DM Toolbox, Black & Blue

I did myself a huge favor long ago by pre-cutting a lot of the peices that make up the DM Toolboxes.  So when an order came in for one in the middle of the holiday rush it was just a cannonball and not a 2-ton bomb on my production schedule.  It's been awhile since I had an order for one but I've made so many by now that their assembly is just about routine.  I'm still finding ways to improve with each iteration though.  This time around I used some tips from +Deven Rue to improve the weathering on the "paper" around the box.  The client choose the black and blue scheme this time and I think it looks rather nice.

Deertan Toolbox

I'm usually pretty good about getting orders out within a week or two of receiving them but this one took a few weeks.  The client wanted a Toolbox as a surprise for her DMing husband so fortunately there wasn't a specific date it was needed by.  Everything was going pretty fine until I found I didn't have enough goatskin to make the skin of the toolbox.  True, I still had an uncut, "whole" goatskin in stock but it was so riddled with holes that there was no way to cut the pieces large enough for the toolbox from it.

That's how this toolbox wound up with a Deertan Cowhide skin (which took forever to arrive, probably due to Easter) rather than the old goatskin.  It's less expensive, probably a bit more durable, and feels a lot nicer to boot so it's probably going to be the new standard.  Especially since the goatskin isn't reliably available (at least within my supply network).

Along with a shoulder strap this was probably the last order I'll be filling from our old apartment.  As of this writing we're still waiting for the go-ahead to start the actual moving but work's well underway to get ready for that.  Between the time and attention that's taking I don't have the focus to spare to an adequate job on anyone's orders.  I have a few prototypes I'd like to bang together if I can, but otherwise any production is on hold until I have everything up and running in the new place.  I'm still happy to answer questions and take orders but it'll probably be May before I can really start working on things again.

Action Shot: Motorcycle Toolbox

Just got some pictures from my brother-in-law of the Toolbox on his bike.  Looking good!

Motorcycle Toolbox

This was a commission for my brother-in-law who wanted a smallish box to fit across the front of his handlebars.  I figured it was going to have to stand up to weather and whatever beating might come going down a highway so the thing's built like a brick.  It's all latigo, waxed thread, and lots of kote.  The lining is cordura ballastic fabric, one of the precursors to kevlar, so I'm fairly confident the innards are equally durable.  Hell of a project but I'm pretty content with the result.