Do It Your Self: How I Am Making a Sturdy Gig Bag!

[FunkyMan]

Well, i don't know if this is the rigth place for this, so I'll let you Moderators relocate properly. i apologize, I'm from Latin America, and some words might be misspelled, and some of the materials i don't know their names, but here are some pictures anyways!

I've never done this before, is the first time, I am inspired by this Gigbag:


I did a sketch, I think I like more the right one .. what you think?


Ok so here are the materials that i'll use:

Thick Waterproof Canvas, sailcloth don't know the exact name:



-Zippers (preferably thick, like suitcases have)
-Pins (you'll need them to hold while you sew)
-Those pieces of plastic that attach the straps, and those that lengthen and shorten them hehe
-Tape the same as the straps are made
-Velcro
-Foam (the gray foam are supposed to be the highest hardness)



This is kind of a carpet, but very very soft, this will be for the interior:


And Finally this is a rubber panel, very strong and lightweight, this should go through it all, would be the fill of the sandwich:

[Craig_S]

I'm interested in seeing how this turns out. Great project!

[M0ses]

Sounds like a plan. A good one. Keep us updated! Things like cost, difficulty, time in involved, problems you encounter, etc. The more pictures the better!

[mulchor]

If you can do this, you can make your own amplifier covers, too.

Buena suerte!

[Greevus]

Awesome, good luck! I love DIY stuff, but never thought of doing a bag.

[FunkyMan]

I don't know absolutely nothing about manufacturing gig bags, but I think I have a personal notion of how I want it for me.

I did a sketch calculating by eye, I guess i calculate to leave a room of about 3cm arround the shape of the bass, because that space will be occupied later by the foam:




Then I cut out the foam with this same shape, but proportionally 3cm wider, since this exceed space is needed for sewing later. between the interior carpet and the outside Canvas there will be like this:



Also cut the side panels, with a height of 7 cm, these will be covered in the same way that top and bottom panels:




I Decided to glue the two foam layers with the rubber panel side by side to prevent movement when they are in:



Results:




I will keep you updated, tomorrow I'll glue the other panels, and if anyone has a suggestion throughout the process please let me know! Thanks

[DaveDeVille]

very interesting ...


subscribed .

[NickyBass]

Muy interesante. Tengo curiosidad por ver cómo resulta. Se ve bien hasta ahora. Suscrito. (btw, Su inglés es mejor que mi español)

[FunkyMan]

Originally Posted by NickyBass

Muy interesante. Tengo curiosidad por ver cómo resulta. Se ve bien hasta ahora. Suscrito. (btw, Su inglés es mejor que mi español)

haha Gracias, Aunque a veces tengo que usar Google translator no te creas!

[FunkyMan]

Sorry I haven't updated this, because my camera got damaged! tomorrow i will put some pícs of the progress. but I will mention something BIG and very important:

*Make sure you have a good sewing machine*, otherwise will be HELL to sew by hand like i'm doing it.... men it's a pain hehe i hope that the end product worth the effort

[NickyBass]

Wow, sewing by hand?!? Is it taking a long time?

[EdHunter]

Originally Posted by FunkyMan

haha Gracias, Aunque a veces tengo que usar Google translator no te creas!

A veces todos nosotros debe a usar el GT!

Normalmente no estoy interando por bolsas yo como asi, pero esto es un poco diferente.
Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuscrito.

[FunkyMan]

Originally Posted by NickyBass

Wow, sewing by hand?!? Is it taking a long time?

Yes, You need about 3-4 hours per day if you want to move fast in the project! But I took precautions, I bought a very thick and strong thread, I have researched about hand sewing techniques, and results have been very effective, the seams are very rigid and tight actually!

Big Advice: Always leave about 3cm leftover of material on the edge of the pieces that will go to sew, there were times I forgot to do this, and it was really hard to work, because I didn't leave enough room for sewing!

[FunkyMan]

Greetings fellow TB'ers! I had a little time and I was able to advance good amount of work on some pieces... here it is:

This piece is the straps, the two tips ends are irregular, because later will be sewn with straps, that will be tied up from there, until the bottom of the bag (you know how it is) I'm not sure how high i'll going sew the strap to the bag, so that when I wear it, the top doesn't protrude far above my head (Any advice??)






This is the side Grip, two pieces of strap sewn, filled with foam; I also have to calculate where it should go tied, taking care that when holding the bag, is balanced:




This is a rubber panel that will go in the ass of the bag, I'm tired of always put the bag stand, and that part always get damaged:






The side panels:



and is composed as follows: Fabric, foam, rubber panel, foam, carpet.


A reference of what it will look:


This will be the front panel:



Inside:


Composition:


This will be the main pocket, although I don't know how I did it, but I think it looks good despite it looks like a schoolboy bag





More to come.. Stay Tuned!

[FunkyMan]

Greetings! I was able to catch up a lot of work but I've been busy, this requires much dedication. I finished the edges of the bottom panel, I also sew the shoulder strap:



also sewed these things that hold the straps (don't know the name haha):



at the last moment it occurred to me make this handle, sometimes I have to grab the bag in that part when standing:



I did this pad, it is assumed that secures the neck to the movement, and a possible fall:




also sewed the large pocket in the top pan:





and lastly, the two side panels joined at one end to later sew to the two panels with their respective closure:


That's it for the moments! Cheers

[T-MOST]

Wow, thats a helluva lot of work. Good luck with the build.

[Petebass]

Originally Posted by FunkyMan

..but I will mention something BIG and very important:

*Make sure you have a good sewing machine*, otherwise will be HELL to sew by hand like i'm doing it.... men it's a pain hehe i hope that the end product worth the effort

My wife once asked if we should buy a sewing machine and I said "OK but can I use it to make gigbags and speaker covers?". She laughed and said "No! You need an 'overlocker' for that". Apparently that's a different machine. Just thought I'd share.

[FunkyMan]

Originally Posted by Petebass

My wife once asked if we should buy a sewing machine and I said "OK but can I use it to make gigbags and speaker covers?". She laughed and said "No! You need an 'overlocker' for that". Apparently that's a different machine. Just thought I'd share.

She is rigth!! my sewing machine was not available to sew things so thick, it's like to put a car tire to a truck.. thanks for the advice.. I'm seriously thinking about buying an industrial sewing machine to work with this, and make a small business

[boing]

Originally Posted by FunkyMan

I'm seriously thinking about buying an industrial sewing machine to work with this, and make a small business

I'll bet you get plenty of people asking where they can buy one, when they see yours.