how to build a road case

Subject: how to build a road case
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 May 13 - 10:53 AM

While listening to yodelers on YouTube, I chanced upon this video about building a road case. This kind of thing comes up occasionally on the Mudcat, so I thought I'd share the link.

The road case looks quite professional. Here's the URL. Your first assignment, should you accept it, is to find the rest of the series.

http://www.youtube.com/user/reliabledan/featured?v=tssHWplikfE

Subject: RE: how to build a road case
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 22 May 13 - 01:37 PM

How to Build a Road Case

Lots of good information, but unless you have some "skills" and experience your first case is unlikely to look much like the ones shown. Some of the parts shown can be put together with simple tools, but assemble more easily and reliably with better ones not generally laying around in the home workshop. Additionally, unless you can just happen into the right suppliers, quite a few bits and pieces of the hardware may be difficult to find - at prices that save a lot over buying from a case maker who has something that suits your need.

This shouldn't discourage anyone with "ambition and a need" from making a try at the DIY, and there can be a lot of satisfaction in making your own that's "just right." (I sometimes brag a little about the kids I made once or twice, and only lie a little.)

An interesting link. Thanks.

John

Subject: RE: how to build a road case
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 22 May 13 - 03:04 PM

You're welcome. I video is not aimed at the beginner, I'm sure. However I have brothers who would be able to make one, no problem. I believe the trick is buying the nifty hardware from the people who make the videos.

Subject: RE: how to build a road case
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 23 May 13 - 11:37 AM

Leenia -

I didn't look them up to make sure, but you probably can buy the finished cases from the people who made the video.

The hardware they use is likely to be something you'll have difficulty finding from many places, but some of the tricky details are little ones.

A minor concern is that lots of the stuff is put together with "POP®" rivets that people think are really simple to use - and they are if you stick to the 1/8" aluminum ones. You can get a "riveter" to install the little ones for $10/$15 (US) that will generally do a decent job. They appear to be using steel latches and hinges, and aren't clear about their reinforcing channels, and some of their rivets look like they may be up to 1/4".

If you use aluminum rivets through steel parts, you may need corrosion protections, which can come from the platings on the parts if you don't scratch anything getting it together, but may need a slobber of "barrier paint" during assembly. And most people get a "crooked pull" on about ten percent of 3/16" or 1/4" Aluminum Pops using the "hand installers." If the steel POP Rivets are needed anywhere, hand installers will bend half of them "ugly," even the little ones.

I have a pneumatic puller that will do a pretty clean job up to 1/4" steel POPs, but it's a $100 tool from the Chinese junk shop (Harbor Freight sold me mine) and a "real tool" is about $300 - and you need a separate one of the high priced ones for each rivet size.

It looks like a fun job, and with "attention to details" almost anyone should be able to make one that would give them lots of satisfaction with the box they get. I would suggest watching the whole video (all the parts) at least TWICE and "making a list and checking it twice" for all the parts and tools before launching the project.

The important part of any DIY project is having a good plan before you get started. If you follow the plan carefully, you'll know "exactly how you did that wrong" and it will be a lot easier to make it look like you did it on purpose so nobody will notice it.

(It's what's a little different about yours that makes it yours, and that's why DIY is fun.)

John

Subject: RE: how to build a road case
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 May 13 - 04:58 PM

Plywood is very heavy. You used to be able to get all the parts to do this from Allan Gordon Studios including the space-age lightweight laminated board that the professional UK casemakers use. But Mr Gordon retired, alas! Many of the bits can be hunted down on ebay.

Subject: RE: how to build a road case
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 May 13 - 09:30 AM

I'm not about to make one, but I thought this thread might be of interest to the person who has an unusual instrument. For example, a friend of mine just bought a harp from 1880. (Or was it 1910?) It didn't come with a case.

They mentioned lining a case with carpet. Such a simple idea, but I've never thought of it.