Fiberglass Cases

[Dignan]

There is a lot of good information about fiberglass techniques on this website. I want to do several projects like fender flares, dash, center console, etc. but I want to start with something easy with few angles and stuff. I need a case for my laptop, a camera case, and a rifle case. I think that it will be a good place to start and learn the ways of fiberglass, but the one area I am really looking for ideas is the seal on the cases. I would like to do tongue and groove water-tight seals like on pelican cases, but I am up for ideas, so what do you guys think?

 

[techieman33]

I would look online for someplace that sells materials to make road cases, most close with a tongue and groove system, and the aluminum pieces could then be riveted or bolted if need be to the fiberglass.

 

[Dignan]

I searched for road cases. I did find a lot of stuff that would be useful in making custom cases. I found some aluminum tongue and groove stuff that looked useful, but it was $21 for 12 feet plus $8 over-sized shipping fee, plus shipping.
Building these cases for practice with fiberglass is only half the reason I am doing it. The other reason is that I am cheap. I got started with the idea of building my own case when I decided I wanted Cabela's "Bullet-proof" rifle case. (link here) but at over 200 bucks, that's too much for me. I am also a big fan of Pelican cases, but they are also in $200 price range. So I looked at bending my own aluminum case, building wood, plastic, polycarbonate, ABS, etc. I haven't completely decided what to do yet, but was thinking fiberglass might be a good method to get custom dimensions, a good strength shell, and light weight.
I have worked with wood for years, so I could build a pretty sweet box out of wood, but it would probably be heavier than I would like to carry around and not as durable or protect from the elements. That is what got me thinking about plastics. All though I haven't worked much with them, I think that the wood working skills would transfer over enough for me to work with it. I was just going to buy sheets of 1/4" PVC or ABS and cut it to size, and silicone/screw it together. Probably would work, but wouldn't look pretty.
When I was thinking wood and even with plastics, I was thinking about using a tongue and groove router like picture below for rim of the case and lid to meet up. I guess I still could if I used a wood frame for the fiberglass.