mikelz777
Well-known member
I had a Musician's Friend hard case which I needed to adapt so it would support and accommodate a thinline ukulele. My goal was to build up the padding on the bottom of the case so it would fit exactly.
- I started by tracing the body of a ukulele (that fit the case) onto a solid piece of cardboard (i.e. no folds/creases) and cut it out to form a template.
- I dry fit the cardboard template in the case and then used a scissors to trim the edges of the template to the point where it fit snugly and I didn't have to force it into place. (i.e. it didn't compress the padding on the sides)
- I then used the template to trace the pattern onto a square of 1-inch craft foam rubber. I then used a serrated steak knife to cut the pattern out of the foam rubber which fit snugly and perfectly in the bottom of the case.
- I didn't really want the ukulele sitting directly on the foam rubber and the foam rubber wasn't especially pretty on the edges where it was cut so I wanted to cover it with some kind of cloth. My first thought was to use flannel from an old shirt but instead I decided to use a plush microfiber cloth I bought at the Dollar Tree and was using to wipe down my ukes after using them.
- I laid the microfiber cloth out flat and then placed my handy cardboard template on top of that. I then took a ruler, placed it on the edge of the template and measured out 1-1/4 inches and made a dot on the cloth with a felt tip marker. I then did the same thing about every 2 inches around the entire perimeter of the template. I then connected the dots to form a pattern on the microfiber cloth which was 1-1/4 inches wider than the template on all sides. I then cut out the pattern with a pair of scissors.
- I centered the microfiber cloth on top of the foam in the bottom of the case and then simply tucked it in along all the edges. The edges of the foam fit snugly enough that it holds the cloth in place.
It was easy to do and it turned out looking nicer than I thought it would!
- I started by tracing the body of a ukulele (that fit the case) onto a solid piece of cardboard (i.e. no folds/creases) and cut it out to form a template.
- I dry fit the cardboard template in the case and then used a scissors to trim the edges of the template to the point where it fit snugly and I didn't have to force it into place. (i.e. it didn't compress the padding on the sides)
- I then used the template to trace the pattern onto a square of 1-inch craft foam rubber. I then used a serrated steak knife to cut the pattern out of the foam rubber which fit snugly and perfectly in the bottom of the case.
- I didn't really want the ukulele sitting directly on the foam rubber and the foam rubber wasn't especially pretty on the edges where it was cut so I wanted to cover it with some kind of cloth. My first thought was to use flannel from an old shirt but instead I decided to use a plush microfiber cloth I bought at the Dollar Tree and was using to wipe down my ukes after using them.
- I laid the microfiber cloth out flat and then placed my handy cardboard template on top of that. I then took a ruler, placed it on the edge of the template and measured out 1-1/4 inches and made a dot on the cloth with a felt tip marker. I then did the same thing about every 2 inches around the entire perimeter of the template. I then connected the dots to form a pattern on the microfiber cloth which was 1-1/4 inches wider than the template on all sides. I then cut out the pattern with a pair of scissors.
- I centered the microfiber cloth on top of the foam in the bottom of the case and then simply tucked it in along all the edges. The edges of the foam fit snugly enough that it holds the cloth in place.
It was easy to do and it turned out looking nicer than I thought it would!