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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: Matt Quinn on May 21, 2009, 12:38:09 PM

Title: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: Matt Quinn on May 21, 2009, 12:38:09 PM
Looking for ideas/suggestions.....currently I have my bodies wrapped inside a towel in my bag. They are pretty secure, but it's kind of bulky. I'm looking for any ideas on other ways to protect them while cutting down on bulk.

Cigar cases? Tupperware? Shrink wrap/ vaccuum sealed? What do you use, and how do you like it?
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: stober on May 21, 2009, 01:13:36 PM
I use the protective foam you find at Home Depot and Lowes that you use to insulate water pipes. I can take a photo when I get home. I have a piece leftover that might be enough to cover two bodies, I'll have to check. Works great!

Of coarse I use actives so my bodies always stay in my bag and wrapped up. Are you going to be using actives or are you just looking for a way to store your mics in your bag?
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: Matt Quinn on May 21, 2009, 01:24:07 PM
Are you going to be using actives or are you just looking for a way to store your mics in your bag?



Actives, and that is a good idea! Thanks.
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: stober on May 21, 2009, 01:34:02 PM
No problem. I think you might have to buy a 4ft long piece, I think I did. I don't remember what diameter I bought, but I still have a piece at home so I can let you know what size it is when I get home from work.
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: cottle on May 21, 2009, 02:07:22 PM
Someone posted some gear pics recently (though I don't remember which thread), and they used a small, rectangular plastic container (think tiny tackle box), maybe 3" X 5" X 1".  It was three sections, and you could insert dividers into each section.  The two outer sections held his AKG bodies, and the middle section had dividers inserted, so there were spots for his four capsules.  There was some thin foam lining each compartment.  Everything was in place, and nothing rattled around. 
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: kindms on May 21, 2009, 02:55:01 PM
I keep mine in the plush / flet (or whatever fabric it is) bags that came with them and then i place them inside a padded case used for carrying a portable cd player.

I only do this to transport them from point A to point B. All other times the mics are stored in their flight case
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: greenone on May 21, 2009, 03:04:11 PM
I put mine in toothbrush holders. The end of each one is rounded so the edges of my caps hit the sides before the grilles touch the bottom. You can always just drop some foam or something in there if you're concerned about the fit, or give your local pharmacy a thrill by carrying your mics into the store and "test driving" the entire display of toothbrush holders. ;D
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: Matt Quinn on May 21, 2009, 03:08:03 PM
I put mine in toothbrush holders. The end of each one is rounded so the edges of my caps hit the sides before the grilles touch the bottom. You can always just drop some foam or something in there if you're concerned about the fit, or give your local pharmacy a thrill by carrying your mics into the store and "test driving" the entire display of toothbrush holders. ;D


Another solid idea....plus a lot of those have holes in the end I could run the cables out. Nice. Phantom +t.
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: bhadella on May 21, 2009, 03:11:36 PM
I use the protective foam you find at Home Depot and Lowes that you use to insulate water pipes. I can take a photo when I get home. I have a piece leftover that might be enough to cover two bodies, I'll have to check. Works great!

Of coarse I use actives so my bodies always stay in my bag and wrapped up. Are you going to be using actives or are you just looking for a way to store your mics in your bag?

I did the same.  Currently have DPAs so now I don't have any bodies.   >:D
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: Todd R on May 21, 2009, 03:30:41 PM
I have both my Milab VM44-link bodies and my MBHO 603a bodies incased in heatshrink tubing.  Like this stuff:

(http://www.heatshrink.com/hs-encap-glue-nonglue.gif)

My Lowepro Nova bag provides pretty good protection itself, plus I've got a compartment set up for the mic bodies.  So the heatshrink is just for some added protection, and mainly to prevent scratches and scuffs.  It works great, is very cheap, adds next to no extra bulk, and provides some protection when I need to have my mic bodies out on stage if I'm doing on-stage taping (proprietary active cable connections on the Milabs, and the active cables are only 10' long).

Like I said, the heatshrink doesn't provide a huge amount of protection, but it does great for keeping the mics from getting scratched up when inside my gear bag.
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: bkirby on May 21, 2009, 03:46:18 PM
I second the foam wrapping for pipes! Works great for me!!!
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: NOLAfishwater on May 21, 2009, 04:07:42 PM
I second the foam wrapping for pipes! Works great for me!!!

add me to that list. your bag is already built like a tank. get the 3/4 foam tubing. $2 for 4 feet. it gets the job done.
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: anhisr on May 21, 2009, 04:16:28 PM
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l116/anhisr/69562c54.jpg)
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: it-goes-to-eleven on May 21, 2009, 04:21:19 PM
Pelican case with silica gel.

And remember..  The inside of your bag will become a sauna if the outside ever gets wet...

Fungus is a very real concern with cameras and probably also mics.  And once it starts.....  The camera guys say bags are for transport, not for storage.  Even if fairly dry, the stagnant air can be a concern.  The folks with serious lens investments keep them in humidity controlled boxes, especially in humid climates.
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: page on May 21, 2009, 04:34:39 PM
Pelican case with silica gel.

Know a place to get replacement packets? I figure chuck like 5 or 6 in each month to keep it dry. My wife has been xnay'ed on shoe shopping so I'm running out.
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: it-goes-to-eleven on May 21, 2009, 06:39:12 PM
I save them whenever I get them... There are two types, plain and indicating.  The indicating turn blue when they're moist, and cost a bit more.  You can dry them out in the oven.

I'd like to find a supply of cheap bulk silica locally... You know it must be cheap in bulk.  Mostly to make larger packs for longer term storage, larger items, etc.   I've been trying to think of an ideal local vendor who gets an excess of them and maybe saves them....  Like computer vendors who build machines?  Or maybe someone in mfg who buys them by the ton for next to nothing.

One gotcha with silica is that it works best when maintaining dryness in a stable, enclosed environment because it takes quite a while to absorb the moisture.  So if gear gets wet and put in the bag, or the bag gets wet, there is still a very significant risk.

And I forgot to mention earlier that the fungus damage can be permanent and etches glass and glass coatings.  A lot of lenses on ebay have fungus issues, even those that otherwise look mint.
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: boojum on May 21, 2009, 09:40:17 PM
My low roller solution: mics in ZipLoc bags wrapped in small terrycloth towels inside a sealable plastic food container.  Safe, secure and nothing rattles.  I never said the solution was elegant, though.    8)
Title: Re: Protecting bodies inside your bag?
Post by: goodcooker on May 22, 2009, 03:40:36 PM
I use an empty heatshrink assortment box lined with some foam.

like this http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=080-722 (http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=080-722)

Cut out the ends of the box with a utility knife and put a half a rubber grommet in to keep the plastic edges from wearing your cables at the exit. Of course, I had that stuff laying around. Tackle box has solved my problem in the past as well. Not waterproof but cheap and reasonably effective.