Posted: 7/27/2017 7:30:39 PM EDT
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A buddy of mine asked if I could make a protective pouch that would MOLLE onto his Rush 24 5.11 pack.
He has a Leica set of LRF binos, $3200 unit with a rather poor factory case. Uses them for PRS regularly. I took measurements, and applied my formula for making a good pouch with 1/4" padding, packcloth lining, attention to detail, bartacked stress points, and came up with this: 
 Update: I got a request for a spotting scope cover in MARPAT desert. Had fun with it and made an integral mesh ARD, that is removable, improved the design of the objective cover from the OEM Leupold cover (made in China), and made sure it was fully padded with quality US-made materials and tough construction. Fastening system is redundant with snaps as primary, hook/pile as back up/deactivated. 
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that's nice work...
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Quoted:
Dude, that's awesome. You could sell those. Did you sew the 1/4" padding in yourself? Took one of my SAW pouches for measurements, then used some basic math to get the ratios correct so that the height of the face was proportional to the height of the rear. Made the templates, everything lined up out of the gate. Like my SAW and small utility pouches, it's lined with 400D packcloth, padded in between, and outer is 500D Cordura for lightweight, plenty of abrasion resistance. Since he wanted protection for his $3200 Leicas, I used the 1/4" padding. My Juki blasted right through everything like it was nothing. |
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Quoted:
What machine did you use to do this? I'm looking for a machine for similar type of projects. Awesome work! I do a lot of the flatwork on a lighter duty machine. I also bartack. I've been making my own pouches since the 1980s, learned a lot about planning and template making when I was a kid on my own. These aren't something you just throw together on a whim without a really good background in pattern-making and sewing. Final assembly is the hardest, and only very heavy duty machines will get through all the folded layers and binding tape. The Juki alone with the table is a $2000 machine. Bartack machines will run anywhere from $650 to $4000 for CNC. Lighter duty straight stitch machines can be found for $250 and up. A good Juki straight stitch machine runs $750 and up. |
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This is just a basic pouch for his LRF, but is lined with pack cloth and padded between those 2 layers.
When I say padded, if you were to hold the pouch, it would feel like a somewhat solid box, but is still very lightweight. With the 1/4" padding, there is no way other than extreme impact speed that the LRF will be damaged. My SAW and Small Utility pouches are much more involved than this, as they have all kinds of external and internal stowage, with removable spacers. |
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For years I've admired your contributions to this site, but this is simply outstanding. You have my respect! I've been sewing since I was a kid, started by hand. Sewing Ghillie suits by hand was brutal on my thumb joint, so I went to machine and never looked back. |
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Quoted:
Updated with padded Spotting Scope cover. Has veg attachment points, tough construction, integral ARD, 1/4" thick padded obj cover, disrupted pattern alignment...and other things. 
Attached File |
