Need advice for building an equipment case.
 

I a piece of equipment that uses a set of large lenses. The lenses
are approx 1"x7"x7" and
weigh 2 or 3 lbs each. There are six lenses in the set. The lenses
cost several hundred dollars each.

I'd like to build a wooden case to keep them in. I'm envisioning a
case made out of a light colored
wood that is felt lined and has individual 'pockets' for the lenses to
slide into. When the lid is closed,
I'd like it to hold the lenses securely in place with no slack.

The case needs to be strong enough so that it can withstand typical
shipping stresses.

What's a good choice of wood for this? What kind of joinery would you
recommend for the sides
and bottom.

Thanks,

Joe

Need advice for building an equipment case.
 

Joe,

For the value of the lenses and the shipping policies of various carriers, I
would think that purchasing a commercial made product, like an aluminum or
steel clad equipment case would be a better choice. These typically come
stuffed with a high-density foam with pre-made cutouts that you could adapt
to handle the lenses. Perhaps building small individual wooden cases for
each lens and having them fit the cutouts would be the best of both worlds.
You have an approx value of $1,200 in lenses so spending 10% of that for a
commercial case certainly seems reasonable to me.

Just a thought from having shipped lot's of 'spensive equipment around the
country and seeing what's held up to the abuse of that 800lb gorilla that
lives on those planes.

Bob S.


"Joe McGuckin" wrote in message
m...
I a piece of equipment that uses a set of large lenses. The lenses
are approx 1"x7"x7" and
weigh 2 or 3 lbs each. There are six lenses in the set. The lenses
cost several hundred dollars each.

I'd like to build a wooden case to keep them in. I'm envisioning a
case made out of a light colored
wood that is felt lined and has individual 'pockets' for the lenses to
slide into. When the lid is closed,
I'd like it to hold the lenses securely in place with no slack.

The case needs to be strong enough so that it can withstand typical
shipping stresses.

What's a good choice of wood for this? What kind of joinery would you
recommend for the sides
and bottom.

Thanks,

Joe

Need advice for building an equipment case.
 

I'm curious as to what equipment these lenses are for. Gadgets like that
fascinate me.

I'd recommend building the outer case out of relatively thick (5/8" or 3/4
") high-quality, stable plywood (e.g. baltic birch ply), rabbetted into
solid hardwood frame. The lenses should be wrapped in protective material
(foam or whatever), and fitted into an interior rack that isolates them and
holds then securely. The interior rack would also be built out of baltic
birch ply. Use high-quality hardware (e.g. full-length piano hinges), and
you're set.

-jbb

"Joe McGuckin" wrote in message
m...
I a piece of equipment that uses a set of large lenses. The lenses
are approx 1"x7"x7" and
weigh 2 or 3 lbs each. There are six lenses in the set. The lenses
cost several hundred dollars each.

I'd like to build a wooden case to keep them in. I'm envisioning a
case made out of a light colored
wood that is felt lined and has individual 'pockets' for the lenses to
slide into. When the lid is closed,
I'd like it to hold the lenses securely in place with no slack.

The case needs to be strong enough so that it can withstand typical
shipping stresses.

What's a good choice of wood for this? What kind of joinery would you
recommend for the sides
and bottom.

Thanks,

Joe

Need advice for building an equipment case.
 

Ply is strong and easy to work. I would put the lens inside with two
plastic bags filled with expanding foam. The lens should be floating
in the foam. Once the foam hardens, you have a good fit. My PC
router was shipped that way, except it was in a cardboard box.
Shipping insurance is recommended.

On 5 Aug 2004 17:54:45 -0700, (Joe McGuckin) wrote:

I a piece of equipment that uses a set of large lenses. The lenses
are approx 1"x7"x7" and
weigh 2 or 3 lbs each. There are six lenses in the set. The lenses
cost several hundred dollars each.

I'd like to build a wooden case to keep them in. I'm envisioning a
case made out of a light colored
wood that is felt lined and has individual 'pockets' for the lenses to
slide into. When the lid is closed,
I'd like it to hold the lenses securely in place with no slack.

The case needs to be strong enough so that it can withstand typical
shipping stresses.

What's a good choice of wood for this? What kind of joinery would you
recommend for the sides
and bottom.

Thanks,

Joe

Need advice for building an equipment case.
 

In article ,
says...
I a piece of equipment that uses a set of large lenses. The lenses
are approx 1"x7"x7" and
weigh 2 or 3 lbs each. There are six lenses in the set. The lenses
cost several hundred dollars each.

I'd like to build a wooden case to keep them in. I'm envisioning a
case made out of a light colored
wood that is felt lined and has individual 'pockets' for the lenses to
slide into. When the lid is closed,
I'd like it to hold the lenses securely in place with no slack.

The case needs to be strong enough so that it can withstand typical
shipping stresses.

What's a good choice of wood for this? What kind of joinery would you
recommend for the sides
and bottom.

Thanks,

Joe



Back in the good old days when high speed data was a 150 WPM 28 ksr
teletype, some businesses were still using Morse, and test equipment was
either cased in a wood box or the chassis was wood, the wood of choice
was red oak with box joints. The finish, if I recollect correctly was
usually a curing oil.


--
MikeG
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net

Need advice for building an equipment case.
 

On Fri, 06 Aug 2004 01:07:20 GMT, "BobS" wrote:

Joe,

For the value of the lenses and the shipping policies of various carriers, I
would think that purchasing a commercial made product, like an aluminum or
steel clad equipment case would be a better choice. These typically come
stuffed with a high-density foam with pre-made cutouts that you could adapt
to handle the lenses. Perhaps building small individual wooden cases for
each lens and having them fit the cutouts would be the best of both worlds.
You have an approx value of $1,200 in lenses so spending 10% of that for a
commercial case certainly seems reasonable to me.

