Adaptable dividers for instrument case

[bigegg]

I've got several "flight cases" bought from car boot sales or rescued from skips, which I want to convert to cases to hold my camera(s) + various test instruments like laser levels, Meggers etc.

I had a look at kaizen foam, and other proprietary systems - and they all cost " 'ow much!!!?? "

So a browse of YT came up with this idea:



4mm corrugated "floor protector", glued to laminate floor underlay, then pinned at the joints with "hair grips"/"Bobby pins"/bits of bent wire. (£1 for 200 at The Range")
Total cost for an 8x4 sheet (so 2.88m²) came in at £27: so a quarter the price of one "pack" of the proprietary stuff. And a LOT more! (I have enough to do 10 or 15 cases at least, I think).

The pics show a quick "proof of concept" so it's tatty [1]: but it works *really* well: it'll hold a Milwaukee M18 drill+battery in place.

[1] blunt utility knife, no straight edge, no bench.
Scraps of waste plastic+underlay

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I use blue upholstery foam cut to size of case then cut out for tools. Mainly for my laser levels

 

[bigegg]

I use blue upholstery foam cut to size of case then cut out for tools. Mainly for my laser levels

I've tried that in the past, but I wanted something "adaptable" for when I eventually upgrade.

 

[ukracer]

Tool foam is strange. Not easy to find.
I have been looking for the foam used in Angling for pole rollers and rod and pole rests but it's hard to find even in China.

 

[bigegg]

Tool foam is strange. Not easy to find.
I have been looking for the foam used in Angling for pole rollers and rod and pole rests but it's hard to find even in China.

That's what I've found: imported from the US seems to be the only way to get it - with the obligatory premium whether personally imported or bought via a dealer.

I had an idea to use expanding foam inside a "Spandex" fabric bag to custom make tool holders, but the mess...

 

[Maker]

Tool foam is strange. Not easy to find.

It's just closed cell EVA foam isn't it? You could glue up a load of layers with a coloured backing to make DIY Kaizen foam.

 

[bigegg]

It's just closed cell EVA foam isn't it? You could glue up a load of layers with a coloured backing to make DIY Kaizen foam.

Poundland camping mats...

 

[RichardM]

Plastazote is good, but a bit pricey.