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Kye - Posted - 08/08/2018: 18:13:40
What is the lightest carbon fiber case you've heard of?
I am wondering if it's possible to find one 2lbs or less (1kg).
I have an oblong case and it seems heavy (4lbs or so), and I always switch back to my foam shaped case. i do not have a car, so I'm constantly walking/cycling/busing with it.
Thanks!
UsuallyPickin - Posted - 08/08/2018: 20:56:11
I am thinking 4 lbs is a light as you will find in a full sized hard case . You can find a ballistic nylon covered case that is lighter but it still won't be 2 lbs. R/
DougD - Posted - 08/09/2018: 02:33:37
I agree. I think 2 kg will be about as light as you can find. I have a shaped Bobelock fiberglass case thst's probably their lightest (at least most compact) and I think it weighs about the same as the wooden ones.
Do you mean fiberglass or carbon fiber? They're two different materials. Here's an article about CF cases, by someone who probably knows what he's talking about: violinist.com/discussion/threa...m?page=57
I think the lightest cases are really the old plywood or paper mache cases, but I wouldn't trust them on a bicycle.
ChickenMan - Posted - 08/09/2018: 05:09:39
Not sure what prompted this question, but at Clifftop I picked up someone's case (with fiddle in it) and decided no matter how much I like my roomy old case, the weight difference is not worth it. 2 pounds empty might actually exist. I know I'm on a search.
Kye - Posted - 08/09/2018: 09:05:33
I think perhaps I'd be okay with 3lbs. I actually weighed the carbon fiber case I have.. it's 8lbs!! No wonder I never use it. Never should have bought it.
Someone had a case at clifftop .. it was a tiny blue fitted thing, I wish now I'd asked what it was! I never knew cases used to be made of paper machee. Makes me want to try making one!
DougD - Posted - 09/04/2018: 21:39:48
Kye - I found a couple BAM cases that claim to weigh 3.5 pounds, but they're over $500, and one, designed for airline overhead compartments, doesn't have room for a bow.
I have a photo gallery of cases on my homepage here. The "purple" case is made of some type of composition material, like the New Century cases, but a different shape. It weighs 2 1/4 pounds. Its a loose fit but some foam could help that. Its fine for around the house or in the car, but I wouldn't trust it on a bicycle. The green case is leather covered thin pkywood, and is much better. It weighs 3 1/2 pounds. I have several like that.
I also have a Bobelock shaped fiberglass case that's listed at 6 pounds, I imagine including the cover, which you need for thermal protection, and to prevent scratches.
You'd be surprised what's been made of paper, including canoes and racing shells. The trick is to keep it dry. One use I recently discovered was for auxiliary "drop" fuel tanks for WW2 Allied fighters so they could escort bombers all the way to Germamy. In addition to being light and cheap to make, if they were dropped over enemy territory they couldn't be recycled by the Germans like metal.
Edited by - DougD on 09/04/2018 21:42:15
DougD - Posted - 09/04/2018: 21:55:41
I thought I'd already posted this, but here's a video about American violin cases: youtu.be/QM2NjBO-6vE
The New Century case is introduced at 2:00.
amwildman - Posted - 09/08/2018: 20:22:30
So much of the weight is in the outer shell. Carbon fiber is only slightly less heavy than fiberglass. I don't think CF or Fiberglass will get your weight down by itself. I think if you want to get a really light case, you'll have to make some compromises.
You might consider a softshell case. My erhu has a softshell case, and it is more than adequate for normal usage. The "softshell" is basically just thinner plastic instead of plywood that is in most cases. It is actually pretty rigid, just not as strong as plywood or whatever. Unless you're dropping it all the time or running over it with cars, or worry excessively about your instrument, most cases are massive overkill.
Mine is like this: easonmusicstore.com/products/E...d-Case/32 Interior is non-suspension, so it isn't an exact comparison to modern violin cases, but for everyday use, this is all I need. It is smaller than a violin case, and I have no scale, but I bet it weighs in at less than 2 lbs.
Try asking these guys? The page says 2.0 lbs, but a bit lower it says 5.3 lbs. kcstrings.com/lightweight-oblo...e-violin/
ChickenMan - Posted - 09/09/2018: 07:13:04
I got a new case from Amazon. It is 3 pounds. It's not a perfect fit, a bit of wiggle room, but for 50 bucks I'm pretty satisfied.
smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001FB5Z3U/
Edited by - ChickenMan on 09/09/2018 07:24:58
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