....escapades in the workshop....

First up on the workbench this week a wonderful illustration of the kind of job that just keeps getting put off. This case has become notorious among the band's crew due to it's complete lack of handles on either end. In their place is a wonderfully sharp jagged plastic where the handles previously were. But between tours the case contains the hardware and goes back into storage, shipping it off for repair is uneconomical, but the rest of the case is in good condition. The wheels run smoothly, the straps and buckles don't come open when not asked to and one of the missing handles is still lurking inside so a repair is definitely worthwhile. So from a large sheet of HDPE a couple of pieces cut to fit and then a bending jig was cobbled together. A hodge podge of clamps, wood and the trusty heat gun used to form the end panel so it follows the shape of the case and sits under the lid. This shape is important as it transfers some of the stresses from the handle up into the lid which is secured by the straps on top.