Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?

Subject: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 10:15 AM

Anyone have an industrial/leather type sewing machine to make gear bags for odd-sized speakers, mixer, etc.? In vinyl, heavy canvas....????

(And no, the system's manufacturer does not have these available.)

Or has anyone made crates, and how would I do that in a lightweight but durable material?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 10:21 AM

Can you show pics of what you wanna make the bags/crates for?

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 10:31 AM

Nope, not now, maybe after vacation. It's a 4-channel mixer and two speakers similar to this:

CLICK

The dimensions would probably not be identical but these are similar in proportion.

What I need are covers (possibly padded or with pockets to insert padding) just to give protection for light transport-- keep them from getting all nicked up. Right now the mixer is in its box inside a Samsonite semi-rigid suitcase along with our mics-- the kind of Samsonite you used to see in old commercials surviving trucks running over it. The mixer (obviously) needs more shock protection than the speakers.

The speakers fit inside nylon rollerbags I've seen at WalMart-- one size bigger than airline overhead size-- but the bags were so cheesy in construction I couldn't see laying out $50 per.

The pieces need individual bags in the event I end up managing them alone-- I'm not tall enough or strong enough to maneuver the weight of them combined (as they came shipped), even to get them out of the vehicle onto a hand truck. Individually they are just right for me.


There are a lot of reasons we ended up with this particular system instead of a Passport, etc., so we're dealing with what we have.

CH, do you have some help to offer?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 10:34 AM

Do you have a local tent and awning repair shop near you?

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 10:35 AM

..... and the pieces do have handles mounted, on the sides for the speakers and on one end for the mixer. A flap to access these on the speakers' bags would facilitate using them without putting the strap stress on the vinyl or canvas. (I'm leaning toward canvas.) I have seen some shoulder-bags for mixers so they never get plopped onto a cart, but I'm not sure I could carry it that way so I guess there would need to be handle access for that piece too.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 10:36 AM

Sorch, nope, NOTHING is near me! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 10:45 AM

Susan,

If you get stuck let us know, Beth has all the machinery required for leather, canvas etc., its what she does in her spare time. She just recently finished a top for a barreltop gypsy wagon in canvas, plus she does a lot of vinyl repairs on horse drawn carriages, so I don't think a few gear covers will tax her brain, although I do know she is quite busy right now if you are in a hurry.

whb

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 10:46 AM

A friend of mine long ago had a canvas plumber's bag-- super heavy canvas with canvas carry-handles, open across the top, box corners stitched in the bottom, and the handle assembly was what actually carried the weight-- it went all the way down and around the base of the bag. You see cheap knockoffs of these nowadays, but the handle assembly is usually just stitched onto the top edge of the bag and of course it rips the bag right off. Boy, that would be a great solution, though, if I could find heavy-duty ones big enough, because I could use the handle to drop the speakers right into the opening.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 10:48 AM

whb, that might be a solution. Could you ask her about a bag style such as I've just described, in heaviest canvas with nylon handle assemblies?

We'll be away till mid-August so no, we are not in a hurry.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 11:06 AM

WRONG plumber's bag: http://www.bagit.com/highsierra/highsierracoveisland.html

Another WRONG kind:
http://www.ishop.co.uk/ishop/982/shopscr794.html


More like it: http://twistedtoad.com/CasualApparel/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=187

But the handle assembly has to go all the way under the bag bottom.... And I'm talking heavy Army canvas, not painter's canvas...

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: Bert
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 11:06 AM

Hi WYSILUV,

you should be able to sew canvas or leather on a regular sewing machine. If it starts to drag then oil the needle.

Or failing that, bring your stuff down here and we'll sew it on Tree's heavy duty machine.

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 11:07 AM

Down.... where? And how heavy is it Bert m'dear?

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: Bert
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 11:16 AM

Oh, I'm in Phoenixville, PA. I guess I could bring the machine up there, it's the size of a regular sewing machine. Just sturdily made.

It would be good to arrange it ASAP 'cos I'm trying to get back to Colorado.

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 11:42 AM

Bert, I doubt we can get this going before you hit the road, although it would be such a sweet way to visit, and finally include Tree. Best go ahead with your plans and let's see who is where when we get back from vacation, I think.....

