Official Luthiers Forum!

After a lot of frustration ordering and returning cases for the small FE17 I am just completing I have decided to try to customize a case I have that is too big for it. I can't afford to order a custom case. I'm thinking of taking the fabric covered foam out of another case and gluing it to the existing padding that is fabric covered in order to fill the excess space in the case I am customizing. Does anyone know what glues would work for fabric to fabric, and also what glues are safe to use in the interior of a case? Or does anyone have any great ideas on how to make a too big case fit a smaller guitar? Thanks, Wendy

I've done this on a couple of cases. I was lucky to find a perfect match for the fabric at a fabric store. They also had appropriate foam, and a flexible adhesive in a spray can and a bottle. It was water-based, so no worries about it dissolving the guitar's finish while outgassing. It was pretty easy. Good luck with it.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I build custom cases for my odd-shaped ukuleles out of one-eighth particle board. The material bends easily with moisture and some heat.

I normally cut a long strip and bend it into a hairpin over a mold. I add a bulkhead (just beyond the heel) and an end-block (both of light wood balsa or cedar).

The top is the same material cut a quarter inch large and glued on (titebond 3). Kerfing-like construction adhesive reinforces the glue joint. Bottom is glued on (titebond 3) and excess top and bottom are removed with flush-cut router.

The case-lid is cut from the case bottom on the table-saw or large bandsaw.

Case-bottom adds kerfing-like adhesive and reinforcements for hinges and handel.

Add hinges, handle and latch and decorate to your taste.

Bob

If the case is not a huge amount oversize you can pull the lining cloth away from the edges and add some extra padding and glue the cloth back in place with some contact cement. I have done the opposite with banjo cases removing foam to fit my Irish Bouzouki builds. Most of the custom cases only have a few sizes outer case and change the shape of the foam between it and the outer case.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Aleene's tacky glue Is good for gluing fabrics and many other materials. It can be found at Joann Fabrics, some Walmart stores and many other places.
I have made blocking for cases by gluing up stacks of corrugated cardboard and cutting them to shape with a bandsaw. A thin layer of foam can be added to give a little more padding and a covering of velveteen glued on.
If you don't need the robustness of a modern case you could quickly knock together a traditional wooden case similar to what the original guitar came with using 1/2 inch pine and 3mm plywood. I have done that for some of the instruments I have built. it's a fun project that doesn't require the fastidiousness of guitar making.

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't really have the time right now to build a case, otherwise I would. I'm going to head up to Joann Fabrics today and pick up some glue and fabric and see what I can do. I'll check out Aleene's tacky glue and see if I can find the water based spray adhesive there as well. Thanks for the replies.