Topic: Overkill mic storage: twist vials inside cigar caddy

[voltronic]

I know many here use the Cigar Caddy cases to store their pencil mics.  I have been using one for quite a while, but since my mics are really tiny, I wanted to protect them further from knocking into each other during transport.  I almost bought some of the Schoeps twist vials made for CMC bodies, but $6 each plus shipping seemed a bit too high for something so cheap to make.

Instead, I found these tiny versions for dirt cheap, and they are perfect size to hold the X-Qs (51mm long).  I tried using them with the CM3s though (77mm long), and they are just barely too short for the threads to engage.  A user on GS recommended McMaster-Carr, and sure enough, they have their own version.  See "Adjustable-Length Plastic Tubes" here.  I bought the smallest size of the 0.79" dia tubes (just over 20mm ID), which as you can see hold the CM3s perfectly with room for a silica gel cylinder in there.  If you have mics that are more normally-sized, you'd probably want the medium length.  The plastic is a different, harder type than the CountyComm versions (which are closer to the type Schoeps uses), but they work the same.

[F.O.Bean]

+T Very cool

[Fried Chicken Boy]

Indeed, very cool.  Might be overkill but better than damaging your mics.  Thank you for including links as well!

[capnhook]

If you know any machinists, ask them to look around the shop.... These are most commonly used to ship and protect end mills.  You might get them for free.

[dlh]

Some of yours look shorter than the 3 1/8" min. at Mcmaster-Carr; are they?
I'm looking for storage for C4 caps and C61 caps.

Thanks for doing the homework,
Dave

[dlh]

OIC!
Now I see it; didn't notice the link in the post to the "tiny versions".
Sorry
Dave

[DSatz]

A few years back I stumbled upon these cigar carriers and I sent one as a gift to Dr. Helmut Wittek at Schoeps. His reaction (which I'm paraphrasing here) was that they weren't good for long-term use, because of the exact thing that makes them good cigar carriers: They trap air moisture, and prevent drying out of the contents of the case.

Since then I have used the cigar carriers only for transport to and from a recording; I keep all microphones, and especially capsules, in cases that don't seal tightly when closed.

--best regards

[voltronic]

A few years back I stumbled upon these cigar carriers and I sent one as a gift to Dr. Helmut Wittek at Schoeps. His reaction (which I'm paraphrasing here) was that they weren't good for long-term use, because of the exact thing that makes them good cigar carriers: They trap air moisture, and prevent drying out of the contents of the case.

Since then I have used the cigar carriers only for transport to and from a recording; I keep all microphones, and especially capsules, in cases that don't seal tightly when closed.

--best regards

That's a very good put point, but this is exactly why I use silica gel canisters or packets in this case, as you can see in the picture.  They would not be effective unless the case sealed tightly.