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: C-flat
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 03:54 PM

I use a local tarpaulin company to make up amp covers etc. They make all kinds of things from market stall covers to banners, so it was no big deal to them to make them for me.

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 04:08 PM

I wouldn't bother putting them in bags... they're MADE to resist 'light travel'

Dings and such are gonna happen...

Bag seem to me, to be a collosal WOMBAT... especially if the pieces already have handles

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 12:36 PM

Older, sturdy, but normal domestic sewing machines can cope with surprisingly thick materials and several layers of it - tightly woven is more dificult, but don't try it on anything designated Lightweight, they just don't have the oumph. Help the feed dogs move the fabric under the foot and pause to let the motor cool down if it starts to overheat.

If the items have handles already just make openings in the cover for them to emerge through. Make the covers to the exact size of the item as allowing a little extra will give enough space for the things to twist inside. When adding straps or closures sew through all the layers in enough places to hold everything together. When sewing vinyl add a narrow, thin woven tape top and bottom for strength and use a long stitch or the sewing will just make a tear line rather than a joining.

I managed to make a vinyl bag for my first guitar on an ancient treadle sewing machine - and I made the carrying handles from straps which went right around the bag and guitar as it seemed the safest way to attach and carry. It protected the instrument from scratches and scrapes and survived unscathed when the instrument was broken during a trip to London - n.b. only use solid cases when traveling on the Underground.

Velcro is quite a good closure for covers as it doesn't stick to the vinyl or canvas, but it can stick to softer fabrics, particularly knitted so consider what lining material to use.

It is easy to make covers - you can make a pattern from leftover wallpaper or newspaper by actually covering the item, and see just how large the openings need to be - you will need scissors and sticky tape and a pen - and when you cut the paper construction apart and lie it on the material don't forget to add enough material around the edges for sewing together.

Anne

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 02:12 PM

Susan:

We toured for nearly 25 years with a similar system. Kept the mixer in, you guessed it, an old Samsonite suitcase which kept it well protected. We actually had to replace the suitcase once after the old one took so many dings it looked pretty bad and one of the latches broke. They're easy to find at thrift stores and they're really cheap.

Now, as to the speakers. We never covered them with anything and they held up just fine. Ours have a sort of black, crinkly finish and, about once a year, we justs painted over the dings with black paint and they look as good as new today.

Anyway, that's how we solved the problem.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 02:29 PM

" Kept the mixer in an old Samsonite suitcase"

Now THAT'S a brilliant idea!

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 03:59 PM

Thanks, CH, as I said that is what I did already!

B&J-- LOL! Now it's official! :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 04:26 PM

If all you are worried about is protecting the outside of the speakers from scrapes and knocks ANY reasonably heavy duty plastic bags will do for cosmetic protection . I bought a 2nd hand Peavy sixteen channel mixer which had a 3/4 inch plywood box that is heavier than the mixer . I built a cardboard case(Tri-Wall actually) with Gaffa Tape and nylon cord which protects the sliders and knobs and is nice and light . In fact .card would probably do to protect the speakers too , though plastic would be waterproof as well .

Subject: RE: Help: Make Vinyl Sound Gear Covers?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Jul 04 - 11:56 AM

The thread has inadvertently given us a new alternative band name. Hardi and I were chatting about today's gig and I mentioned the feasibility of using our own system in case the organizers' sound man fails to show. Referring to the fact that it's already loaded in the van, since we leave on vacay Monday early AM, I used the phrase "the suitcase with mixer." Hardi (who worked seminary kitchen duty to help pay his way through) heard it as "soup base with mixer," which I guess would be a cream of potato collins soup. :~) I think it will make a great CD title and no one will have any idea what we're on about! :~)

I gotta get a smaller and fatter Samsonite tho-- using the big one I added way too much other gear and now it's too heavy! (i STRAPPED IT TO BE SURE THE HANDLE DOESN;T POP OFF.) damn capslock!

Maybe B&J have one to send me... "SAMSONITE! the choice of professional folkies worldwide!"

~Susan