I did a LOT of searching on ebay, for the perfect tool box to carry my glassblowing tools. I looked at rifle cases, guitar cases, and tool boxes. One of my concerns was the weight of the case and the tools, and I realized that I might as well get a case with wheels, and I found the perfect case, by seaching for ATA (Air Transport Association) shipping cases on ebay.

I needed a long and narrow case, but wider than the typical rifle case or guitar case (which may be 12" or less wide). I found that "keyboard cases" had the dimensions I was looking for, and the SKB 4214W (the "W" means it has wheels) was the right size.

According to Google's Shopping website, these sell new for around $300 (plus shipping), but on ebay you may be able to find one pre-owned in the $99 - $125 range.

Although they spec this case to have an interior of 42" long by 14" deep, that is with the standard foam installed to protect a keyboard. If you remove this foam, you have a case which is actually 44" long and 16" deep. In terms of symmetry of the two halves, some cases had essentially identical halves, but other cases had a relatively thinner lid section. The SKB 4214W is one of those cases where the top and bottom halves are the same size, and both accomodate not less than 2 inches of foam.

My first attempt with pink foam (see below) from Home Depot did not work out very well,
and in researching what real tool boxes use to cushion their tools, I narrowed my search down to Polyethylene which is a closed-cell foam which will not absorb water, and is easy to clean. I found a local foam supplier (L & R Shipping Supply) who would cut me the 44" x 16" x 2" PE foam I needed.

This was built into a single rifle case. Includes:

• Eyeglass case with AUR-99 safety lenses (themost important tool in the entire case!)
• two Putsch Jacks
• Cutting Edge Large Combo Diamond Shears (my duck bill's are on order)
• Pi Dividers (for rolling up cane)
• two graphit paddles (both home made) -- the longer one in the bottom half of the photo is 13" long
• 0.5" graphite rod with handle (hand made)
• calipers (for witches balls)
• Steinert blow hose (in zip lock bag)
• Assortment of small hand tools (long needlenose pliars, ice pick, raking tool, etc.)
• and of course a first aid kit with burn gel (Ed Schmid's book says you will get burned...