Another case fixed

The case for my Spanish Lettera 32 was in a sorry state, with a hanging zip and a loose base inside. Not to mention filthy on the outside. A scrub with Cif and a sponge got it smelling nice before I started on the zip.

Saggy seams. Someone not impressed! This is not up to standard for holding secret documents. Or typewriters.

I appear to be sewing it to my knee. This is because you can’t hold the thing and take the picture at the same time.

The holes from the broken stitches are still there, so make a good guide for the mending. I used a strong linen thread and a big fat sturdy needle. Ordinary sewing thread and needles will not be up to this. The best stitch to use on bags and cases is the shoe-stitch: do a running stitch, all the way to the end of the line and then turn back on yourself and fill in the gaps with another running stitch. (Back-stitch is messy and awkward!)

Yuk. Just, yuk. But interesting to see the slap-dash way in which the original glue was applied.

I was outside doing this fix because the next bit was very smelly. I’ve used Bostick Fast-Tack to successfully glue another case back together. Spray it on all over on both surfaces, wait a couple of minutes and then press together. It will bond in a few minutes or less depending on your surfaces.

The Stuff.

Ready to go.

It’s not the prettiest, but now it works fine, and smells a lot better. There’s no discernible odour from the glue.