Headband magnifier storage bag or box for MA-016 & OptiVISOR

[Kiriakos GR]

Never owned before an headband magnifier, but now my MA-016 its on the way, and most of my thoughts these are of how to protect it.

Pros Kit MA-016 this is almost equal in dimensions with Donegan OptiVISOR.
Both share the classic design of  headband magnifier.

This topic it is going to serve as information resource and supply of ideas, so any wise consumers to be helped, so its one to discover the most practical and cost effective solution in his local market.

And so I will start with one step at the time, and first step this is product dimensions.
We need to protect something that is:
245mm long
200mm wide
50mm  height

Due the fact that such headband magnifier they are adjustable, we need to consider that actual numbers might be different for its one of us.

At the second step, we need to decide of what we need? long term storage or a quick storage solution?
For example, I got my headband magnifier as assistance tool for soldering, and electronic circuits repairs.
But I do not do such work, all day long.

My first thought, this is choosing an inexpensive carton box, that I will store my tool, when this is not in use.
But, such an inexpensive carton box solution, this is unable to offer any protection against an impact.
Headband magnifier this has lens and plastic parts all be prone to impact.
 
My second thought, this is a storage solution this be padded.
Padded, small in dimensions, and with hardened sides 80~100mm wide.
Now I am calculating storage solution external dimensions.
260mm long
250mm wide
80~100mm height   

Here we have a new problem, and this is named as Chinese made EVA bag overpriced goods.
Such a small EVA bag this leaves from China, at 3.5$ USD per piece, and then someone trying to sell them to you from 8 ~ 40$ USD per piece at your country (local retail market).

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I did use my human intelligence, and about three hours of time, so to review all offerings of EVA padded bags in Greece.
All that I cared for, was finding a bag at proper dimensions and at lowest price.

In my surprise, I discovered that soft-bags aiming the market of Cosmetic Case  &  Beauty Case they were lowest priced, than if this identical item was listed instead, for a different application. 
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Can we solve our new problem, with out spending any cash at all?
Yes its possible when you are old enough as consumer.

Do you have still stored the solder bag of your first HP laptop?
Do you have still stored the solder bag, analog or digital photography camera?
Did you own any EVA bag this now be a part of an abandoned hobby?

Indeed we may reuse allot of items, that we did pay for them in the past, they might not be at the actual dimensions for our latest application, but there is an solution within our own home by a 70% of chances.

Note: The photograph bellow this is a generic representation of product dimensions alone.
Never buy unbranded products them including lens and vision aids.   

[Kiriakos GR]

I did started my latest adventure by starting to modify a nice bag that I got for free.
This blue bag its made of nice outer material, but this has zero padding.

I am keeping in the shop few sheets of black flexible padding, this offering a shape mostly.
And I also have few sheets of 9mm DEPRON, that I did use as bag floor.

I did 30% of DIY work, and then I feel the need for a roll of double side tape and few more handcraft supplies.
At the same time I did locate the fancy Beauty Case / Headband magnifier storage bag, this be sold for 9.99€ at 400 meters away from my workshop.
 

I did visited this specific store, so to buy low cost handcraft supplies.
Low priced roll of double sided sticky tape this was sold out,  and relative product from Tesa® mounting tapes this was priced at 12.50€

At that point I did run out of reasonable options, and I got the new bag instead of a single roll of of double sided sticky tape ....

Now I have two options so to play with = two storage bags.
Tomorrow I will have delivered my Headband magnifier.
And them I will evaluate if this fancy Beauty Case this can do the trick.
If not, I will do a new lookup for reasonably priced handcraft supplies, locally.
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The fancy Beauty Case, this has soft padded floor,  an inner hard plastic basket (wall), and rubberized walls / inserts.
This seems visually as ideal as multimeter case, but its not, bag inner height or this is 80mm, this is too much.
Inner storage free space 230mm wide x 200mm x 80mm.
Over all it is well made as storage for sensitive electronic equipment.
But I can trust it only as storage solution for indoor use.

Bellow they are photographs of my latest adventure.      
 

[Andrew-88]

Kiriakos keep be calm, and stay beautiful  

In the positive side of things, you did solve this product storage needs, by the one way or the other. 

