French fitting a gun case - 12/06/16 04:32 AM
I had thought I read a post about how to make the beaded border around French fitted gun cases. Must have seen it in another section. I have been building one this Fall, and offer my very yeoman ideas on the matter.
After building an oak box and covering it in leather, I chose (and feel free to suggest a better way) to make the fitted area out of leather covered foam. I laminated wall insulation foam and sanded it down to the right height. I topped it with a layer of paneling with only layers of foam glued together, and then jig sawed the traced patterns of the buttstock/receiver the barrels with fore end mounted, and the claw mounted scope. I covered the top layer of paneling with goatskin (choice for the interior) and laid it aside. I then measured the width for strips of leather to line the inside of the cut outs. I made sure that it was just a smidgen taller than the combined height of the foam and paneling top. Using spray adhesive, I glued the stips to an even wider strip of goatskin. I made a sort of belt by folding the wider strip over the backside of the strip. This gave a rounded, bead like effect to the top edge. Now, simply glue this belt all the way around the inside of each cutout, forming it into the corners and curves, and you have finished the inside of the fitted section. Now glue down the leather covered paneling on the top and the bead stands just proud of the surface of the top. Looks nice. I also leather covered a pad made from a layer of an old memory foam pillow I never liked, and installed it in the lid. This keeps everything from moving. I decided for the gun to sit about level with the top of the bead, with the fences slightly proud so the pad could come to bear. If I find some help, I'll post pics of the interior. But that is how I made the beaded look around the firearm, and I want to learn better ways so please chime in. BTW, the only padding on the bottom was the wood and two layers of leather. I probably could have improved on that, but don't plan to put it in harms way. Hardware for latches and 90 degree hinges was Rockler. Still not happy with what I ordered elsewhere for brass corners, but didn't want to spend a fortune for the really good ones...may give in on that.
Steve
After building an oak box and covering it in leather, I chose (and feel free to suggest a better way) to make the fitted area out of leather covered foam. I laminated wall insulation foam and sanded it down to the right height. I topped it with a layer of paneling with only layers of foam glued together, and then jig sawed the traced patterns of the buttstock/receiver the barrels with fore end mounted, and the claw mounted scope. I covered the top layer of paneling with goatskin (choice for the interior) and laid it aside. I then measured the width for strips of leather to line the inside of the cut outs. I made sure that it was just a smidgen taller than the combined height of the foam and paneling top. Using spray adhesive, I glued the stips to an even wider strip of goatskin. I made a sort of belt by folding the wider strip over the backside of the strip. This gave a rounded, bead like effect to the top edge. Now, simply glue this belt all the way around the inside of each cutout, forming it into the corners and curves, and you have finished the inside of the fitted section. Now glue down the leather covered paneling on the top and the bead stands just proud of the surface of the top. Looks nice. I also leather covered a pad made from a layer of an old memory foam pillow I never liked, and installed it in the lid. This keeps everything from moving. I decided for the gun to sit about level with the top of the bead, with the fences slightly proud so the pad could come to bear. If I find some help, I'll post pics of the interior. But that is how I made the beaded look around the firearm, and I want to learn better ways so please chime in. BTW, the only padding on the bottom was the wood and two layers of leather. I probably could have improved on that, but don't plan to put it in harms way. Hardware for latches and 90 degree hinges was Rockler. Still not happy with what I ordered elsewhere for brass corners, but didn't want to spend a fortune for the really good ones...may give in on that.
Steve