Carry-on systainer for office/computer/camera use

Frank Pellow

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Jan 16, 2007
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Yesterday I completed the customization of the carry-on systainer for office/computer/camera use. In the thread http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/a-homemade-'office-top'-that-attaches-to-a-systainer-lid/ I talked about customizing the lid. Now the whole systainer has been customized. Below is a series of photos and accompanying descriptions of the systainer in use:

1)
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This doesn?t look much like a case for carrying office, computer, and camera stuff. I don?t know whether or not that is a good thing. I see that Tanos manufactures systainers in anthracite and these can be purchased from Japan Woodworker in the USA. Below is photo of an anthracite systainer 2 that comes outfitted for a laptop computer
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It does loop more natural in its role than does the white and blue one that I am using. It costs $110 US. I might end up buying a bare-bones anthracite systainer 3.

2)
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First of all, notice that I have made a further modification to the office top that I talked about last week. A piece of Velcro has been glued to the lid. I?m going to keep both the metal strips and the Velcro strip on the lid at least until I have taken the systainer on a couple of trips and used it on a couple of job sites.

The compartment to the left is used mainly for my Nikon D40X Digital SLR camera and accessories. My Samsung Netbook computer is sitting on top of a compartment that is used mainly for computer accessories. There is room for one CD/DVD jewel case on the side of each compartment.

3)
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The computer has been removed and placed upside down in front of the systainer. The notch cut into top of the rightmost compartment accommodates ridge on the bottom back of the computer and this helps to hold the computer in place.

4)
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The computer is in use in the box and the box is on my lap. I would not want to use it for a long time this way but it certainly is possible.

5)
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The top of the camera compartment has been removed. I filed rounded indents in both sides of the compartment so that the camera is tightly contained within the compartment (but not so tight that it cannot be quickly removed).

6)
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Both lids as well as the camera have been removed.

7)
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The pencil box and mouse pad have been removed revealing a slim disk drive, a mouse as well as a variety of wires, rechargers, and transformers.

8)
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The contents of the front portion of the camera compartment have been removed and the disk drive has been removed from the computer compartment. Notice that there is a ?standard? systainer foam pad on the bottom of the case. Notice also that some CDs were stored below the disk drive.

9)
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Both compartments have been removed and the jewel cases that were in the box have been spread out on the foam on the bottom of the case.

10)
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All the material that was in the systainer (including that stored in the office lid) has been spread out beside the systainer.
 
Brice, my next plane trip is in May (from Toroto to Chicago) and I will let folks know how the case is (or is not) accepted.
 
The maximum dimmensions are:

    23cm x 40 cm x 55 cm

The exterior dimmensions of a systainer 3 are:

    21 cm x 29.5 cm x 39.5 cm (so it is well withing the limits  [big grin])

The maimum weight is: 10 kilos

My systainer with the contents shown earlier weighs just under 8 kilos (so, again, it is withing the limits  [big grin])
 
Brice Burrell said:
Great job, let us know if you make it through security.  ;D

Last Friday I got to test international security on a flight from Toronto to Chicago with my syatainer.  It did seem to surprise and interest a couple of folks at security in the Toronto Island Airport, but they passed the systainer and its contents with no problems.

There was a slight problem on the plane itself because the systainer would not fit into the overhead bin, but it did fit under the seat in from of me just enough room for one foot on either side.

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And, now that I am a tourist in Chicago, it's great to have all my camera, computer, and travel info all together and so well organized.
 
Great stuff and thank you for the info regarding travel.  I always toughts ystainers would double as a wonderful carry on luggage setup.  Especially using the trolley to transport 3 or so systainers through the airport.  Trolley folds up small enough to easily fit into an overhead bin.
 
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