Just a thought from having shipped lot's of 'spensive equipment around the
country and seeing what's held up to the abuse of that 800lb gorilla that
lives on those planes.

Bob S.


"Joe McGuckin" wrote in message
om...
I a piece of equipment that uses a set of large lenses. The lenses
are approx 1"x7"x7" and
weigh 2 or 3 lbs each. There are six lenses in the set. The lenses
cost several hundred dollars each.

I'd like to build a wooden case to keep them in. I'm envisioning a
case made out of a light colored
wood that is felt lined and has individual 'pockets' for the lenses to
slide into. When the lid is closed,
I'd like it to hold the lenses securely in place with no slack.

The case needs to be strong enough so that it can withstand typical
shipping stresses.

What's a good choice of wood for this? What kind of joinery would you
recommend for the sides
and bottom.

Thanks,

Joe



good advice.

but if you do decide to build your own, here are some thoughts.

drawers. 1 per lens, fitted felt over foam padding. a door that closes
over the drawers and locks.

finger joint the case together and use good quality box corners.

Need advice for building an equipment case.
 

BobS responds:

For the value of the lenses and the shipping policies of various carriers, I
would think that purchasing a commercial made product, like an aluminum or
steel clad equipment case would be a better choice. These typically come
stuffed with a high-density foam with pre-made cutouts that you could adapt
to handle the lenses. Perhaps building small individual wooden cases for
each lens and having them fit the cutouts would be the best of both worlds.
You have an approx value of $1,200 in lenses so spending 10% of that for a
commercial case certainly seems reasonable to me.


Got to agree with Bob. Zero Halliburton makes some great cases, and there are
even some blow molded types around that should be sturdy enough. Several come
with full fitted protective foam that can then be cut to fit the lenses. Add,
maybe, a soft cloth bag to each lens, cut the inserts, install, close and ship.


Do NOT lock if shipping by air. All that does these days is increase your
costs, as the locks will be cut off.

Charlie Self
"Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major categories -
those that don't work, those that break down and those that get lost." Russell
Baker

Need advice for building an equipment case.
 

I built a case for similar needs (expensive eyepieces for my telescope) using
1X maple and box joints. I take it on airplanes and it withstands the baggage
handlers. I don't know how it would hold up to shippers though. I lined the
inside with foamboard and velvet. The eyepieces fit into individual
compartments achieved by 1/2" stock in bridle joints.

Kevin Daly
http://hometown.aol.com/kdaly10475/page1.html

Need advice for building an equipment case.
 

On 5 Aug 2004 17:54:45 -0700, (Joe McGuckin) wrote:

I'd like to build a wooden case to keep them in.

My instrument cases all follow much the same design. Two cases, nested
inside the each other. The inner case has all the complex pockets
etc., and is generally held together with half-laps or mortice &
tenons. Wrapped around this is an outer box that's a "hard shell".

For the outer carcase I'd use a tropical, like African mahogany. It
has the advantage of stability. My favoured wood source for this is
old 1950s wardrobe doors, because they're big wide single panels that
are already well dried and extremely stable. I can buy modern timber,
but not in the same widths without paying a lot for it.

Inside I use lime (basswood), because of its moisture properties. I
may use this for the outer carcase too, if I'm going for traditional
Japanese work (I can't source Paulownia).

Finger joints are the best joinery. Dovetails are for those who either
_want_ to cut them, or know they can cut this many and do them all
accurately. Much of the strength actually comes from the two-layer
internal construction and staggering the joint lines.

I wouldn't seal the case and make it waterproof. If I need that, then
I buy in a ready-made plastic case. A small mating rebate around the
lid edges is worth the trouble though.

Tops and bottoms can either be nailed on, or set slightly loose in an
internal groove. They're not a structural part, they're an ablative
buffer in case of serious impact. The strength is supplied by the
internal lime framework. Have the panels spaced slightly away from the
inner frame.

To get internal "spring" on a lid clamp, I like to make a tiny wooden
replica of a "sprung" dancefloor. Lime works well for this - Fretsaw
the closure frame inside the lid so that the pressure pad is supported
by a 2" long cantilevered long-grain beam, fastened only at the ends.
Unlike felt padding, this won't compress with age. For something
complicated like a theodolite, make the lid part of the internal frame
and hinge it to the lower inside part, so that it closes separately
and before the main lid.

Label the internal nests so that it's clear where things go, how they
go in, and which way you need to point their hinged brackets etc. to
fit. Take a photograph or diagram of it correctly loaded and glue it
inside the lid if you need to. Remember, it's not always you who will
be loading it.

Don't use felt for padding. It has obvious problems with moisture, but
it also gives off sulphur and that can be a problem for brass or
disaster for silver. Use closed-cell polyethylene foam instead - tool
box liners.

Design in space for dehumidifiers, ideally a removable sack the size
of a sock. The little teabag sachets are too small to be of any use.
Provide an obvious designated place for it, and a little brass strip
or sprung wire clamp to hold it there.

Shellac is a good finish. Give it a week of warmth and there's no
outgassing problems.

Study Victorian military campaign furniture for the best ideas about
hinge, locks, handles and corner guards. Finding this sort of quality
brassware isn't too hard these days, although some of it gets
expensive.


A cheaper option is to go to a big mil-surplus dealer. Top quality
fibreglass cases come in every size and for minimal money.

I wouldn't use a Haliburton product because they're evil *******s.

--
Smert' spamionam