Refractor case/ box

[PeterHA (Peter)]

Has anyone found a good source for cases for refractor telescopes in the 100-120mm range?
I am not a friend of super heavy wooden road case style boxes, more like light fibreglass or polyethylene blow moulded types.

As a backup I plan to take a 160mm PVC drain pipe, glued cap on one end, screw-cap on the other, line with 30mm closed cell foam, install handle and 4 feet, maybe spray-paint.
Whilst that is a unconventional solution, it would be cost effective, robust and dust tight as long as the scope has no finder attached.

[dannat (Daniel)]

If your scope isn't too long can usually find cheap toolboxes at masters/buntings/super cheap auto. Then just buy insert foam from Clark rubber

[Wavytone]

Peter that's actually a darn good solution.

Square-section boxes with lids have always been either light but fragile, or robust but too heavy.

Your solution also suggests something else - use a lightweight tube and lacquer the outside, and put some foam blocks inside to hold the OTA in its place. I found some nice high density foam rubber in the form of a floor tile - a few dollars fir one 50cm square - and you'd only need to cut this into a few blocks or rings to hold a scope securely.

A lightweight tube is easy to make - even in thin ply, and with a couple of formers inside quite strong enough ... It would not be hard to accommodate a finder and the focusser.

A good project for a weekend, I think.

[skytry (Peter)]

hi Peter,
having just thought,
I am going too use PVC tubing, the desired length & width
with end caps, buy the poly at a plumbing outlet the desired
over size & length, wrap scope in bubble wrap, secure as, no dust,
and will travel well, as I travel often, then if you want too,
place in a padded cricket bag, toooooo easy,
regards,
Peter.