Storage cases

[beren]

One thing thats been bugging me since i got my scope is having a suitable storage case for home and field. Last week i finished making one myself made out of 16mm MDF but its to bulky and just doesnt feel stong enough {:whistle: im not a carpenter}. It would be great to have a case from JMI but thats way out of my budget so ive done a bit of searching for a company that makes custom made stuff . Found one place here in perth that sells brand and custom make ones plus foam inserts of all sizes and shapes ..... www.protectivecases.com.au . The owner was very happy to talk options and im getting one made up for just under $500 , its going to have wheels, handles and attractive aluminium skirts and should be ready for Chrissie . Ill pass on progress and if your interested have a look at their site.

[rumples riot]

Thats excellent mate, the JMI's are too expensive, and I am sure yours will be just as good and a hell of a lot more cheaper. Well done.

Paul

[Vermin]

Soaking the foam in water and freezing it is supposed to help with the cutting, especially with lower density foams.

Thanks for the link.

V.

[Vermin]

I got my local foam cutter to cut semi circular channels in the foam so my ep's lay down on their side as shown in this picture. Much easier than cutting holes. The lid has channels cut in it too but I turned it upside down as it was a bit loose. Putting in a pack of silica gel (for moisture absorption) is a good idea too.

[Vermin]

35mm Pan (fantastic wide field ep!!)
20mm TV Plossl
17mm Nagler
13mm Nagler
7mm Nagler
5mm Radian
3-6mm zoom

2" Barlow
1.25" Holographic laser collimator
2" Thousand Oaks LP-2 filter (narrow band light pollution)
1.25" Celestron variable polarizing filter

The only other addition I plan to make is for two of the new 24mm Panoptics and a Denk binoviewer with 2 way powerswitch, when my bank balance allows - probably not for another 6 months.

The variable polarizing filter requires too much infocus (even with a barlow) to use in my TV101. Using just one part of the filter screwed into a 1.25" ep sort of works (the threads don't quite match). Still it helps cut glare when doing Lunar observing.

[iceman]

Very nice eyepiece set Vermin.. i'll have to swap eyepiece cases with you when you're not watching :P

[Vermin]

I've got to build it first!

V.

[beren]

Took delivery of my storage case today ...... Workmanship and quality outstanding and i genuinely recommend if anybody is seeking a custom case give Protective Cases a call , Greg {the owner } is very friendly and provides top class customer service .

[Dave47tuc]

Stuart,
That is a great looking case.:cool2:
I hope it does the job for you.:)

Best.


:astron:

[iceman]

Very nice Stuart, well worth the money by the looks of it!

[rumples riot]

Wow, better than the JMI by far. Wish I had done the same Stuart. I bet you are really happy, notice its even got wheels. Very Good

[Mick]

Very impressive Stuart looks nice and compact as well. :D

[bytor666]

hey Vermin...those eyepieces must be a real treat....waaaaaaaaa I wish those were mine ......ok....im gonna go to sleep now and im gonna have a dream with me in it ....the dream involves me and I suddenly own ALL OF THESE EYEPIECES MAGICALLY !!!!...( then of course I wake up and it's back to the drawing board)...hehehehehe.....o well its nice to dream !!!!!!....

[iceman]

I know what you mean, i'm going to take a trip to Tasmania and do a switcheroo on him.. his case for mine! He won't notice! :P

[wavelandscott]

I just completed today an eyepiece case...

I started with an aluminum tool box from Bunnings (on sale now for A$25...but, I got the last one at my local store...it was missing the strap and the Manager sold it to me for A$10!). I removed the stuff inside (dividers etc.)

A quick trip to "Foam Booth" (a store specializing in all things Foam) a few minutes with a Stanley knife and I've got a new eyepiece case...

All told I spent A$37!

I just need Vermin's eyepieces now and I will be set!

Sorry I don't have a picture to attach...

Cheers All!

[bytor666]

hey waveland scott....do u have any pics of that case outside & inside???....just curious, because I went out and did the same thing !!!!!....(please excuse the bad cut job on my foam)...lol

[wavelandscott]

Sorry, I still don't have a picture to attach but, the interior of the case looks just like yours...Great minds think alike!

I picked different foam (without the scallops) and a little thicker in the lid...I did the bottom (base) with two different thickness just like you did...

I used a "magic marker" to draw straight lines and trace around my eyepieces...that way wife willing, I can some day add another eyepiece or two or three...

My first few cuts were similar but, I got smoother as I went and the cutting improved once I started doing the final cuts from "the backside"...once I could "see" where the cut from the top was coming through...

Cheers...

[Striker]

Thats my next project aswell...making a eyepiece case....thanks for all the idea's and tips boys...will post photo's once finished but will be a couple of weeks away.

[MintSauce]

This is my case a week ago, I've put some egg carton foam in the top since then as the 2" eye pieces were still bouncing a little

[MintSauce]

for got to say it was a WA salvage brief case for $21 and $20 of foam (the guy fitted bottom in case for me and it's glued well in)

G.

[Starkler]

I got this aluminium case from Radio parts. The foam is already pre-cut into squares and you just tear bits out where you want to make a hole, brilliant !

http://gar.customer.netspace.net.au/scope2/100_0225.jpg

[MintSauce]

nice looking case geoff, that's the sort I wanted but could not find here in Kal: the briefcase is quite sturdy and about the right size tho.

G.

[iceman]

Where did you get the foam from Geoff?

[Striker]

The wife said she would give me her shiny metal Make-up case but I said No Thanks as the floral interior and insert wasn't my style.....lol....

Love that foam that is sliced already...and pull out when needed....have to look for some of that...thanks.

[Starkler]

Got it here. It comes with the foam.

case (http://www.radioparts.com.au/ProdView.aspx?popup=1&Product=07322020)

$60.85 but i got it for about $35 as our company has an account with them :D

[bytor666]

wow!!!...those cases are just wonderful!!!....Ill probably get another piece of foam and cut mine out better this time ...although the 2 eyepieces I have look just fine in the case and they sit in the foam firmly. Thanks for the tips!!!......you guys are great at what you do and Im more than willing to watch and learn from you all !!!!!

[Striker]

Time to ring Bintel.....

[Striker]

I am checking out a scope case this week.....I dont feal comfortable paying over $300 for the material case that you use your packaged foam with when you can get something like your's Aragorn for under $500......

I made some Phone calls to a case maker who quoted me over the phone around $400 including the moulded foam...with a few extras like wheel and triming would probably cost about the same as your Aragorn....the price for the Meade material case is like $325 for the 10"......extra $100 - $150 you get a great aluminium case......well worth it.

I will let you know how I go.

[Jimmy]

very impressive cases.....ill get one myself i think!!

great stuff!!