Rifle Case..

[JTK]

Hi,

anyone here built a case for their pride and joy yet? Searched but could not find anything.

JT

[Splash]

JT, I built one several years ago for a .22LR. I made it out of 1x2 and 1/4"ply. I used some eggcrate foam for the inside. I will look to see if I still have it, if so I'll post a pic. It looks like any other case, just wood instead of plastic or aluminum.

Mike

[NMCA_Ron]

Mike,

Sounds like a good idea. Where did you find the eggcrate foam?

Ron

[chucky]

I got some wood and hardware for one about 5 weeks ago but never got in the mood to start it.

I am going to use stained wood for the outside and padded wood supports to pinch all the stuff in when the lid closes and line the inside with green pool-table top type material.

[NMCA_Ron]

I'd like to see pictures of it when it is finished. Sounds like a good idea.

Ron

[JTK]

yeah.. started with the lid. Making it out of meranti (think it may be called luan elsewhere in the world) I used 42x7mm strips and laminated a 1.2m piece from 6 strips. Will keep you guys up to date. May use mdf for bottom as it would need to take the abuse ofputting down all over the place.

JT

[Splash]

Ron, I cut up a cheap matress pad.

Mike

[JTK]

decided to make the bottom from meranti as well as the mdf could have made it too heavy. It also mak have made the case imbalanced to carry..  Anyways. A pic of th laminating. Wife not to impressed about the stack in the lounge.
JT

[CharlieDaTuna]

Hey JT...ifn' ya run outta dem briks, lemme no and I will send you sum..... da postage is on you...he he...

[JTK]

lol  yeah.  btw Bob, thanks, the trigger pitched at Lori's. She is sending it trough Saterday.

Thanks,

JT

[JTK]

THought I would keepp the post up to date. Glueing the lid and bottom pieces together atm. Tomorrow it will be some planing and then some samding.. Not sure how I want to finish it yet though. Al made out of 48x8mm meranti(luan) laminated etc..  will keep the costs as well.. have used 8x 2.4m pieces so long. R26 (~$3.50) a piece and a bit of cold glue..  Worried about the strenght though and am thinking about laying a single layer of glass fibre on the inside to give it the strenght needed. Bought someoff cuts of foam for the inside. 4 strips of 1.8m x 18cm for R25 (~$3.5). So my case is $7 atm and need some hinges and a latch. Then of course the finishing...

JT

[DanoInTx]

.....but I didn't trip over any bricks on my way out to the refridgerator, so I guess that is your house:)

Looks good, can't wait to see it finished.  Might try Minwax Ebony stain and Minwax spray on poly for a top coat.  Haven't worked much with Luan, but I am familiar with it.  The open grain shrould soak up alot of stain giving you a real dark color.  The spray on poly might take a few good coats on that stuff though, will need to let it fully dry between coats and give it a good sanding from 220--320 grit or so between coats to knock down the raised grain.

Keep it up!

[JTK]

Finished the lid and bottom half today. a bit of plaining, some beltsanding and loads of orbital sanding :)

Decided to finish it with polywax to give a finish that I can continue to "oil".

[howie1a]

Hi I am a cabinate maker and master carpenter thats my trade the easyest way to make any case  is to build a cube what ever the size is it dosn't matter as long as it is what you want the finish size to be.you put both the top and bottom on it just as ifyou were making a cube then set your fence on the table saw to cut off the top by running the box through turning it around on all sides this lets you make a top that not only the grain matches but it is the same size size top and bottom when you build the top and bottom seperate it's very hard to get them to match perfactly. I hope this is not confuseing
howie

[JTK]

Hi Howie,

yes it makes sense.. thanks! will certainly keeep it in mind on next attempt. grains ligning up is not a problem as I used strips anyways..  But yes, it would heva made it easier. Dont have table saw yet though. Will be next purchase.  :)

JT