Best way to turn Never-ready into half-case

[captainslack]

I've got two Zorki's, a 4 and a 4K.

I just got the 4 back from Oleg and it's now in fine working condition. It's never-ready, however, is a flimsy piece of crap! But, it was separated into two halves, which is the way I what I like.

The 4K was a gift from Bill Mattocks and it is basically a paperweight. The self-timer broke fell apart in his hands, then the shutter jammed and he stopped using it. I asked him for the case and he gave me the whole thing. The never-ready, though smelly, is sturdy and would make a nice carrying case. However, it's halves are still connected.

What I want to do, is turn the one piece case into a half-case, but not tear the button out of the leather in the meantime. In other words, I don't want end up ripping the thing to shreds to separate the halves. What's the best way to do this? Jam a screwdriver between the button halves and pry them apart?

 

[FrankS]

Or a drill. I do this with all my cases, even the Leica ones.

 

[mikule]

I used a scalpel on mine to cut around the button. That way the case can be split into two while you're using it, then still easily clip back together once you're finished.

 

[fraley]

I took one case to a shoe repair shop. They installed a snap for me in place of the non-removeable one. That's the way to go if you have a nice case and want to convert it.

On another couple of worn cases I used an exacto blade and cut around the fastener. It takes repeated gentle cuts to avoid damaging the bottom half of the case but you end up with a top half that can be placed back over the bottom if needed.

 

[xayraa33]

Diagonal pliers, aka sidecutters, place blades between bottom part & top part( place blades around snap) one squeeze will do it. after, pull out the cut halves of the snap from both pieces.

 

[captainslack]

Thanks guys. That helps a lot.

Or I could go with my other option: get my wife to make a new one. She took a leatherworking course in college and still has all the tools. All I'd have to do is get the leather for her and she could use the POS half-case I've already got as a template. In fact, she could even recycle the tripod bush from it. Now, if she can only make the time....

 

[Heath]

And she could put some custom carving in the leather too. I did leatherwork in highschool and had a lot of fun doing it..

Custom cases would probably sell very well.

HMMM........

Heath

 

[captainslack]

And she could put some custom carving in the leather too. I did leatherwork in highschool and had a lot of fun doing it..

Custom cases would probably sell very well.

HMMM........

Heath

I had that in the back of mind.

 

[captainslack]

Diagonal pliers, aka sidecutters, place blades between bottom part & top part( place blades around snap) one squeeze will do it. after, pull out the cut halves of the snap from both pieces.

Think a pair of handheld garden pruners would do the job?

 

[FrankS]

Please, use an electric drill with a 6,7,or 8 mm (1/4inch) bit and drill out the rivet from the inside. (the side that has a hole in the center.)

 

[xayraa33]

Go with the sidecutters. Leave the pruning shears for the garden.

 

[Bob L]

I have modified cases for both Zorki's and fed's the way Mikule has done his and it works out fine , as he said just cut around the snap on the cover part of the case and when your finish you have a case that you can take the cover off of and still be able to snap it back and you can't tell that they are cut once the two halves are snap back together, the hole job take me about 5 min. to do.

 

[newspaperguy]

What Frank said!

Then to Walmart or any craft store for a $3 rivet set.
The whole job tskes less than 10 minutes, and you're
not cutting any thing.