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magic4545 Inner circle Jimmy Fingers 1159 Posts |
If you're interested,
I'm traveling more and using Southwest Airlines, and, since they allow 2 pieces of luggage with 50 lbs. of weight each, I've gone to using regular suitcases for my act. Also, when going through an airport, I don't want my luggage/props to trigger any more interest than they have to. Standard luggage is more durable, more lightweight than custom built boxes, and more durable. I've traveled with the best anvil cases, and they always take a beating, regardless of how well built that they are. I would rather build more resilient props and let the suitcase 'assist' in protecting them. Also, luggage manufacturers build suitcases that are extremely lightweight, and that allows for more of my stuff if I want it. I never move the suitcase onto the stage during the act. Just a table and props that fit inside of the suitcase during travel. When I got my first spinner suitcase, a large Samsonite 29" spinner, I was amazed at how well it worked. When I left the Magic Castle, I wanted to have lunch at a particular restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard before catching my cab to the airport. The restaurant was 1.2 miles from the Castle, and I was traveling with my act, Magellan levitation and other props. I was blown away by how well the spinner rolled with such a large load. Straight, easy, smooth... almost effortless. It was almost like having a portable armrest. As time went by, the suitcase traveled less smoothly. It would list right and left, and it would simply have more difficulty, especially with changes of direction. Upon further inspection, I found a lot of hair, cat fur and other pollutants sticking out of the plastic swivel casters. They were generally not serviceable, due to being made with riveted axles that were difficult to remove, even permanently. I used a drill to permanently remove the rivet studs, being careful to not damage the plastic chassis of each of the casters. When the wheels were removed from the caster body, there were HUGE globs of hair and strands that were bogging the movement down. Easily removed now, hard to remove without removing the axle. Replacement of the axle was not as easy as finding a standard bolt. I had to go with a Metric M6 bolt that would fit through the bearing, since a 1/4" bolt wouldn't go through. A long M6 bolt gave me enough room to put on a nylon lock nut, and I was back in business. The suitcase is rolling straighter and smoother, like new!!! I soaked the bearings and packed them again to keep them spinning extremely smoothly under load. Now I have serviceable casters on the suitcase. If I bring a tiny wrench and a dime to use as a screwdriver, I can remove these on the road and get them back into perfect performance condition. Hope this helps someone to have more success on the road! Jimmy |
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