Wet Molded Cell Phone Case

For a list of tools and materials used in this video visit, www.weaverleat...
In today's video, Chuck makes a wet molded cell phone case with a belt clip. This project is made for an iPhone 8 but can easily be adapted to any phone using the same basic concept. If you don't have a mold or the materials to make a mold, wrap the phone in plastic wrap to protect it from the wet leather and use that as a mold. The leather used in the video is 4/5 oz. and 8/9 oz. natural veg tan and dyed using Black Pro Dye.

[@cantonripfist462]

Having done this a couple of years now, I've got the basics of leather craft down. Let me tell you, though; nothing is more reinforcing for your self-confidence and creativity than a Chuck Dorsett video! Thanks for being the reason so many people like myself have developed a passion for the craft, and good luck with _your_ projects, sir!

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Thank you so much, Dustin!

[@giesiqleather1171]

Best teacher on youtube. It's like watching a chef program. Excellent work. Thanks for all the little details.

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Thank you so much!

[@joeredskin2247]

No matter what it is Chuck is So amazing at explaining ALL of the steps he takes during his projects! from something as simple as setting a rivet all the way to weaving a mystery braid. SO MUCH TO LEARN from him. THIS is why I Love Weaver Leather Supply

[@seandepoppe6716]

The mystery braid was fun, I've made 100s so far. Almost sold out. 👍😎👍

[@vincencures]

I am in the middle of this video and it is already more helpful than I could possibly imagine when the mighty algorithm selected it. 11 points ... out of 10.

[@viccruikshank2441]

Chuck is a fantastic instructor.

[@gibbyswife9218]

Hi Chuck You ALWAYS make me want to try to make anything and everything you make! Your enthusiasm and passion for leathercrafting radiates through you, straight into your fans love of leathercrafting! I may not be able to watch your livestreams, But OMG! I still love watching your videos afterwards, over and over again, and then again when I follow your tutorial, step by step, while I make your craft, even if I am making something different. (Which I have done before.) I like to refer back to your videos for your tips and suggestions! I have saved your videos, so if want something to look a little different, and I remembered watching you do it on one of your videos, I can go to the video you made, and use a different style on what I am making at the time.. (Say, like a cuff or wallet with a different type of closure, or say you suggested a certain type of stain, or glue, or thread, or even a different type of stitching that I remembered you used, which I liked. (You make such an awesome impression with your vivacious personality, I easily remember it was you that used it on something you had made. One time I used stitching you showed how to make, for decorating a table runner. Lol) Bet you would never have thought of that! Hey, there you go, a new type of craft: Cross-crafting! Lol I have even used your "sewing" style, which looked perfect on a project I was making.. That way, I kind of make my own unique style too. I can't emphasize enough, how much influence you have and that you are more inspiring that ANYONE I have ever seen! (Even when watching a tutorial for a completely different type of craft, nobody gets into their craft as much as you do!!!) You are such an inspiration for ANY craftmaker! Thank You for sharing your love of your trade. I just love it!

[@danielcassidy4857]

The phone cases will definitely out live the phones

[@kumbaview]

A very great Artist in telling and speaking! But in handling leather - First One. Thank you, sir.

[@rryder994]

I've made 2 phone cases in the last 6 years (for myself) I used one piece, folded over. I cut a hole in the bottom to poke finger in to aid removing phone. I also cut the sides at the bottom and folded those in, shaved a bit and glued them inside. The belt loop and strap I sewed on the back prior to stitching the sides. I didn't use a snap, I used a brass post (screw back) and punched a hole for the post in the strap and a small slice from the top center about 1/8-1/4" from the hole to ease pressing on the post. In all the years I've used these, I've never had the strap come open other than by my opening it. I don't have all the tools, and I purchased my leather already dyed black. I learned the saddle stitch from one of the many youtubers.. well I've just been gifted my 3rd cell.....and of course it's a little bigger, so I've started on my third case. I swear by 'em. Oh, I put a thinner piece of leather over the brass screw head and the stitching for the strap and loop - on the inside to aid in sliding the phone in and out and to prevent scratching, and I also put my phone in glass towards my body. Never had a problem. nice vid. peace

[@darrensmall4313]

Chuck, thanks for that tip on lightly using the two tine to mark and single tine to finish. Thanks for your time and sharing of techniques.

