I do allot of photography, and am always looking for better ways to safely stow camera gear in a bouncy vehicle. While brainstorming a few years ago I came up with an idea that I just realized may have it's applications for off road gear storage. Especially in drawer systems. The system is reconfigurable as needed. It is also cleanable to remove dust, etc.. It would also provide a degree of sound deadening for stuff vibrating. If you limit yourself to closed cell foams and neoprene it should be cleanable by anything that can be used to clean a wet suit. Just pull it out and apart and clean the parts in a big sink.
No sewing is needed, just cutting, folding and gluing. Sewing can be used to strengthen edges, but shouldn't be needed. Sewing would require a machine that could handle a thick stack of cloth and neoprene. Not many people have that around. I don't think sewing would be needed unless you were reconfiguring allot.
Components:
Velcro loop surfaced neoprene and neoprene glue:
Neoprene Closed Cell Foam and Specialty Foam : Water Resistant Fabric : Seattlefabrics.com
Velcro hook and loop strap:
One Wrap, Velcro Self-Grip Straps in Stock - ULINE
The Velcro loop faced neoprene can be used to line a case or drawer. If more padding is needed then additional foam can be laminated to it using foam glues. There are also other suppliers that will laminate it to thicker neoprene. To line a case or drawer I'd make a double sided tray that just fits the space, that is a tray with loop surfaces on both the inside and outside. I'd use glue backed Velcro hook tape around the inside lip of the drawer or case, and some strips on the bottom. That will hold the tray in place, and allow removal for cleaning. A flexible neoprene glue can be used for making the sandwiched construction. Hook and loop strap can be used to "seam" the corners. No sewing needed
, but sewing could be used to make it sturdier. I'd sew the cut edges with a serger style seam to better support the glue holding the hook and loop to the neoprene. Also when gluing up pieces I'd lay them out flat and weight them down to keep them flat as the glue sets.
For tray bottoms I'd just use two pieces cut to fit, and glue them back to back.
For tray sides and divider walls, I use one piece and fold it over. This gives a nice top edge. Note, because of the poor compressibility of the neoprene, it may require v groves to get a smooth edge that won't delaminate. Divider walls could have a stiffener in them to make them sturdier. Two parallel V grooves would allow a nice smooth top and lessen the bunching of the neoprene at the fold. The V grove sides would be at 45 degrees. The distance between the groves allows for a stiffener or not. No distance, no stiffener. A wide piece of the hook and loop strap could also be used to cap the tops of the walls instead of grooving and folding over, but that would require allot more strapping. Also it would thicken that edge.
Walls and tray sides are held in place using the hook and loop strap. Fold it down the middle and the hook on one half of the fold hooks into the loops on one side of the joint, and the other half hooks the other side of the joint. I'd tie together all wall joints, and most, if not all wall to floor joints.
Walls don't have to be straight. They can bend and curve to fit items snugly.
A tray could also be made and stacked on top of a lower set of dividers. AL baking pans work as good trays if they are the size you want. I'd put a stiffeners in divider walls that support a tray.
I'm using the double sided hook and loop strap because the loop side provides a softer less scratchy surface for the camera gear, and it also can be attached to with the hook side.
Note: It is also possible to buy Velcro loop compatible cloth and laminate or sew it to whatever. Doing that you could get a wide range of interior colors.
Questions, thoughts?
The Kata Modi-Vers system for camera bags is much like my idea. Kata MODI-VERS KIT-S10. Accessories (Kata Bags) However it is only the dividers for their camera bags. Being me I looked around and found the components needed to make them myself and came up with an easy way to do it.
No sewing is needed, just cutting, folding and gluing. Sewing can be used to strengthen edges, but shouldn't be needed. Sewing would require a machine that could handle a thick stack of cloth and neoprene. Not many people have that around. I don't think sewing would be needed unless you were reconfiguring allot.
Components:
Velcro loop surfaced neoprene and neoprene glue:
Neoprene Closed Cell Foam and Specialty Foam : Water Resistant Fabric : Seattlefabrics.com
Velcro hook and loop strap:
One Wrap, Velcro Self-Grip Straps in Stock - ULINE
The Velcro loop faced neoprene can be used to line a case or drawer. If more padding is needed then additional foam can be laminated to it using foam glues. There are also other suppliers that will laminate it to thicker neoprene. To line a case or drawer I'd make a double sided tray that just fits the space, that is a tray with loop surfaces on both the inside and outside. I'd use glue backed Velcro hook tape around the inside lip of the drawer or case, and some strips on the bottom. That will hold the tray in place, and allow removal for cleaning. A flexible neoprene glue can be used for making the sandwiched construction. Hook and loop strap can be used to "seam" the corners. No sewing needed
, but sewing could be used to make it sturdier. I'd sew the cut edges with a serger style seam to better support the glue holding the hook and loop to the neoprene. Also when gluing up pieces I'd lay them out flat and weight them down to keep them flat as the glue sets.For tray bottoms I'd just use two pieces cut to fit, and glue them back to back.
For tray sides and divider walls, I use one piece and fold it over. This gives a nice top edge. Note, because of the poor compressibility of the neoprene, it may require v groves to get a smooth edge that won't delaminate. Divider walls could have a stiffener in them to make them sturdier. Two parallel V grooves would allow a nice smooth top and lessen the bunching of the neoprene at the fold. The V grove sides would be at 45 degrees. The distance between the groves allows for a stiffener or not. No distance, no stiffener. A wide piece of the hook and loop strap could also be used to cap the tops of the walls instead of grooving and folding over, but that would require allot more strapping. Also it would thicken that edge.
Walls and tray sides are held in place using the hook and loop strap. Fold it down the middle and the hook on one half of the fold hooks into the loops on one side of the joint, and the other half hooks the other side of the joint. I'd tie together all wall joints, and most, if not all wall to floor joints.
Walls don't have to be straight. They can bend and curve to fit items snugly.
A tray could also be made and stacked on top of a lower set of dividers. AL baking pans work as good trays if they are the size you want. I'd put a stiffeners in divider walls that support a tray.
I'm using the double sided hook and loop strap because the loop side provides a softer less scratchy surface for the camera gear, and it also can be attached to with the hook side.
Note: It is also possible to buy Velcro loop compatible cloth and laminate or sew it to whatever. Doing that you could get a wide range of interior colors.
Questions, thoughts?
The Kata Modi-Vers system for camera bags is much like my idea. Kata MODI-VERS KIT-S10. Accessories (Kata Bags) However it is only the dividers for their camera bags. Being me I looked around and found the components needed to make them myself and came up with an easy way to do it.
, err, uncut stuff available!