Foam For Hardcase at DVinfo.net

D.J. Ammons · June 30th, 2010, 02:41 PM

Home Depot has a nice aluminum case for $25. I bought one over a year ago for my Flycam arm and vest and it fits perfectly. Now I would like to buy two or three more and fill it with a piece of dense foam with cutouts for whatever I want to put in there (one case for a couple of LED camera lights, one for my two video microphones- a Rode NTG2 & Rode Videomic).

My questions regarding the foam I need for this case;

-What type of foam do I need (I would prefer it be grey or black in color and very dense to protect the items)

_How do I make cutouts in the foam for the items I want to place in the case and protect?

Kyle Root · June 30th, 2010, 04:23 PM

Probably your best bet is to go to B&H and search on Pelican Case Replacement Foam.

They have the pick and pluck variety which works fantastic in this situation.

Make sure and measure your case interior dimensions.

Chris Harding · June 30th, 2010, 07:12 PM

My local foam shop actually has a product called "briefcase foam" !! It's a closed cell grey foam and very dense (they also use it for sound proofing booths!!)

It cuts really easily and neatly with a box cutter too!! For the lid of my cases I got the same foam with the sound-proofing cones on it..the cones make sure all your gear is held intact!!

If you tell the shop what you are doing they will sell you the correct foam.. don't try using the usual cushion or mattress foam. It's too soft, cut's really badly and degenerates too!!

Pelican inserts are great but rather pricey!!!

Chris

Andy Shipsides · June 30th, 2010, 08:53 PM

Check out these guys too - CaseCAD Custom Foam Inserts for Hard-sided Carrying Cases

Andy

D.J. Ammons · June 30th, 2010, 09:54 PM

Thanks for all of the great suggestions everybody. I will check them all out.

Chris, How did you locate your "local foam shop"? Is it a manufacturer locally?

Warren Kawamoto · July 1st, 2010, 01:23 AM

That rigid, slightly rubbery dense foam used for inserts is called ethafoam. Google it, and you can find blocks of that stuff for sale.

Chris Harding · July 1st, 2010, 01:47 AM

We have tons of shops that specialise in supplying foam for couch cushions, foam matresses and the like and they always seem to also have other types of foam.

My guy down the road will even cut it to size for free!! I just gave him the sizes I needed and picked it up later. They do a better job than me!!

Kyle Root · July 1st, 2010, 05:13 AM

After thinking about it, you maywant to check your local craft store (hobby lobby etc) or even wal-mart.

I recall seeing various types of foam in the back of the stores which could be trimmed to fit.

Jim Snow · July 1st, 2010, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.J. Ammons

Home Depot has a nice aluminum case for $25.

Do you happen to have the SKU number for it or a web URL?

Thanks

D.J. Ammons · July 1st, 2010, 10:28 PM

Jim,

I am sorry I don't have any SKU info. I have not looked for it online. At the two local area stores it is on the wall display as you exit the store past the check out stands. It is displayed with tool boxes. Saw it again just today. Best $24.95 I ever spent!

June 30th, 2010, 02:41 PM	#1
D.J. Ammons Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 506	Foam For Hardcase Home Depot has a nice aluminum case for $25. I bought one over a year ago for my Flycam arm and vest and it fits perfectly. Now I would like to buy two or three more and fill it with a piece of dense foam with cutouts for whatever I want to put in there (one case for a couple of LED camera lights, one for my two video microphones- a Rode NTG2 & Rode Videomic). My questions regarding the foam I need for this case; -What type of foam do I need (I would prefer it be grey or black in color and very dense to protect the items) _How do I make cutouts in the foam for the items I want to place in the case and protect?

June 30th, 2010, 04:23 PM	#2
Kyle Root Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Decatur, AL Posts: 883	Probably your best bet is to go to B&H and search on Pelican Case Replacement Foam. They have the pick and pluck variety which works fantastic in this situation. Make sure and measure your case interior dimensions. __________________ Kyle KR Productions; www.kyleroot.com

June 30th, 2010, 07:12 PM	#3
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	My local foam shop actually has a product called "briefcase foam" !! It's a closed cell grey foam and very dense (they also use it for sound proofing booths!!) It cuts really easily and neatly with a box cutter too!! For the lid of my cases I got the same foam with the sound-proofing cones on it..the cones make sure all your gear is held intact!! If you tell the shop what you are doing they will sell you the correct foam.. don't try using the usual cushion or mattress foam. It's too soft, cut's really badly and degenerates too!! Pelican inserts are great but rather pricey!!! Chris Attached Images

June 30th, 2010, 08:53 PM	#4
Andy Shipsides Sponsor: Abel CineTech Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: New York, NY Posts: 361	Check out these guys too - CaseCAD Custom Foam Inserts for Hard-sided Carrying Cases Andy __________________ Andy Shipsides -Camera Technology Specialist AbelCineTech, New York - Visit our Blog - http://blog.abelcine.com

July 1st, 2010, 05:13 AM	#8
Kyle Root Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Decatur, AL Posts: 883	After thinking about it, you maywant to check your local craft store (hobby lobby etc) or even wal-mart. I recall seeing various types of foam in the back of the stores which could be trimmed to fit. __________________ Kyle KR Productions; www.kyleroot.com

June 30th, 2010, 09:54 PM	#5
D.J. Ammons Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 506	Thanks for all of the great suggestions everybody. I will check them all out. Chris, How did you locate your "local foam shop"? Is it a manufacturer locally?

July 1st, 2010, 01:23 AM	#6
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	That rigid, slightly rubbery dense foam used for inserts is called ethafoam. Google it, and you can find blocks of that stuff for sale.

July 1st, 2010, 01:47 AM	#7
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	We have tons of shops that specialise in supplying foam for couch cushions, foam matresses and the like and they always seem to also have other types of foam. My guy down the road will even cut it to size for free!! I just gave him the sizes I needed and picked it up later. They do a better job than me!!

July 1st, 2010, 10:28 PM	#10
D.J. Ammons Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 506	Jim, I am sorry I don't have any SKU info. I have not looked for it online. At the two local area stores it is on the wall display as you exit the store past the check out stands. It is displayed with tool boxes. Saw it again just today. Best $24.95 I ever spent!