[@seesone8035]

I appreciate showing the different options for the fastener and belt clip. Generates ideas in my mind. Thank you! 🙏

[@ewill3435]

Chuck, I've got too many projects to do already, stop giving me more ideas!

[@seandepoppe6716]

I know right! But that's a good thing

[@brianhudson3619]

Another great video. But the open blade on the work surface has the klutz in me always nervous.

[@Blove0130]

Been wanting to make a phone case for awhile now. Thanks!! Also maybe use a couple of strong magnets for the strap.

[@mjbailey404]

Magnets might damage phone

[@Blove0130]

@@mjbailey404 pushing on a snap could possibly break a screen, the magnet would be placed on the outer side of the case. Ive seen other videos using magnets for the closure. You mark the spot for the closure and sew a thin circle of leather over the magnet. It never touches the phone

[@mjbailey404]

@@Blove0130 Magnets have an area effect that could damage the screen or internal circuitry. Be easier to just use velcro or something.

[@clyde8drive]

Chuck, Happy New Year!... you hit this at the right time for me, I'm making a very similar case for a 2 way radio and I am gonna do the same exact process that you just showed me. Your teaching skills are great and love the excitement you always bring to all the videos. New belt that you made on past tutorial looks great.

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Glad it was helpful!

[@andrewdavis894]

Nice project again. Chuck. My new work phone will look really smart in this case. Thanks

[@scottpeever3198]

Been getting into wet molding for a bit now and had a few issues but with ur tips its going great thanx again for the great videos

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Great to hear, thank you!

[@richardkatzman1215]

Chuck, nice job as usual. I’m a little surprised that you didn’t use white thread for contrast. Either way it looks great. Best regards, Richard

[@beccar0ze]

Hey Chuck and everyone at Weaver. I love your videos, and I wondered if I could offer an idea. I live about 10 hours from the nearest leather shop, and I know many viewers are in the same boat. It would be awesome to see some of your most popular leathers in videos, just to see how soft and supple the different hides are. The few leathers like crazy horse that you've used a few times stick out to me since I've seen how they move and the color in changing light. Since I will likely not ever get to a store it would be really helpful in picking out what to order! These would be more like sales videos showing off a few types of leather every few weeks. I bet you would get more sales from people like me who are scared to buy without getting to touch it themselves first.

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi there! Thank you so much for the idea - we will definitely look into this. In the meantime, we do have free samples available to order on our site if you'd like to get a better feel for them before buying a side. Just click the Request a Sample button on the product pages and and add them to your cart. Thanks again!

[@donlapham1265]

Their samples are 3x3 inches, pretty great for seeing how it feels and looks.

[@grantlynch1666]

i love this vid you are easy to listen to and your instructions are clear as .thanks grant from Australia

[@wleegriffin]

Thanks great tutorial. You always make me believe that it is doable .

[@davidvanduyvenvoorde4402]

Hi Chuck. Great videos, thank you! I notice you use a square know to close off your stitching. Without tension on the knot, I've found that square knots always loosen up. Any thoughts on what I might be doing wrong? (And yes, I really crank down on them.) Thank you!

[@bagramdave883]

I have the EXACT same issue as you. It seems like Chuck is the only KZbinr out there that ties off stitching with knots, and I always wonder why.

[@pauleugene8286]

I know he's a pro, but watching that knife on the table sometimes...makes me bite MY nails! Very good video!

[@TheDude13]

Does the rivet head on the inside of the case not scratch the phone? I'd think you would want some protection between the metal rivet and snap and the phone.

[@ronnietrafficano9663]

Thank Chuck! Another great video.

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Thanks you!

[@KowboyUSA]

Sweet!! This is almost exactly what I had visualized for a protective carrier for my phone, but I couldn't figure out where to even start, what kind of leather to use, etc. The only thing different I want to do is to mold a lid piece in place of the strap to help shield the phone from mud, dirt, water, sticks, rocks, etc. Actually, it would be ideal to be able switch between a lid and strap so the lid wouldn't have to be fumbled with when carrying in less rugged conditions like around town or the shop, but could still be added for carrying out in the field.

