How to Make a Padded Lens Case Using Plastic Bottles

If you’d like a cheap and simple way to protect your camera lenses from rain and from drops, you can make a makeshift lens case using ordinary plastic bottles (e.g. water bottles, soda bottles). Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do so.

Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients

You’ll need to gather up some tools and ingredients used to make the case.

Ingredients-wise, you’ll need two identical plastic bottles (choose your type of bottle based on the size of your lens), spongy material (e.g. foam) for the padding, a zipper, and dental floss.

For tools, you’ll need scissors, a safety pin, and a needle.

Step 2: Cut the Plastic Bottles

Cut one of the plastic bottles to a length that’s a bit longer than your lens. The other bottle should be cut about half an inch from the bottle’s bottom, where it starts to become curved.

Step 3: Poke Some Holes

Using the safety pin, poke holes all around the edge of the 2 bottle sections. The holes should be separated by about a quarter of an inch.

Step 4: Attach the Zipper

Sew the zipper onto the bottle using dental floss (or some very strong thread) using the holes you just poked. This should connect the two bottles with your zipper in between.

Step 5: Form Your Padding

Cut two circles out of your padding material that are the circumference of your bottle. Then cut one rectangular piece that fits nicely around the inner wall of the bottle/case.

Step 6: Pad Up Your Case

Insert the two padding circles into the top and bottom of your case, and then place the rectangular padding all along the inside. You can glue the padding into place if they do not stay put naturally.

Step 7: Waterproof It If Desired

Finally, you can waterproof the case if you’d like to protect it against things like raindrops and splashes of water (not being submerged underwater). Cut a bicycle inner tube in half and sew it into a ring the circumference of your bottle case. Make sure it’s a very snug fit. Slide it over your zipper when you’d like to seal it, and slide it off when you need to open the case.

Voila! A water-resistent and shockproof lens case for just pennies!


Editor’s note: This tutorial was created by Instuctables member marcellahella.

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