Hard case for just $36! at DVinfo.net

Stylianos Moschapidakis · May 25th, 2003, 04:06 PM

If you don't want to spend $100+ for a hard case, you can make one for only $36!

Here is what you need (rather, here is what I got to make a hard case for my pd150):
1)Two hours of your time;
2) A "Craftsman" 18'' Metal Tool Box from Sears --$14.99; and
3)Three packs of "Frost King" Rubber Foam Weatherseal Self Stick Tape --1 1/4'' wide, 7/16'' thick, 10' long-- from Home Depot --$6.98 each.

Now all you need to do is dress the whole interior of the tool box with one (or two) layer(s) of the foam tape, then place your camera inside the now dressed box, and finally use the rest of the foam tape (which you can cut) to build a "safety-wall" around your camera for protection.

I actually purchased two of those tool boxes and will use the other one to store my camera's accessories.

I like the metal tool box, however you can use a plastic one; I saw some pretty good "Craftsman" ones at Sears.

Andrew Petrie · May 25th, 2003, 04:40 PM

I'm not quite picturing it, could you provide some pictures? :)

I went to the Buildig Box this weekend and picked up an aluminum toolcase. Made by ToolTech (how lame), but it comes with tear-away foam block to double as a camera box. I did away with the tool pieces, and cut out what I needed.

It's big enough to fit two XL1 lenses, so currently it houses my IS II lens, and I'll cut another space for the 3x wide lens. I also cut out a few slots for filter cases :) $30 CDN, can't go wrong.

Dylan Couper · May 25th, 2003, 05:03 PM

Here's one I made last year.

http://www.virtualdylan.homestead.com/stuff.html

Stylianos Moschapidakis · May 25th, 2003, 05:18 PM

Dylan, great job! Your case is very, very similar to the one I made. Instead of styrofoam and speaker carpet I used rubber foam self stick tape; you know, the stuff you use to seal around windows and doors.

Andrew, pictures coming up soon.

Roze Ann · May 26th, 2003, 07:29 AM

Hey fellas..thanks for the terrific tips and photos. Best of all the case does NOT sing out "I'm a super expensive, professional camera..steal me" like those really nice custom cases do. I've kept my tiny Hi-8 camcorder in a purple, portable lunch bag with the insulation stuff built in. Easier to see 'cause the interior is white and folks think it's just a lunch bag. I've never worried about it being stolen (have had gear swiped before). COOOOOL! Love this site!

Keith Loh · May 26th, 2003, 10:22 AM

I'll vouch for Dylan's conversion. It's tough. I've kicked it many times on purpose. I mean by accident.

Bryan Beasleigh · May 26th, 2003, 10:49 AM

Tool boxes are targets for thieves as well. In fact one of those aluminum equipment cases is about first on the list

I travel with a van loaded with tools and very pricey test gear. When they break in, the cowardly pond scum grab as much as they can. They go for the equipment cases or computer bags first. They've never interfered with a cooler though. Some of those newer soft sided roll around beer coolers have potential.

My wife came home with a Nissan picnic hamper. For $4.99 with her latest oil change. It has a heavy fabric exterior and lots of padding. The plastic liner was held in with velcro. It fits my 9" JVC field monitor and cables perfectly

I travel with a Porta Brace bag. it's expensive but if you don't know what the logo is you think it's a carry on bag full of shaving gear , underwear and socks. It doesn't even whisper "steal me".

Nigel Moore · May 26th, 2003, 11:29 AM

I have the Canon hardcase for the XL1s. The camcorder sits on a fairly flimsy board and is fixed with two velcro straps. Pretty lame in comparison to Dylan's snug-looking conversion.

My only consolation is that it cost me nothing. Nada. Rien.

Andrew Petrie · May 26th, 2003, 12:15 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Bryan Beasleigh : Tool boxes are targets for thieves as well. In fact one of those aluminum equipment cases is about first on the list
-->>>

Agreed Bryan, I just felt the vinyl pouch to be...lacking (in every way imaginable) and I can't spend the asking price on a Porta Brace right now. :) I do havea PB rainslicker though.

Rob Lohman · May 27th, 2003, 06:20 AM

I have a plastic toolbox which houses my XL1s and some extra
stuff. Doesn't scream steal me too much

Nathan Gifford · May 27th, 2003, 12:18 PM

One of the best cheap boxes around is the Sears TruckTote. Its hard to beat, and good thing too!

John Threat · May 28th, 2003, 10:09 AM

the canon hc300 silver case, screams steal me. and it sucks.

It wont hold all my gear. i need a new case

Nigel Moore · May 28th, 2003, 10:35 AM

I agree.

And to think I could've got an MA-200 instead.