[@johngarloff]

Thanks to your tutorial, I now have a great leather holster for my new and bigger cellphone. Looking forward to learning more and purchasing supplies from you.

[@mattsmith1737]

If you leave the bottom square cut till you glue and attach much easier to line up. After glued up you can cut your round corners.

[@daviddanielson3522]

What is the purpose of the stitch groove on the first piece? Decorative? Thank you for the idea.

[@56Spookdog]

Chuck have you or will make a phone case with a flap instead of a strap. Also I think a horizontal case would be a good project I like to see you do. If possible I’d like to see a case made from a single piece of leather folded so there would be no sewing across the bottom.

[@johnaugustine6212]

Chuck when attaching the clip to the thicker backing, the double cap rivet (1/4") is too long for the thickness of the backing of 8 to 9 ounce leather. Are there shorter rivets than 1/4 inch or should the backing leather be thicker?

[@aaronlorinchack1942]

Chuck your work always looks great. I need a thread recommendation and a needle size to go with it. I’m using the stuff that everyone starts with that comes in a kit. Yeah I know. We all started somewhere. Thank you again for sharing your craft it’s beautiful.

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi Aaron, Thank you for watching! I like the 0.8 mm Ritza Tiger Thread combined with the John James 18 gauge needles, this combo works for a variety of projects.

[@aaronlorinchack1942]

Thank you again!!! You guys are the best!!

[@apparentlywyatt]

Hey Chuck! Have you ever considered doing a video on making a rifle scabbard? I've been wanting to make one, but I haven't found much clear cut information online.

[@chuckb5012]

Good job as always. I need to do this after I finish my latest 2 projects. suggestion. I have used snake skin on pouches I have made. try this. I got a skin at a snake round up, froze it, did searches on how to tan the hide, completed the tanning and mounted it on the face of a pouch. looks great. try that!!!!

[@piledriver141]

Enjoyed the video very much😎 compiling information to start leather crafting

[@rayleder3705]

Beautiful case and awesome tutorial! Thanks Chuck!

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Thanks for watching!

[@kerryg4119]

Very professional looking case. Question: What material do you have on your cutting bench? I'd like to cover an area with that instead of using the usual self healing cutting boards.

[@BobJones-r6o]

Great instructions thanks.

[@Maverick_1373]

Wont the snap scratch the phone when taking it in and out?

[@dozerman53111]

Been waiting for this one !! Great job. Now I gotta make one. !! Thanks

[@johnnance8577]

I like your channel and I watch it a lot but, I make phone cases for sale and I have a few comments. Frist you always put the phone in the case with the glass towards your body to protect it.If you pass the snap against the phone screen it will break, and the slip inside will damage the phone. To install the clip recited it to a small piece of leather and sew that to the back of the phone case.

[@kristymelgoza6380]

Wondering(?) - If I'm making something that will touch a person's skin, like a cuff or other item -- would I put leather balm or other topcoat on the side that touches skin? If not, how do I prevent dye transfer?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi Kristy, If the inside is dyed then, yes, you will want to put a top coat on the flesh side to prevent rub off. Any top coat will work.

[@1guncrazy1]

Would this work on a speedloader pouch? I tried to make a double speedloader pouch and the results were....less than awesome. Functional but definitely not pretty

[@donlapham1265]

Great project! What do you do to trim the arm on the groover?

[@chadbutler3277]

Chuck you mention tooling. When in the process do you tool your pattern???

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi Chad, You can either tool before wet molding or if you have a wooden mold, you can tool while the leather is on the mold! Just don't try it after molding because you need a solid surface under the leather when you stamp.

[@williamedwards2975]

Hi. What is the black sheet material you are cutting on top of?

[@marykinser]

Where can I get instructions on making a mold?

[@tonymoore5568]

How can i order supplies from your company ?

[@judithwright5084]

Chuck what ca you do to keep snap and other hardware from scratching the phone????

