Keyboard Protective/Carrying Cases -- Any Suggestions?

[bionicfen]

So I bought a Filco Tenkeyless off elitekeyboards.com a few months back, and it's done wonders for me. I love the thing. I like it so much, in fact, that I've actually been carting the sucker to work and back with me every day, since our comptroller 'doesn't believe' in RSI and thus won't approve my expense reports for a $135 keyboard.

I've been using the box the keyboard shipped in as a carrying case; it fits nicely in my work bag and, after a little work with krazy-glue and that awesome cut-to-fit styrofoam Dell packs all of their servers in, it actually keeps my board fairly well protected.  It's clearly not going to hold out forever, though, and I'm looking for a more permanent solution.  Ideally, (since I've got enough **** to cart around with me already), it'd just be a heavy-duty plastic or plexiglass cover than i could slide or slap over the keyboard,  to keep it safe while it's in my work bag.  I know that elitekeyboards.com sells a 'keyboard roof' for the tenkeyless filcos, but I don't know that it actually fastens to the keyboard in any way.

So:  any thoughts?  Have you guys found a product that does what I'm talking about, or DIY'd one of your own?  Am I completely insane for worrying about the wellbeing of my keyboard while it's in transit? Do I just need to suck it up and slap down another $135 for a second keyboard?

[itlnstln]

I just bought one keyboard for work and one for home.  You could probably use a musical instrument case of the right size.  People might look at you funny, though, but you probably already get that.

[Ekaros]

In long term second one would save time and pain, atleast I think so. On other hand who am I to tell, who don't even have good keyboard...

[itlnstln]

I am all about "one for home, one for work" (and in my case, a HHKB in the laptop bag). That way, you never get "jealous" at either location, and you don't have to worry about transporting it and potential loss, theft or breakage.

[goneim]

I'm considering buying the razer messenger bag shoulder edition so that I can always carry my keyboard, mouse, pad and headphone to LAN parties. Well the bag is designed mostly for gamers and not cheap. But it hasn't been available yet.

[washuai]

One for work, one for home, unless you cannot secure your expensive keyboard at work.  Heck, if I couldn't secure it at work, I'd probably still risk it being swiped.  Seriously, a locking filing cabinet should solve that.

If it can't be secured at work, then either put it where you'd put a laptop, stick it in a laptop sleeve, etc.  It isn't keys being pressed that is going to be such a bad for your board, as much as flex stress, I'd think, so I'm not sure the roof would be sufficient.

I wouldn't buy a razer messenger bag.  It'll be a cheap @$$ bag that's way over priced.  You can have the people that do custom messenger bags make you a sturdier one for a much better overall deal and have all of those kinds of compartments you could want.

Messenger bag links:
Chrome is the most durable/quality bag I know of and I'm fairly sure as long as you were willing to pay, they'd do a custom bag, if one of their current ones didn't do it for you.

I'm positive, I could securely store those LAN items in a Timbuk2 bag.

I've heard great things about these custom bags, but I'd probably buy Chrome first.

These bags weren't them.

In case you're wondering what I have - I have two crap messengers (Amy Brown art & Fruits Baskets) & a hand me down Timbuk2.

[goneim]

Thanks for the tipps

The TIMBACK2 H.A.L. Backpack looks great, though not waterproof. But I think I'd buy a Chrome backpack. Pitty that their laptopbags are way too small(15.4”)!

[chongyixiong]

Thanks for the tipps

The TIMBACK2 H.A.L. Backpack looks great, though not waterproof. But I think I'd buy a Chrome backpack. Pitty that their laptopbags are way too small(15.4”)!

When you say waterproof do you mean you go scuba-diving with them?
I know for a fact that I don't and I gladly accept that they are weather-resistant, I know that they will even survive a huge downpour without getting anything inside wet (provided that I make sure that there are no holes at the side when the flap closes down)

All Timbuk2 bags come with a waterproof liner and they should be great keeping things dry. I don't know for sure, but djdjamatic's canvas bag seems to be of high quality.. maybe you could try those?

[Rajagra]

You could do worse than just wrapping the keyboard in a towel. Though for regular use it would be worth cutting the towel to size and stitching it up to make a pocket. I think even I could manage that.

[goneim]

When you say waterproof do you mean you go scuba-diving with them?
I know for a fact that I don't and I gladly accept that they are weather-resistant, I know that they will even survive a huge downpour without getting anything inside wet (provided that I make sure that there are no holes at the side when the flap closes down)

All Timbuk2 bags come with a waterproof liner and they should be great keeping things dry. I don't know for sure, but djdjamatic's canvas bag seems to be of high quality.. maybe you could try those?

It seems to me the "Mavericks Swig Backpack" is the only fully water proof one among them
Check this out

[EverythingIBM]

Okay if I seen someone walking down the street with a protective case for a terminal model M, there'd be a problem.

Yeah, you should do the home/work combo, keyboard for each, makes sense.

[SamirD]

I hate to bump an old thread, but this is exactly what I was searching for as I always seem to be bringing my Ms with me anytime I'm going to be typing.  I've found what seems like a pretty good source for cases in various qualities and prices:
http://www.south-pak.com/

I bet this will look funny as carry-on/checked baggage, but I don't care!

[SamirD]

Well, I went even as far as to make a request for a custom case from both that company and this one: http://www.gemstarmfg.com

I think there's probably enough interest to have one of these companies start producing dedicated hard-sided and waterproof keyboard cases.   Let's see if they give me a call.

[SamirD]

I think I found the perfect ready-made case for my M:
http://www.skbcases.com/music/products/proddetail.php?f=&id=677&o=name&offset=1&c=91&s=76

[SamirD]

I think I found the perfect ready-made case for my M:
http://www.skbcases.com/music/products/proddetail.php?f=&id=677&o=name&offset=1&c=91&s=76

Has anyone tried one of these yet?  Now that I'm traveling with my M again, I think I'm about to get one.

[SamirD]

So fast forward to today.  My M will be flying international, so it's time for some protection.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find the SKB case anywhere that would meet my price and time deadlines.  So I headed out to Guitar Center to see if they had anything. 

And bingo!  Picked up this Gator case with a lifetime warranty for a little less than the SKB: 
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gator-GK-2110-Keyboard---FX-Multi-Effects-Board-Bag-103364659-i1152124.gc

My M is happy in it and there's enough room for a ps2 to usb adapter and maybe even a mouse.  The padding is good enough to protect the keyboard from a decent whack while carrying it.  Sure beats a whack without a case.  I'll be using this all the time when transporting an M. 

[SamirD]

So fast forward to today.

The case has been on almost a dozen flights and almost as many car rides.  I would lug it from work and back when travelling to the field office.

The case has held up very well, with only some fraying on one of the corners nearest the ground.  I did drop it once from about 2 feet onto solid concrete an the M was completely secure (maybe that's there that fraying came from).

I'm sure there's similar cases for tkl and 60%, but for a full-size, this case as been awesome.  It's actually that M's home now as I only use that M for travelling now.