How do you store your snake?

[Graham Tobias]

Hey everyone... recently picked up a 100ft 24x4 Radial split snake. It's large, and a pain to move and handle.... How does everyone store their snakes for easy and safe use and transport?

thanks.

[jeremycox]

Originally Posted by Graham Tobias

How does everyone store their snakes for easy and safe use

I cant help but want to respond with something really childish.

[dannygold]

Listen Jeremy COX. There's nothing funny about someone asking how to store their snake, oK? If you find something funny about a dude asking another dude how he stores his snake you're a sick-0. I don't even get the joke.

And to answer the OPs question I keep my snake sheathed when not in use. If someone ASKS ME I might take it out when I'm not using it, just to show it off, but some clients are weird about seeing my snake because its a shortie and has some solder burns on it. Many of them say they prefer the monster snakes.

[Graham Tobias]

wow everyone is so helpful... my snake is neither childish sized nor a "shortie" so anyone have any real answers?

[henryrobinett]

I can't believe how childish you guys are! I mean, if anything, mine intimidates people, so I like to play modest and keep it in my pants, unless it has special business to attend to.

Grow up guy. Sheesh.

[china jam]

allencollins

[Thom]

Graham,

Did you get multipin or hardwired?

If you got a multipin, disconnect and cap the box, cap the snake and wrap over under or figure 8. There are several different boxes you can put them in.

I store my drop snake in a Calzone case. I bought a second (B stock) box at a discount and wrap it in there. Before that I used one of those large plastic boxes with the hinged lids. It works fine as long as you do not throw it around. The company I work for has built 30 x 30 inch boxes and the store all of there's, but they usually get loaded in a large truck.

Good luck.

Thom

[Graham Tobias]

Originally Posted by Thom

Graham,

Did you get multipin or hardwired?

It's hardwired and huge.

[Remoteness]

Since we only have hardwired sub-snakes can you upload a JPG for us to see...

I think I could come up with an idea or three.

[Graham Tobias]

Here it is.. the breakout box is really really big. The snake weighs around 80 pounds total.

[bishopthomas]

So, what's the problem? Call up Jan-Al and have them make you a case..... 3 times. Seriously, though, just toss that thing in a case and be done with it. I am designing a case that holds the main snake trunk (in my case just the cable with Mass connectors) in the bottom and subsnakesk in a removable tray in the top. Maybe you would be better off with a 30"x30" case with XLR's in the bottom and the snake on top (just like you have it in the box).

[Remoteness]

The Bishop made some good points about your situation.

If it was me, I would slap a multipin on the box for your snake run and leave a 15 to 20 foot fan-out for the other folks...

Are both snake runs 100' long? If so, consider two multipins or cutting down the fan outs to a more manageable length. Then wire small stage boxes for the long runs.

If you purchased this brand new I assume this is how you really wanted it so, disregard my thoughts and opinions on this matter.

As for the roadcase, IMO it depends on how portable you want to be.
Are we talking tour portable or throw it in the back of a small van or something?

If you split up the snakes from the box I would just throw the splitter box in your work box and leave the cable free. If you need a case then throw it in one. This way you have complete flexibility. Only use a case when you really need a case.

All of our large splitter systems and some of our smaller splitter boxes have roadcases.
Everything else gets thrown into a work box when applicable.

[Graham Tobias]

It's all hardwired because I couldn't afford multipin. The split cable is only 10 feet long. I don't really plan on putting it in a road case right now.. don't have the car space. Eventually if I have the time and money, Ill convert the snake to multipin. Do people ever wrap them around plastic crates or anything? I'll probably just end up carefully placing it in with all the other gear.


This might be a cool case idea:

[Remoteness]

I'd find a heavy duty sack to put the stage box in and call it a day.
You could upgrade the sack by foam lining it or something to that affect.

Also consider making a foam sleeve wrapped in (glued to the foam) material to protect the box.
The material will help protect the foam from getting mangled and stuff.

I have used forms of both of these ideas in the past and they worked out very well.
For budget based protection that's two great ways to handle the task at hand.

[tnjazz]

Originally Posted by bishopthomas

So, what's the problem? Call up Jan-Al and have them make you a case..... 3 times.

OK that was mean...but I'm sorry to admit I laughed out loud when I first read that.

Originally Posted by bishopthomas

Seriously, though, just toss that thing in a case and be done with it. I am designing a case that holds the main snake trunk (in my case just the cable with Mass connectors) in the bottom and subsnakesk in a removable tray in the top. Maybe you would be better off with a 30"x30" case with XLR's in the bottom and the snake on top (just like you have it in the box).

We built all of our current snakes with multipin connectors, and we store/transport all the tails in a big rolling Stanley toolchest thing I got at Home Depot. Cost about $50 and is just fine for hundreds of feet of cable. The Stanley is hard plastic and pretty light, so it makes up for all the weight of the cables (I never realized how heavy a couple hundred feet of 24 channel snake cable was!)

