Source of pannier clips? Anyone make their own

[Cataboo]

I was in home depot earlier today and while going through the tool aisle, I noticed some 11" workforce tote bags on clearance for $4. They're basically tool bags, the upper rim is reinforced with metal, and I think they'd make great cheap panniers for my commute. They fold up, and the top closes up with a zipper.

I can just fold over the webbing straps & sew them and then use carabiners to attach 'em to my rack, or maybe sew on some velcro...

Has anyone made their own panniers and have any suggestions as to what kind of things I can use to attach it? I was looking at some belt clip things.

[DebW]

I posted about my homemade panniers on this thread:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=29827

I've still got another set of those hooks that I've had for 20+ years and don't expect to use. Let me know if you might want them.

[Tri Girl]

Surely you can find those somewhere... I just don't know where.
Makes me want to go to home depot to see if my store has any of those bags. They sound rugged and tough (things a good pannier should be).
If you pick them up and make them panniers, I would love to see them all finished!

[Grog]

Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC, the Canadian REI-equivalent) sells replacement pannier clips and J-hooks. You can look it up here:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_l...=1238943682600

I'm pretty sure you could install them in a bag. You'd just need to drill the metal a bit.

[Cataboo]

Thanks everyone. I'll definitely take pictures when I have something rigged up.

Debw - that yours have lasted 20 years is an excellent endorsement of your clips. I could pay/paypal you for them.

Grog - those look great, thanks.

[Cataboo]

Alright, I just used a document clip to attach one of the tool bags to the bike to see how it'd work.

These aren't huge, but they're more than enough for the ride to work or a quick trip downtown or to the grocery if I don't buy so much.

I may make velcro cover flaps for if I want to use them with the zipper open or just a net that I can stretch over them.

I've got a ton of dry bags for kayaking, so I'm not to worried about whether these are waterproof - I'll just put my stuff in a drybag if rain's an issue and pop that bag into these. And I'll probably put in thin plywood or plastic sheeting to stiffen the back (or maybe aluminum stiffeners like Debw had on hers)

closed up bag: