3DrJ
Senior Member
Domke small bags (F-5XA/B) are just right for mFT gear and are justly popular. However, the bag can be improved in a couple of ways: the Velcro flap closure is "noisy" when opening the flap.
The bag is also missing a "pick-up" handle, a feature nearly all other bags have, but I'll leave that for a separate "How-To".
I "converted" my Domke XA to magnetic flap closure by attaching strong "rare-earth" magnets to a wide adhesive-backed Velcro strip. Matching thin magnetic stainless steel "plates" were adhered to a corresponding Velcro piece mounted on the flap's Velcro closure.
Two magnets are required and are sold at a local hardware store. Round, ~18mm diameter, and look like this:
[ATTACH alt="18mm diameter "rare-earth" (high-strength) magnet. (Mfg. by "MagnetSource.com")"]424012[/ATTACH]
18mm diameter "rare-earth" (high-strength) magnet. (Mfg. by "MagnetSource.com")
The magnetic plates can be any thin magnetic ferrous material, but stainless is nicest. I used an old icing spatula also sold at hardware and kitchen supply stores and rather inexpensive. I use them for mixing artist colors and inks for printmaking, much cheaper than the art store versions.
Icing spatula sold at hardware, kitchen supply stores. Made of magnetic stainless. Excellent in the artist's studio for paint mixing. Usually sell for $5 or so.
The conversion is really quite simple. The following should help make it clear:
Step 1.
We'll be using 2" (5cm) wide Velcro pieces (hook and loop). The loop (hard surface) piece of Velcro is cut to match the shape of the Velcro area of the flap.
The unmodified flap.
Flap with Velcro marked for cutting to size (and shape).
Next, using sections cut from the spatula (with an abrasive wheel, or by hand with a hacksaw--pretty easy to do). Make sure to file down rough edges so the metal plates are flat.
Prepared metal plates and where they will be placed on the Velcro modifier.
Remove backing from the flap Velcro. Carefully adhere the metal plates in position (see photos). Try to line them up straight, but great precision isn't critical.
Metal plates adhered to black Velcro strips cut to size/shape. Note the spacing and alignment of the plates--they will match the magnets on front of bag.
Cover the entire adhesive surface with thin polyethylene sheet. A clear garbage bag can be cut up for the purpose and will work fine.
Plates in position. Remaining open adhesive surface is very sticky. Use thin polyethylene sheeting to fix problem. Trim excess poly at edge of black Velcro.
Then trim the surplus poly film from the Velcro (after detaching our Velcro from the flap). After trimming, put the Velcro plate holder back in position on the flap.
Step 2.
Similarly, cut the hook (soft) Velcro piece to match across the whole Velcro area on the front of the bag. Attach it hook side down onto the bag. Then line up the flap plates centered on the front Velcro piece (that will hold the magnets). Mark where the magnets will go.
Line up flap plates with position of magnets. Mark (red dots here) position of magnet placement.
Be aware that the adhesive is very strong. Once "glued" the magnets are very difficult to remove without destroying the Velcro piece. It's not too hard to get in the right position. Use the line up markings to put it where it ought to be.
Carefully remove the covering to expose the adhesive surface. Near the bottom of the adhesive area vary carefully place the round magnets, leaving a few millimeters of sticky area between the lowest part of the magnets and the edge of the adhesive surface.
Magnets adhered to sticky surface of black Velcro. Note alignment with flap plates (red markings). Also notice the magnet bottoms are 2-3 mm above bottom edge of Velcro.
Again cover the whole Velcro adhesive area including the magnets with thin poly and trim the excess as before.
The adhesive surface covered with poly film, including the magnets. Trim poly to edge of Velcro.
Once our plate and magnet holders are trimmed and attached in place on the bag, that's it, we're ALL DONE! Enjoy your quiet Domke bag!
All right!! Poly trimmed from black Velcro edges, and it's ready to go. The flap plates and magnets line up nicely! It will work perfectly.
Have fun with it. Any questions, fire away...
Jules.
--
Artists must not only see, but see what they are seeing.
The bag is also missing a "pick-up" handle, a feature nearly all other bags have, but I'll leave that for a separate "How-To".
I "converted" my Domke XA to magnetic flap closure by attaching strong "rare-earth" magnets to a wide adhesive-backed Velcro strip. Matching thin magnetic stainless steel "plates" were adhered to a corresponding Velcro piece mounted on the flap's Velcro closure.
Two magnets are required and are sold at a local hardware store. Round, ~18mm diameter, and look like this:
[ATTACH alt="18mm diameter "rare-earth" (high-strength) magnet. (Mfg. by "MagnetSource.com")"]424012[/ATTACH]
18mm diameter "rare-earth" (high-strength) magnet. (Mfg. by "MagnetSource.com")
The magnetic plates can be any thin magnetic ferrous material, but stainless is nicest. I used an old icing spatula also sold at hardware and kitchen supply stores and rather inexpensive. I use them for mixing artist colors and inks for printmaking, much cheaper than the art store versions.
Icing spatula sold at hardware, kitchen supply stores. Made of magnetic stainless. Excellent in the artist's studio for paint mixing. Usually sell for $5 or so.
The conversion is really quite simple. The following should help make it clear:
Step 1.
We'll be using 2" (5cm) wide Velcro pieces (hook and loop). The loop (hard surface) piece of Velcro is cut to match the shape of the Velcro area of the flap.
The unmodified flap.
Flap with Velcro marked for cutting to size (and shape).
Next, using sections cut from the spatula (with an abrasive wheel, or by hand with a hacksaw--pretty easy to do). Make sure to file down rough edges so the metal plates are flat.
Prepared metal plates and where they will be placed on the Velcro modifier.
Remove backing from the flap Velcro. Carefully adhere the metal plates in position (see photos). Try to line them up straight, but great precision isn't critical.
Metal plates adhered to black Velcro strips cut to size/shape. Note the spacing and alignment of the plates--they will match the magnets on front of bag.
Cover the entire adhesive surface with thin polyethylene sheet. A clear garbage bag can be cut up for the purpose and will work fine.
Plates in position. Remaining open adhesive surface is very sticky. Use thin polyethylene sheeting to fix problem. Trim excess poly at edge of black Velcro.
Then trim the surplus poly film from the Velcro (after detaching our Velcro from the flap). After trimming, put the Velcro plate holder back in position on the flap.
Step 2.
Similarly, cut the hook (soft) Velcro piece to match across the whole Velcro area on the front of the bag. Attach it hook side down onto the bag. Then line up the flap plates centered on the front Velcro piece (that will hold the magnets). Mark where the magnets will go.
Line up flap plates with position of magnets. Mark (red dots here) position of magnet placement.
Be aware that the adhesive is very strong. Once "glued" the magnets are very difficult to remove without destroying the Velcro piece. It's not too hard to get in the right position. Use the line up markings to put it where it ought to be.
Carefully remove the covering to expose the adhesive surface. Near the bottom of the adhesive area vary carefully place the round magnets, leaving a few millimeters of sticky area between the lowest part of the magnets and the edge of the adhesive surface.
Magnets adhered to sticky surface of black Velcro. Note alignment with flap plates (red markings). Also notice the magnet bottoms are 2-3 mm above bottom edge of Velcro.
Again cover the whole Velcro adhesive area including the magnets with thin poly and trim the excess as before.
The adhesive surface covered with poly film, including the magnets. Trim poly to edge of Velcro.
Once our plate and magnet holders are trimmed and attached in place on the bag, that's it, we're ALL DONE! Enjoy your quiet Domke bag!
All right!! Poly trimmed from black Velcro edges, and it's ready to go. The flap plates and magnets line up nicely! It will work perfectly.
Have fun with it. Any questions, fire away...
Jules.
--
Artists must not only see, but see what they are seeing.
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