I’d make mine out of half-inch plywood with the intent of it being permanent.
I was thinking the other day, after looking at this, there’s also usually an aluminum “L” channel stuff at those home centers (at least here in the US). It’s usually in a vertical bin of long metal crap, in the metal section, like metal dowel rods, threaded rods and flat bar stock. It’s cheap (IIRC), and could easily be chopped into little segments with a hacksaw.
With that, you could probably use really thin stuff for the weight (1/4" ply, or even sheet metal), and maybe even rivet through the sheet mat., with the “L” stuff on the inside, then you’d avoid all the screwing, gluing, or joinery. Should be plenty strong and quick, and should take care of anything with 90 degree corners.
This is all assuming no one’s going to see the back “enclosure” section, like NorthernLightX’s sounds, but I guess that depends on the look you’re going for, or the type/finish of the sheet stuff. If you can manage to cut beveled edges in the sheet, you could maybe even conceal the joints. The “L” channel on the outside might look cool too (sort of rack case’ish), but I’m not sure if the rivets would squish through the ply on the inside. Maybe washers would help. FWIW, I’ve gotten nice durable, textured-finish beige and black sheet stuff out of the side/top panels of old computer cases and the covers of broken stereo equipment and VCR’s. It’s hard as !*$x# !#$% to cut, and leaves a nice dangerous edge if you can’t file it or something, but big metal shears might handle it, or the “L” on the outside could cover it. As you know, it’s usually in a “U” shape, so if you picked the right piece, you may even manage to get three pre-bent sides with no joinery out of it.
Hope that might help somebody,
George
PS- NorthernLightX,
Your box thing’s given me some ideas for later (maybe much later -too many plans here). Years ago, I bought actual textured plastic from a local dealer, when I used to have to carry gear around, and have been saving it, along with some aluminum “L” I had bent by a siding contractor friend, into that weird shape you see on road case edges. The plastic’s pretty cool (got black & gray). It looks, or is exactly like the Anvil stuff, and is flexible (unlike regular laminate). Still don’t know why they carried it, but it probably wasn’t for road cases. I think I’ve seen it in high traffic areas like elevator walls or somewhere.
-Thanks!
BTW–> I’ve managed to lose a piece of the aluminum tongue and groove cover joint stuff they use (the groove half actually). I’m going to head for the rec.audio “live sound” group, or whatever it’s called soon, to try and find one. It was only about six or seven inches longer than rack width (cut it for a 3-space), and it’s the one for the thinest ply (maybe the 1/4"). My dealer here closed a few years ago, so I’m really just looking for a leftover piece from someone who uses it.
