Official Luthiers Forum!

The bendable plywood is one way to go. BUT, i can't figure out how to "soften" the edges. THis stuf is really light weight. Yet durable, protective. I guess one could use kerfed lining to hold it together. It just seems to me that some kind of plastic sheeting would be better (with rivets or glue). Seems one could easily form the "bullnose" edges with heat and bending, then rivet those to the sides, back and top. Question is, what/where is this plastic? It would certainly be lighter than the bendable plywood, no? And no glue or liing to hold it together. Plus, the shapes one could develop (including arched tops) would be unlimited. Once the shell is build, its just a mater of lining the outside with fabric, and the inside with foam and crushable fabric.

We can do this, but we need a plastics expert to chime in. Please

Mike

This is how a builder ( not me) built a mini banjo case. It looks like it turned out great, and I think building one for a uke would be about the same. Looks like a lot of work though. Lots of pic's.

Doug
http://www.banjomaker.net/MiniCase.htm

That would get to be a pretty heavy case for something like an OM or Jumbo! But very nice link!!

I spoke with someone at a plastics company... they suggested ABS. Gluable, no memory, holds its thermally modified shape, etc. Can be had in 1/32 or 1/16" sheets. A 1/16" 4x8' sheet weighs 10 pounds! So its light! I am ordering a 1/16" sheet. ($30 plus $27 shipping).

Mike

IT'S ON!

What is on? I'm ordering some stuff next week.

Doug,
That banjo case building link is great. I’m thinking that if you were to make the outside out of layers of the foam board sheet insulation used for houses. Then cover it with several layups of Fiberglass or Kevlar and you’d have a fairly protective light weight customs case. You could even add wood sections where you wanted to attach fasteners like the lip or bottom edge.

John