Making your own carrying case for SCT telescopes

[davieradio]

Hi I wonder if anyone has ever made a box to store and wheel out a

Celestron CPC 9.25 SCT?

The Jimi one is over $500 and I thought it might be able to make one from B&Q boxes. I have wheels off and old Wheelie bin

I just want to protect it a bit from dust and scuffs and being able to Wheel it out would be bonus.

These thing are heavy begining to wish I got an 8 inch

Dave

[stunt squirrel]

i heard that saving the packing from the original box and building a sturdier box around the outside was a cheap option. Or, a big plastic container from asda filled with those little white polystyrene popcorn type things could do for emergencies

[Nexus 6]

Hi Dave, do as search on line and see if you can find anyone who makes cases to order, use the protective poly that shipped with it and maybe pack it with some more cut to size, have been considering doing the same for my 925. I did use a similar method for my old Celestron 6se but have lost the info on the company who made the case for me, it only cost me £70.00 and a nice bonus was the colour I picked... orange to match the scope.

Will post here if I find new a supplier.

[Psychobilly]

Do a search for flight cases.. there plenty of people making them and you might find something thats a close fit...

We used to use a company called 5 star cases to make custom ones for us...

5 Star Cases : Foam Inserts : Racks : Consoles : Trunks : Custom Build

Peter...

[m.tweedy]

Sky at night magazine this month has a template for making your own

[r3i]

Do a search for flight cases.. there plenty of people making them and you might find something thats a close fit...

We used to use a company called 5 star cases to make custom ones for us...

5 Star Cases : Foam Inserts : Racks : Consoles : Trunks : Custom Build

Peter...

Good idea or along similar lines how about a storage trunk - I'd posted this suggestion previously in a similar thread here.

[Psychobilly]

Good idea or along similar lines how about a storage trunk - I'd posted this suggestion previously in a similar thread here.

Looks the buisness

My ETX105 goes travelling in a "pirates chest" toy box bought for a couple of quid...

Peter..

[stunt squirrel]

idea; Stage Electrics in Bristol (or London) are a large stage-hire business who always used to have old flight cases needing repair. They might give you a quote for a new one too.

[davieradio]

Still looking may be I will make one, But with the original packing the case is really big and heavy have tried the storage trunk company and they are expensive but of excellent quality

[hayju01]

I decided that a carry case just wasn't going to be strong enough and stil be carry'able.

I went for this in then end Buy John Lewis Heywood Linen Bin online at JohnLewis.com - John Lewis

Foam Cut To Size: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

And put these in to cushion it.

I have had to put a piece of string around the finder to help lower it in.

Hope this helps

Justin

[davieradio]

One of the things I did notice,after I had enquired at the Storage trunk place, I got a lot of pop up ads from them . I don't like that!

[Gina]

No, I quite agree - a definite "put off" IMO!

[MjrTom]

My recommendation would be something like the Peli cases, this is what I was going to use when i was looking at SCT's a few months back.

Peli Products UK

Would be at least half the cost of the JMI one and you would just need to pluck the foam to the right shape.

Calumet also do their own version of these cases which are cheaper again

Calumet WT1905 Watertight Hard Case with Wheels

Not checked dimensions of the C9.25 so these links are for reference purposes

[gcraib]

I just ordered the following for my new C8 and HEQ5:

C8 storage using original packing (might be tight) if its too tight it will become mak storage box.

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=SG33205

A couple of alternatives if it doesn't fit (will report back so others know), sadly more expensive

http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/product/RM2462/

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p4836_Celestron-Travel-Case-for-NexStar-8SE-and-6SE.html

HEQ5 Storage using original packing

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/search/productdetail.jsp?SKU=SG33342

This is a bit bigger than need be so I will pack the extra space with foam

You could buy this, bit of a more snug fit but it wasn't in stock:

http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d00468/waterproof-tool-box/dp/SG32901

For tripod

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p169_Geoptik-Quilt-Bag-for-medium-Mounts-with-Tripod-like-EQ5.html

it says it will take the mount too, but I'd rather store that separate.  Might be useful for grabbing and going with mount attached.

For counterweights

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p2698_Geoptik-Counterweight-Bag-to-150mm-Diameter.html

Mainly to stop them moving around and damaging other things.  Should be able to keep them in cricket bag now, main compartment (ie moving the weight towards the wheels!)

Also saw this if you like to carry your counterweights attached to the shaft.

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p2697_Geoptik-travel-bag-for-counterweight-with-shaft.html

For EP's and accessories

https://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p980_Orion-eyepiece-case-for-1-25---2--accessories.html

I plan to utilise these in conjunction with the cricket bag and cheap toolbox that is in use for the EQ3-2 and mak.  So everything has a place. 

Spent a bit but much cheaper than some of the other cases and more importantly - OCD is satisfied

ps I found this scope cover going cheap on ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121209144425?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

useful if you have dew or condensation to clear and don't want it to get dusty.

I'll stick with using the original packing for now, but might upgrade to cut foam at some point.

[riklaunim]

I'm using military "clothes bag" for my C14. It's on the limit, but fits. It's not thick and protective, but still a bag for no money (refurbished bag).

[rob0971]

I have one of these http://www.diy.com/nav/rooms/storage-shelving/boxes-baskets/plastic_boxes/Kis-Scuba-Box-106L-Black-13198584?skuId=13679290

For my 9.25. Lined it with dense 1" foam & it fits a treat! The lid is hermetically sealed also as a bonus. It also has a couple of small wheels on one end.

[Mav359]

I have one of these http://www.diy.com/nav/rooms/storage-shelving/boxes-baskets/plastic_boxes/Kis-Scuba-Box-106L-Black-13198584?skuId=13679290

For my 9.25. Lined it with dense 1" foam & it fits a treat! The lid is hermetically sealed also as a bonus. It also has a couple of small wheels on one end.

Like it.

Got any pic's,  i'd be interest in see what space is left for Telrad, Guider etc.

[rob0971]

Hi Alan,

I take my finder etc off for storage. I will get some pics later for you. The box is long enough to fit the scope in with a revelation focusser on the back or a 2" clicklock visual back with my homemade dessicant cap. You could possibly keep a telrad/finder at the eyepiece end, but I keep mine in there original foam lined boxes.

[rob0971]

The second shows the room at the eyepiece end with a telrad tucked under the dessicant cap. Should give you some idea of how much room you have.

Rob

[Strider1shj]

The CPC 800 with original foam packing fits nicely with in a Dewalt 38" tool box (with about a 1" trim of the foam at the top. Any bigger scope would not fit.