Travel & Places Air Travel

Avoid Common Pitfalls In Case Cushioning And Custom Case Interior Design

The unfortunate result of most case interior designs is improper internal cushioning for its contents. There are many great cases on the market, and choosing a sturdy case is much easier than designing a proper interior. Most people would think this problem stems from not having enough foam in the case. In actuality, most cases either have too much foam, or the wrong kind of foam in them for the weight loading and expected external stresses. Knowledge of foam types, and their shock absorption properties, is essential to keeping your valuable case contents safe and secure.

The two main types of foam used in cases are polyethylene (the stiff stuff) and polyurethane (the spongy stuff). The so called Pluck Foam kits sold by the case manufacturers are all made of the less dense polyurethane foam for the simple reason that it can be inexpensively die-cut in thicknesses up to several inches. Stiffer polyethylene cannot be die cut in deep thicknesses, and is seldom used as the factory supplied cushioning in travel sized cases. Because polyurethane is the standard foam option sold with most travel cases, people are using low density pluck foam to carry around their rare and fragile lead-weight collections. Pluck foam does not age well in the best of circumstances. With heavy loading, it ceases to provide proper cushioning, and stuff tends to get broken!

Polyethylene is manufactured in sheets, and it is therefore easy to cut up and make into layer kits. Conversely, polyurethane foam is cooked in large buns and must be sized down (think labor cost) to make into sheets. Not coincidentally, polyethylene is the foam of choice for the manufacturers standard layer kits for larger cases. Your friend with the large collection of rare and fragile paper dolls has them protected by the stiff polyethylene foam that came standard in the shipping case he purchased.

The deep, dark secret here is that case manufacturers are assuming that if you have an airline travel case for check through or carry on, you have relatively light-weight items being transported. They further assume that if you have a larger shipping case, you have very heavy, non-fragile items. Do not let their assumptions drive your cushioning choice.

One needs to consider the fact that, in order to cushion, the foam needs to provide enough compression but not too much. In simplistic terms, cushioning is a function of the total weight of the item, and the surface area of the item that sits on the foam in any given direction. There are, of course, several other complicating factors. The bottom line is; if it is fragile and valuable, consult a custom case professional to discuss proper cushioning.
SHARE
RELATED POSTS on "Travel & Places"
River Rafting And Mountain Climbing The Real Adventure Tours In India
River Rafting And Mountain Climbing The Real Adventure Tours In India
Air Canada Frequent Flyer Program
Air Canada Frequent Flyer Program
Health Tips To Consider Before Booking Cheap Airline Tickets
Health Tips To Consider Before Booking Cheap Airline Tickets
Top-Listed Cheap Miami Flights
Top-Listed Cheap Miami Flights
Guide to Finding Cheap International Airfare
Guide to Finding Cheap International Airfare
Low Price Plane Tickets - 3 Tips to Get Absolute Rock Bottom Prices on Airline Travel
Low Price Plane Tickets - 3 Tips to Get Absolute Rock Bottom Prices on Airline Travel
When Flying With Low-cost Carriers
When Flying With Low-cost Carriers
Book An Airport Hotel & Relax In Stress Free Comfort Before You Fly
Book An Airport Hotel & Relax In Stress Free Comfort Before You Fly
Helicopter Pilots - Care and Feeding
Helicopter Pilots - Care and Feeding
Precisely What Helps Make Total Vacation Trips Best House Vacations?
Precisely What Helps Make Total Vacation Trips Best House Vacations?
Airport of Tomorrow: The Future of Air Travel Is Truly Mobile!
Airport of Tomorrow: The Future of Air Travel Is Truly Mobile!
Cessna Maintenance Checklist
Cessna Maintenance Checklist
How Does First Class Air Travel Differ From Coach?
How Does First Class Air Travel Differ From Coach?
Get Information for All Flights within India
Get Information for All Flights within India
Maintain Your Bmw Car' s Appearance And Performance Through The Bmw Parts And Accessories Leading R
Maintain Your Bmw Car' s Appearance And Performance Through The Bmw Parts And Accessories Leading R
India Weekend Tour Packages
India Weekend Tour Packages
What You Can't Take onto an Airline Flight
What You Can't Take onto an Airline Flight
What You Should Know About Airport Parking
What You Should Know About Airport Parking
Flights From Delhi to Goa - Tiptoe Into the Captivating Goa
Flights From Delhi to Goa - Tiptoe Into the Captivating Goa
Cheap Flight to Florida - Strategies to Find the Best Deals Available
Cheap Flight to Florida - Strategies to Find the Best Deals Available

Leave Your Reply

*