way you’re thinking would make a really interesting shape though. Hmmm... I’m thinking about doing a pic nic basket in the future and if I can think of a way to make it not to fragile it might lend itself nicely to that shape

[@glynnL]

@@MakersWorkshopLLC yes, it would make the bottom more of a curved U shape. A picnic basket with this sort of style would be really elegant. If you get around to it, I’d love to see the outcome. Definitely lots of tweaks and trials would be needed.

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

It’s officially on my list to make so stay tuned :)

[@shajipara4448]

How efforts you taken for this nice piece 👍

[@richardolson3513]

how bout gluing the leather to the wood before creating the living hinge should work

[@walid_bouzenzen1992]

What type of wood is used?

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

This is walnut. I used proofgrade from Glowforge to save myself some time (it’s prefinished). However any hardwood would work

[@IronMan-yg4qw]

wooden backpack.. hmmm.. you must be bored.

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

Oh I needed this.

[@IronMan-yg4qw]

@@MakersWorkshopLLC really? i cant understand why? wood? easily broken. not waterproof...

[@MakersWorkshopLLC]

If you watched the video around 1:50 I address the practicality of it, or lack thereof. It’s something I’d use instead of a handbag, not something I’d go hiking with or use in instances where I’d otherwise be using an llbean style backpack.

[@IronMan-yg4qw]

@@MakersWorkshopLLC ya ok. it does look great tho!