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi Judith, If you're concerned about the hardware scratching the phone we would recommend lining the phone case with a thinner weight leather. You would have to attach the hardware, line it and then wet mold. Hope that helps!

[@techedfireman4981]

Great tutorial, thanks Chuck. I'll have to tag you on IG with the version I made with some prestamped "aligator" cow hide 8-9 oz with some suede inside to not scratch the screen.

[@landnnut]

My opinion is that suede collects grit and then scratches just as bad or worse over time. Thoughts? Real world experience?

[@techedfireman4981]

@@landnnut I would have to say in the 6 months since I made it I haven't had any issue. My version goes the full length of the phone and I have a finger hole in the bottom to push the phone up to release it. I wear it everyday most extreme work I have done is driveway stonework and cut firewood with it on with no real effect on things getting in. If you are on IG my screename there is the same as here. I will post a few pictures of when I made it and currently with the wear that it has taken on. Thanks for the heads up on the possible grit issue I will keep an eye out for things down the road.

[@landnnut]

@@techedfireman4981 Thanks for the reply

[@robsarchery9679]

The clip and snap will scratch the crap on the phone.Rubbing on that metal sliding in and out.Done before putting together you could put thin leather over them.

[@hernanmolina5969]

Hi Chuck, could you recommend a beginner’s toolkit

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

I would recommend this one: www.weaverleathersupply.com/catalog/item-detail/12531-00/beginners-leathercrafting/pr_65597

[@hernanmolina5969]

@@WeaverLeatherSupply thanks a lot

[@YoungPark-hs8jw]

Can you make Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra cell phone case with a belt clip?

[@lswen7737]

good job!

[@radzeenadzri4794]

Can i mold it first..after that i burnish the edge?

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi Radzee, We recommend burnishing the top edge of the molded part first, just because it harder to burnish around the formed edge after molding. The edges that get sewn together we would wait and burnish after molding - like we did in the video.

[@radzeenadzri4794]

@@WeaverLeatherSupplyorait.. thank you..

[@stevesears6196]

How can you burnish Chrome Tanned leather

[@WeaverLeatherSupply]

Hi Steve, Chrome tanned leather unfortunately does not burnish very well - you can try Tokonole as it works on some chrome tanned leathers but not all. The best thing to do for chrome would be sand and use an edge paint or Edge Kote if you don't want a raw edge.

[@seandepoppe6716]

Thank you!

[@hodatareq7409]

Thank you 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@robsarchery9679]

Thanks

[@psmithrpm]

Thanks Chuck!

[@juliangonzales2916]

Saludos👍👍👍

[@quocbaochung]

You're amazing!

[@rennaemcintosh1951]

one way to avoid any problems with the phone glass and the snap is to make a habit of inserting the phone with the glass facing towards your body. Then the snap is pressing against the back of the phone.

[@jimathey6153]

OLD LEATHER SMITH here, Hi Chuck, looks good, Suggestions, I always include chrome tanned sheep wool in the case no scratches ever, I personally like a flap protects against rain, I also glued a piece of upolstery leather hair side down on rivet and snap anvil, 2 protect the rivet and snap covers from scratches on installation, on my phone case I used industrial Velcro, Sorry 4 being long winded, GOD'S BLESSINGS ✝️⚾🙃

[@notwrkn2mch]

Perfect timing....Just got the new iphone

[@jhunnail505]

Awesome

[@vitoscatigno4207]

Why do all these cell phone cases have a clip or a belt loop directly in the back of the case? Why don't they have a belt loop so that you can hang the cell case from your belt? If you sit down and drive and have that case dig into your side you will understand!

[@khan-fm5ju]

👍👍👍👍

[@lowkeylowkey1000]

Seems to me the metal buttons and clip rubbing against either side of the phone is a bad idea. But I was watching this for the molding part. Thanks for one at least.

[@thomascronquist1604]

It sure be nice to attach the diagram on a PDF.

[@rockinHurley777]

Maybe make a quiver from the lord of the rings, that would be cool

[@seandepoppe6716]

Thank you!