Moulded packaging.

[Hightower]

I want to make some moulded packaging pieces to accomodate a pair of Gekkos and one or two other Items I would rather not have rolling around the interior of my RIB.

Anyone with suggestions on what to use and where to get it from?

[rickuk3]

You could try the expanding foam stuff for filling the holes around pipes where they go through walls, from DIY stores or plumbing merchants.
Richard

[Polwart]

do you have a budget in mind - I suspect this is going to work out more expensive that you first thought!

Were you thinking cut foam or vacuum/thermoformed plastic. The latter requires tooling which as far as I have been able to determine in the past rules it out for affordable low volume applications.

You could get some closed cell foam and cut it to size yourself? We have a suplier at work who for complex 3d shapes either routes it out (using a CNC maching) or cuts shaped in a series of layers which are then glued togehter to form the final piece. If he does it then there is a "set up cost" which for one offs would rule it out - but I suspect you could DIY it...

[Hightower]

I kinda of thought about this stuff, very messy to use and to look at, was after a neater soloution possibly.

Is there any block foam (not seat cusion foam) that one can carve into shapes, that is pretty hard wearing and doesn't fall to pieces when being used?

I was thinking of a camera case where the foam fits around the camera lenses etc, but on a larger scale.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Polwart

do you have a budget in mind - I suspect this is going to work out more expensive that you first thought!

Were you thinking cut foam or vacuum/thermoformed plastic. The latter requires tooling which as far as I have been able to determine in the past rules it out for affordable low volume applications.

You could get some closed cell foam and cut it to size yourself? We have a suplier at work who for complex 3d shapes either routes it out (using a CNC maching) or cuts shaped in a series of layers which are then glued togehter to form the final piece. If he does it then there is a "set up cost" which for one offs would rule it out - but I suspect you could DIY it...

Themoformed plastic is out due to cost, however what the object of the exercise was to stop the visors on the geckos from getting scratched and my spare prop from pulperizing anything it came in contact with.

I never had problems with Kohaku as there was never enough room for gear, so was packed in together. With Solent Viper there is too much room

[osprey__viper]

Andy, I used to have a twin helmet holder in the rally car. Might be what your after.

Have a google for a company called Demon Tweeks, they are in wrexham. Might have summat for you.

Ya new boats looking good mate

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by osprey__viper

Andy, I used to have a twin helmet holder in the rally car. Might be what your after.

Have a google for a company called Demon Tweeks, they are in wrexham. Might have summat for you.

Ya new boats looking good mate

Just had a look, they have helmet boxes which are £30 or something and a good selection of bags too. Thanks for that!

Still I would like to explore what people have either used or thinking of using for secure everyday packaging as it's something that I've not seen discussed here before and could benefit all.

[Limey Linda]

Ok. here we go. This experience is from making custom cases for very expensive handguns. Purchase a slab/sheet of polystryrene ( insulation material and cheap is also closed cell so it will not absorb water) also a can/bottle of thixotropic contact adhesive. ( this is water based so it will not dissolve the foam). Laminate up the thickness you want and then carve the shape with a serated bread knife: it is sometimes easier to make it in two parts. You can shape fine detail with a soldering iron, very carefully. When shape is correct then using the same adhesive and line it with green baize or thin felt. Make sure to allow for the thickness of the lining when shaping the foam.
Hope this helps.

[eilean mor]

depending on the size of your spare prop; I've used either plastic buckets, or washing up bowls that the prop would fit in, and not wobble about, or pad it out in some easy way; I also taped the right spanner/bits that I'd drop from the original into the bowl;- this then all fitted into a space somewhere and can be forgotten until needed on a remote beach

[The Grocer]

For our Geckos we use their own padded bags - the draw cords can be used to lash them to something (seat back?), and they've provided ample protection in the time we've used them.

And if it gets too bouncy you'll want them on your noddles anyway...