Is there any wood or finish I should avoid since it might damage the lens or coatings? Unfinished Maple seems the safest since it barely smells even when freshly cut. There's some good pictures on ebay lately from someone trying to unload a 15" Tele Optar. Box jointed with a hinged lid and strap. No view of the inside though. I think I'll make a couple of other boxes, to carry one or more small-ish lenses.

Maple varnished on the outside and lined with velvet that can be purchased at any fabic store, if you want to get real fancy, get some high dense foam rubber and cut to fit the lens your making it for and then put in the box and the velet over it.

Dave

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On 2005-12-13 00:10, woodplane wrote: Is there any wood or finish I should avoid since it might damage the lens or coatings? Unfinished Maple seems the safest since it barely smells even when freshly cut. There's some good pictures on ebay lately from someone trying to unload a 15" Tele Optar. Box jointed with a hinged lid and strap. No view of the inside though. I think I'll make a couple of other boxes, to carry one or more small-ish lenses.

Sounds kind of attractive, and if you enjoy woodworking -- your screen name suggests you do -- why not?

I'm inept and don't enjoy woodworking, so carry most of my lenses in food storage containers; no Tupperware, mainly Rubbermaid and (no kidding) Martha Stuart, with glued-in (Pliobond) foam padding. My largest lens goes in a lens wrap. If you need a container right now, food storage containers are inexpensive enough to be temporary ...

Not wood, but one of the neater ideas for a lens case that I've seen recently is this bag for fly fishing reels from Orvis--

http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?pf_id=46LP&feature_id=&dir_id=758&group_id=8792&cat_id=5685&subcat_id=6058&shop_id=

I just tried a product I had previously not used. For a friend's antique tripod I refinished I used Minwax redoak stain and finsished it off with four coats of "Wipe on Poly Satin". It was very little mess with gloves on and came out super nice. Gotta let the stain dry for a couple days and then the first coat for a day, but so easy. Off lens topic, but my whole Century backpack outfit (minus tripod)fits perfect in a neat little stand-up insulated lunch tote (called an Arcticzone if anyone cares) I saw at REI one day for $6.00. Fits Century with one extra lens, loupe, roll film holder, filter kit, and has a nifty fornt pocket that holds my Seconic, gray card and a lens softy. The cool thing is it keeps my camera and film from high Sierra overnight freezes, and it is super carryable by itself. Actually looks nice and somewaht professional, as opposed to my old Snoopy lunch pail form elementary school that I use for weddings. But back on subject, there are two grades of the Rubbermaid, and two depths that work nicely for me. The good lenses get the $5.00 gray tops, and the don't ever use probably oght to sell ones go in the off white not so clear tubs for about $3.00. Funny, all high end pro gear listed here are also suitable for sandwiches and or leftovers, and they are no spill. Geez I hope I didn't send that guy last night's rigatoni. I better go make sure the Symmar aint in the freezer...

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: troublemaker on 2005-12-13 21:21 ]</font>

Thanks for the replies. For most field stuff, I carry a Lowe day-pack that is pretty much full with just the film, Speed, 15" teleoptar, roll back and 1 other small lens besides what is in the camera. I like the sandwich box idea for backpacking trips because it makes for a few small things that can be packed easily instead of a bigish thing that demands a respectable position. I'm sure I'll make one out of wood anyway.