When searching for the best protection for their tools or equipment, many consider investing in a DIY insert for their protective case.

This option has many benefits, but are these interiors suitable for your needs? Or is there a better alternative, such as custom foam inserts?

Within this article, our knowledgable team delves into the world of foam inserts to help you decide whether it’s the best choice for you.

What are DIY foam inserts?

DIY, or ‘do it yourself’ foam inserts are plush interiors for equipment cases that you customise yourself at home to hold and protect your equipment.

The way you make the recesses in the foam depends on the type of DIY foam insert you have.

You can either buy a plain foam block that matches the dimensions of your hard case and cut pockets using a foam cutting kit. Or, you can use pick-and-pluck foam, which features pre-scored cubes that can be torn away to create accurate custom shapes.

The benefits of DIY foam interiors

They’re cheap to buy – DIY foam inserts are highly affordable as you only pay for a standard foam block – there’s no labour time or specialist tools to heighten the cost.

They’re perfect for simple designs – creating your own case interior to hold simple shapes is super straightforward.

All you need to do is determine where you need to cut or remove foam, place markers for accurate removal and pluck or cut away the foam to create a cushion for your tools, equipment or devices.

Lead times are low – as you’re ordering standard stock, you won’t have to wait long to receive your foam insert, so you can get storing as soon as possible.

Is there a better alternative to DIY foam inserts?

While DIY inserts are great for simple storage requirements, they aren’t the best for more complex applications, high-volume orders or those requiring a professional finish. Instead, a bespoke foam interior would make the most sense – but how do custom foam inserts differ from DIY ones?

Custom-made foam inserts

Unlike DIY interiors, which you can customise at home, custom foam inserts are precisely designed and engineered by experts using state-of-the-art CAD software and industrial cutting processes, such as CAD routing or water jet cutting.

You need only send any product drawings, descriptions, and images to the professionals, and they will take care of everything for you.

Why you might need a custom foam interior

If you need high precision – if your equipment is dimensionally complex, then only a professionally cut foam insert can offer the level of accuracy required to fit your items like a glove.

If you desire a sleek finish – while you may have a steady hand, foam cut by programmed machinery provides an unrivalled executive finish free from inaccuracies and accidental scores.

If you need a large number of inserts – for those requiring several inserts for their plastic cases, DIY models that you cut yourself aren’t practical. Instead, custom interiors made with specialist machinery make the most sense.

If you want to avoid the hassle of DIY customisation – with custom foam inserts, all you need to do is send off your specifications, and the rest is down to us. So you can get on with more important tasks instead.

So, which should I use?

To summarise, DIY inserts, such as pick-and-pluck types, are great for basic applications and one-off purchases. For example, if you’re looking to store a simple rectangular item, you could easily get away with a DIY interior.

However, if you need to store a complex piece of equipment, require multiple place holders within or need a large quantity of inserts, you need a custom interior made by our experienced manufacturers at Hofbauer.

Speak to us to make a bespoke order.

If you need durable and reliable foam inserts and protective cases for equipment, you’ve come to the right place.

If you have any questions or need product advice, please contact our helpful team, and they’ll help you in any way they can.