Customizing Equipment Cases
I just bought a new mixer and an ATA case for it. The case is not custom made for the mixer, so I have to customize it myself. I need to add some type of padding around the edges to hold the mixer in the case to prevent it from sliding all over in the case when we move it. I'm not having much luck finding something both good, and reasonably priced, to use to fill these gaps. I am wondering if anyone here has some good recommendations on how to customize these cases and what kind of material they use for to fill the voids. The few pads that are currently in the case feel almost like rubber, but only lighter. I haven't a clue as to what they use.
If I get this project done right, I'll probably modify some of my other cases to custom fit some of my other gear. Any suggestions?
If I get this project done right, I'll probably modify some of my other cases to custom fit some of my other gear. Any suggestions?
Comments
And have your wife's hott single friends call me. 8)
Wrap it in some kind of carpet, gluing it to the wood. Through bolt through the case and counter sink the 2x4 holes with a spade bit so the nuts are inset into the wood.
I checked out the local big sewing center. They do have foam products, but none of them were what I would call inexpensive. Plus, the foam was all green colored so I would have to color it black, or cover it with something to look good. That will be my backup plan if I can't find anything better. If they had black foam, that would be the ticket.
The 2X4 is not going to work. The mixer (32 channel) and case are already heavy, so adding 2X4's to the case is not my first choice. But your suggestion on covering it with carpet got me thinking about buying a foam insulation sheet at the local Home Depot, cutting the foam to size, and covering it with the standard black carpet like it on my speakers. That should be lightweight and the carpet adds extra strength to the foam. I could glue the pieces into the case. Since I just spent $300 on the ATA case itself, I'm not too keen about drilling holes and putting bolts through it. But I think using foam blocks (instead of 2X4s) and black speaker carpet would look good and work fine. Thanks for the suggestion.
( whatever it is ) are packed with in their cartons? You can cut it to your specifications. And you probably only need a few pieces stagitically placed. And it is fweee!
They take heavy cellophane wrap and put a few over the mixer. Seal it up on all sides top and bottom. Place it in the box it came in or if you have a mixer case SKB etc, lay some cellophane on the interior of that. Place the mixer/gear inside the case and spray this foam stuff that expands inside. As it dries and expands it's a perfect fit.
I've seen guys use Great Foam (name?) found at hardware stores for this. In some cases, guys have gone to private shipping co's and for 30-45 bucks they'll form it.
Another option is pluck foam for customizing. Talk to some places that do car upholstery repairs. They usually have some discard material perfect for lining cases like that.
Thanks for all the suggestions. You guys have given me lots of ideas that I had not thought about. Take care.
If it starts flaking and creating dust in the case it will get into the faders and jacks and then you got other issues. In the short term you could always use bubble wrap if you need to move it before you can modify it.
Check out a fabric or upholstery place. The thick pillow foam material would probably be better and has some elasticity. Cut it up with an electric carving knife for a custom fit. If it's just the sides, that should be plenty.
Our kb player used carpet+padding to line his case. He just cut sections the exact shape until he had enough of the pad. Put another piece of the thin carpet (25-30 pile) over that. He just got remnants from a carpet store. Pretty sure it was that standard salt and pepper office style carpet that looked fine with the black interior of the case.
IIRC it looked like cut into C chapes (reversed on right) on both sides. Enough to minimize movement. He used Gorilla glue or something like that to secure the carpet over the padding and the entire pad to the case. I'll have to see if he has any pics. I do know he spent some time on it and had to razor blade the carpet overlay.
How much space is left around the case once the mixer is inserted?
Ask around at a sewing / craft shop like Shredd suggested. They might have some better ideas.
On the bottom half of the case, there is about 3\" of void on all sides that would have to be filled. The bottom of the case is 1 1/2\" deep. When I put the cover on, there will be about 4\" of void to fill on the top of the case. Currently, in the case, there is some good black rubber padding all around the inside. The case was custom made for another brand mixer (or any 32 channel mixer that will fit), but, like I said earlier, there was no hard cover case made specifically for my mixer. I cannot transport the mixer in this case without filling the voids or there be some serious slamming going on in there and it will damage the mixer.
I liked the idea of using wood because I can work with wood and have plenty of it on hand. However, the case itself weighs over 45 lbs and due to its bulk, it is a two man lift with the mixer in it. So I need to look for something to fill those voids that is strong, yet lightweight.
That can foam stuff sounds like it is pretty tough when cured. I mean, if you can sand it and paint it, how much would it flake off? If it does flake off, I could still glue on some black speaker carpet in the case. But I have not worked with the can foam so I really don't know how well it would work. I just liked the idea.
I have asked about that and nobody knows of anyone around here that builds cases. I live in a relatively small town of 11,000 and there is not a whole lot of industry in the area. That would be a great idea otherwise. Thanks.
I've considered using memory foam, like used in mattresses, for my custom sport seats, but that would also work as well as packing for tranporting your equipment!
It'd be worth the phone call, at least to ask if they could help you, or refer you to someone who might know... 8)
the cheapest way to get out is to go to walmart and by an eggshell matress cover for $15 and get some pillo cases and black dye.I spent $25 total and it looked and worked great!
hope that helps
That's another good idea. It would not involve modifying the case at all and gets me away from having to spray paint, which in Northern Minnesota at -19 degrees below zero outside means that I would have to paint in the house (garage is too cold). We do have a Walmart, so I'll be checking into that option. Also, I could probably use some old bedsheet and cut it to the exact size to fit into the case and stuff the eggshell matress into the sheet. My wife can sew, so that might be easiest solution. Thanks for the idea.