[Kiriakos GR]

 

My new pack of interesting news!
I did discover (accidentally) that we have Made in Greece and of best performing double sided sticky tape, for gluing together DEPRON sheets, and even fabric over DEPRON sheets. 
Company name: Primo Packaging Solutions  https://primotape.gr/company/
Factory site: Sindos - Thessaloniki 
38mm x10M / two rolls / 3€ for both

I did run my first tests, I can now build walls by cluing together thin parts of DEPRON sheets. 
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Additionally I am now exploring and a second idea, this has to do originally with, a foam pattern for the MA-016.
As food for thought.

I am facing shipping delay for my headband magnifier, the local seller received a box of goods from Athens, but my product was not included.

Either way, I am using here my time productively, by exploring more handcrafting ideas. 

[Kiriakos GR]

I was unable to see that coming ...

ProsKit MA-016 of the year 2024 revision .. this has a specifications change.
New product design dimensions 320mm x 230 mm x 55 mm

The slick looking carrying case, this is now incompatible.
So I will have now to move on, and modify the much larger blue bag instead.

Lesson learned, always wait to receive your own headband magnifier.
Adjust the headband at the length this serving your needs.
Then keep a note of the new dimensions.
And then start the planning, of seeking an appropriate storage solution for it. 
     

[overvolt]

ProsKit MA-016 of the year 2024 revision .. this has a specifications change.
New product design dimensions 320mm x 230 mm x 55 mm    

These dimensions looks compatible with magazine and file storage box.
Width this should be at 8~10cm.

Food for thought.    

[Kiriakos GR]

I am a rare Bird, I know it ...   

Today I thought to investigate at the nearby bookstore, this having all sort of A4 paper / file storage box.
And I discovered a true rarity, this Made in Britain, and also I learned today and new word in English = Foolscap Box File.

My new find this is: IXL Essentials Foolscap Box File 206100050
It is an oversized box, and the shop owner told me, that this is a rare handmade box, that no one care to buy, and it was last one in stock.
He even suggested to me 3€ price as special discount.

When I came at the workshop, I started WEB search and I could not find any clues, but after some time I came across of an eBay listing in UK, this mentioning that this is made of wood.
I when to nearby Super market, so to use their scale, this monster is 580 grams ... 

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IXL Essentials Foolscap Box File 206100050
Description:
This bright and stylish IXL box file has a 75mm capacity and is ideal for long term storage of both A4 and foolscap documents.
The box file features an internal spring lock to secure documents and a strong lid catch for protection.
Material Wood ( wood constructed Box files )
Item Weight 585 g
Made in Britain

Dimensions:
Size - Depth (mm)    245 mm
Size - Height (mm)    368 mm
Spine Width (mm)    75 mm
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The most remarkable find, the internal spring lock this grab and hold my headband magnifier. 
The box this is wide enough so to retain even Proskit product carton !!
Lid catch mechanism this is another useful feature.
This is the Perfect storage solution for all headband magnifier.

I did spotted recently made similar products (Foolscap Box File), nowadays they are making them by hard paper.
Similar Lid catch and internal spring lock, they are made in Malaysia.
Either way, this product design its international and inexpensive.

My own final touch, this will be to add layers of foam, so to create padding.  

[Kiriakos GR]

Final version - Greek patent pending ...   

They say that its not a good idea a magician to demonstrate it secrets, but I am today extremely happy.
The gods stand at my side all day long.
Customizing this box it was my new adventure, I had only one chance to make it right.

I had to flatten the end, of this internal spring lock, with my Hot air rework station, at 170Celsius.
The made in Greece, double side sticky tape, this helped me allot, I did glue over foam, fabric and even plastic.
Foam glued over foam, this was easy as kids play.
The most tiresome this was the amount of thought before its new step.

But the end result, this is now extremely rewarding in my eyes.     

[Andrew-88]

Major skills demonstration, entertainment along education, three in one !!    

[overvolt]

Total cost:
3 €  (Box)
3 €  (double side sticky tape)
Grand total 6€

There is no doubt, that you are a magician.