If you don't want to go that route, bishopthomas' suggestion is a good one too. Of course, a 30x30 case is pretty big and bulky. Got a box truck for transport?

[Jim vanBergen]

Tupperware.

I like tupperware. There are all kinds of large, heavy-duty boxes at Home Despot, Sears and similar places. Perfect for lugging your stuff around in your car.

I have a couple of pelicans and several suitcase style road cases plus some tupperware.

Hope this helps!

JvB

[Testing123]

Originally Posted by Jim vanBergen

I like tupperware.

You must mean Rubbermaid. Tupperware is the stuff that women buy at home parties to store food in.

[Fishmed]

When I had one, I kept it in a Hardshell Suitcase. Since I bought it used, I think that case came with it, but it worked well.

[nine99nine]

I have been thinking of the same question myself, as I own a 100ft. 12 or 16x4 snake. I believe i am going with a plastic rolling case from home depot or other hardware store. I think wrapping any snake over 100ft with more than 12 channels is worth wrapping in a figure 8 rather than an oval shape. (ProCo actually sells an audio snake called "audio snake in a bag" in which they fit a 100ft snake into a bag you would probably pack clothes in, so even one of those should suffice) I am also going to custom make a canvas or weather-tough fabric bag for the xlr connectors and for the box as well. When I have worked with larger companies doing remote gigs, they always had their xlrs and box itself covered in that kind of material to protect from water and whatnot during transport or breakdown. I also recommend packing a couple of towels or old shirts or whatever with the snake if you plan on doing remote gigs for shows. When you go to wind the snake up at the end of the night, part of it was usually exposed to the floor to the crowd and some beer, dirt, and other junk get on the cable. Just use the towels to wipe and clean your snake as you wrap it up. Definitely helps keep your bin from smelling like someone threw up in it.

[AllThingsAudio]

I use a plastic tub that I picked up at Home Depot. It has two rope handles and is light so its easy to schlep around. I simply coil the snake into it. Cheap and lo-tech but it works.

[AllThingsAudio]

As a follow up to my earlier reply, I also picked up a fantail bag that I would recommend. Again, fairly cheap but helps protect the fanouts and allows me to use the el-cheapo snake bucket.

[nathanvacha]

Originally Posted by AllThingsAudio

I use a plastic tub that I picked up at Home Depot. It has two rope handles and is light so its easy to schlep around. I simply coil the snake into it. Cheap and lo-tech but it works.

i think mine's in that exact same thing. round red plastic tub. need to get something with a lid eventually.

[loujudson]

*I* have the best idea of all. ROLLING SUITCASES! I don't have as big a snake as you do, but get an inexpensive good looking rolling suitacase and coil it up inside, zpi it up and roll it to the van or truck.

I get mine at the Berkeley Flea Market for $15 small and $25 large. Great way to move things! We have one for mic cables, one for speaker cables, one for mics, and one for power cables.

When you are over 50 wheels are wonderful things. If you are young just throw it in a box and wreck your back!

;-)

[joelpatterson]

I modified and heavy-dutified a "garden-hose-type" spinning take-up reel style thingamabobber. All the XLR ends get strapped to the side of the spinning round wheel frame, and the box rests on its own little footing, and when it's time to set up you reel it out, when it's time to go you reel it in.

I was inspired to do this when I saw someone at a festival with a "legitimate" version of this same thing, and I KNEW it was rented because he reeled it in free-form with the break-out box bouncing along the ground, cloppety-cloppety-clumble-clop.

Way to be...

[mrsteaks]

Milk crate. I put the fanout into a cloth bag to protect the connectors, and feed the snake into the milk crate. Very tidy, and easy to carry. The milk crate also doubles as a stand for the rack when on location. Oh - it's an 8 x 4 100 foot snake. No, it's not as heavy or bulky as a 16 x 4 or greater, but it's no mic cable, either!

[valleysound]

Lucky for me, at the time I had a friend who is a cabinet maker and had him make me a case. I bought the handles and metal corners and such from parts express. My snake box is rack mount, but I think you could do the same and make a case. I'll post some pics later.

[XLR]

My snake is sitting in a used hard-protective suitcase with wheels too.
Two pieces of snake cable 20m each, the box hardwired to one end, and a short fan.
For the XLR's I made a neoprene bag, the box has a bag from neoprene + additional foam inside. Also some foam within the suitcase.
You can throw it all into the suitcase without damaging, and move it on it's wheels.

[Remoteness]

Cool thread, but not enough pictures!

Please attach some picure when you folks get a chance.

[bitman]

My church uses a 7 dollar tub with lid we bought at Target. Works.

[John Willett]

I was about to say "in a basket and I get out with a flute"

But - I store it on a proper cable drum and wind it up after use.