Any suggestions regarding making the cutouts for the rifles in a Pelican case, or is it as simple as making an outline of the rifles and cutting? How deep do you cut? Thanks for the help.

Mike, I have found it pretty easy if you mark the foam and use an electric knive to cut out. I tend to cut inside the line for a tight fit. On my case (1750), I just cut all the way thru the center piece of foam.

I've been told it's even easier if you put the foam in a freezer for an hour before cutting it.

Maybe others will have additional suggestions. Good luck!

Per the directions in the case, I just marked the foam with chalk and cut it out with an electric carving knife, on the inside of the outline (to make a tight fit).

The electric knife went through the stuff like a hot knife through butter and did a neat job.

Cheers,
Canuck

STOP RIGHT THERE!!

Go to Ar15.com, go to the AR15 section, then go to the DIY section. There are some awesome instructions on how to get the foam abso-tooot-ly perfect.

The techniques work perfectly.

I screwed up more than one Pelican liner with the old electric turkey knife. No more, no sir.

LD

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
STOP RIGHT THERE!!

Go to Ar15.com, go to the AR15 section, then go to the DIY section. There are some awesome instructions on how to get the foam abso-tooot-ly perfect.

The techniques work perfectly.

I screwed up more than one Pelican liner with the old electric turkey knife. No more, no sir.

LD

Lawndart, how about at link - I spent quite a while looking, but couldn't find it. I assume you meant the "buid it yourself" forum?

Cut mine with my knife,(but my knife is SHARP).

quote:

Originally posted by Antlers:

Lawndart, how about at link - I spent quite a while looking, but couldn't find it. I assume you meant the "buid it yourself" forum?

Try THIS LINK. I think that it's the one that LD was refering too.

I go to the dollar store and buy a pack of cheap bendable steak knifes...ones with thin plastic handles work well. Then just mark and cut. It takes some time but it's not too difficult.

I don't have a Pelican rifle case but do have a Browning which uses foam same way as Pelican. I use a 4" eXacto blade that I got some years ago with a foam insert Halliburton camera case. I bought 4 blades at the time. I get the foam at the local upholstery supply store. I just bought a Pelican case for a Video camera and got it with the 'pick-n-pluck' foam I think they call it. Worked perfectly and was fast. Don't know if it's available for the rifle case though. I do know I can buy foam cheaper than that furnished by Pelican. They really charge for the inserts.

My case has the pick and pluck foam too. The exacto knife sounds like a good approach to me assuming I can locate a long enough blade. I checked out the link to the AR15 sight, I am not up to the task of building an electric foam cutter just to make the insert cutouts, although the fellow's work was outstanding. Wish he was available to do the cutouts for a fee!

I appreciate everyone's thoughts and ideas.