I suck. :-(

May 25th, 2003, 04:06 PM	#1
Stylianos Moschapidakis Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cambridge, MA/Crete, Greece Posts: 189	Hard case for just $36! If you don't want to spend $100+ for a hard case, you can make one for only $36! Here is what you need (rather, here is what I got to make a hard case for my pd150): 1)Two hours of your time; 2) A "Craftsman" 18'' Metal Tool Box from Sears --$14.99; and 3)Three packs of "Frost King" Rubber Foam Weatherseal Self Stick Tape --1 1/4'' wide, 7/16'' thick, 10' long-- from Home Depot --$6.98 each. Now all you need to do is dress the whole interior of the tool box with one (or two) layer(s) of the foam tape, then place your camera inside the now dressed box, and finally use the rest of the foam tape (which you can cut) to build a "safety-wall" around your camera for protection. I actually purchased two of those tool boxes and will use the other one to store my camera's accessories. I like the metal tool box, however you can use a plastic one; I saw some pretty good "Craftsman" ones at Sears. __________________ Stelios G.M.

May 25th, 2003, 04:40 PM	#2
Andrew Petrie Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 484	I'm not quite picturing it, could you provide some pictures? :) I went to the Buildig Box this weekend and picked up an aluminum toolcase. Made by ToolTech (how lame), but it comes with tear-away foam block to double as a camera box. I did away with the tool pieces, and cut out what I needed. It's big enough to fit two XL1 lenses, so currently it houses my IS II lens, and I'll cut another space for the 3x wide lens. I also cut out a few slots for filter cases :) $30 CDN, can't go wrong. __________________ Andrew \| Canon XL1s, ME66, Vinten Vision 3, GlideCam V16 (for sale!)

May 25th, 2003, 05:03 PM	#3
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Here's one I made last year. http://www.virtualdylan.homestead.com/stuff.html __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

May 25th, 2003, 05:18 PM	#4
Stylianos Moschapidakis Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cambridge, MA/Crete, Greece Posts: 189	Dylan, great job! Your case is very, very similar to the one I made. Instead of styrofoam and speaker carpet I used rubber foam self stick tape; you know, the stuff you use to seal around windows and doors. Andrew, pictures coming up soon. __________________ Stelios G.M.

May 26th, 2003, 07:29 AM	#5
Roze Ann Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 116	WAAAAYYY COOOOOLLL! Hey fellas..thanks for the terrific tips and photos. Best of all the case does NOT sing out "I'm a super expensive, professional camera..steal me" like those really nice custom cases do. I've kept my tiny Hi-8 camcorder in a purple, portable lunch bag with the insulation stuff built in. Easier to see 'cause the interior is white and folks think it's just a lunch bag. I've never worried about it being stolen (have had gear swiped before). COOOOOL! Love this site! __________________ "God is good, life is hard, Heaven is sure" Camille Daily Fat Cat Media

May 26th, 2003, 10:22 AM	#6
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	I'll vouch for Dylan's conversion. It's tough. I've kicked it many times on purpose. I mean by accident. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

May 26th, 2003, 10:49 AM	#7
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Tool boxes say steal me as well Tool boxes are targets for thieves as well. In fact one of those aluminum equipment cases is about first on the list I travel with a van loaded with tools and very pricey test gear. When they break in, the cowardly pond scum grab as much as they can. They go for the equipment cases or computer bags first. They've never interfered with a cooler though. Some of those newer soft sided roll around beer coolers have potential. My wife came home with a Nissan picnic hamper. For $4.99 with her latest oil change. It has a heavy fabric exterior and lots of padding. The plastic liner was held in with velcro. It fits my 9" JVC field monitor and cables perfectly I travel with a Porta Brace bag. it's expensive but if you don't know what the logo is you think it's a carry on bag full of shaving gear , underwear and socks. It doesn't even whisper "steal me".

May 26th, 2003, 11:29 AM	#8
Nigel Moore Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Switzerland Posts: 358	I have the Canon hardcase for the XL1s. The camcorder sits on a fairly flimsy board and is fixed with two velcro straps. Pretty lame in comparison to Dylan's snug-looking conversion. My only consolation is that it cost me nothing. Nada. Rien. __________________ _________________ Time flies like an arrow Fruit flies like a banana

May 26th, 2003, 12:15 PM	#9
Andrew Petrie Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 484	Re: Tool boxes say steal me as well <<<-- Originally posted by Bryan Beasleigh : Tool boxes are targets for thieves as well. In fact one of those aluminum equipment cases is about first on the list -->>> Agreed Bryan, I just felt the vinyl pouch to be...lacking (in every way imaginable) and I can't spend the asking price on a Porta Brace right now. :) I do havea PB rainslicker though. __________________ Andrew \| Canon XL1s, ME66, Vinten Vision 3, GlideCam V16 (for sale!)

May 27th, 2003, 06:20 AM	#10
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I have a plastic toolbox which houses my XL1s and some extra stuff. Doesn't scream steal me too much __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

May 27th, 2003, 12:18 PM	#11
Nathan Gifford Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Tickfaw, LA Posts: 1,217	One of the best cheap boxes around is the Sears TruckTote. Its hard to beat, and good thing too! __________________ Nathan Gifford Southern Cyclist Magazine & Productions For quick answers try our Search! To see me and Rob Lohman click here

May 28th, 2003, 10:09 AM	#12
John Threat Major Player Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York Posts: 322	the canon hc300 silver case, screams steal me. and it sucks. It wont hold all my gear. i need a new case

May 28th, 2003, 10:35 AM	#13
Nigel Moore Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Switzerland Posts: 358	I agree. And to think I could've got an MA-200 instead. I suck. :-(