Yet Another DIY Audio Rack

Mike Reeter

Just set up a new rack that I recently finished, a better solution than what I was using previously (two end tables pulled together).

http://s910.photobucket.com/user/mreeter/media/IMG_40981024x683_zps5ebc79b0.jpg.html?sort=2&o=33

It's pretty solid and provides a stable platform for my table, which weighs in at 60 lbs.

http://s910.photobucket.com/user/mreeter/media/IMG_40971024x683_zps27bd9405.jpg.html?sort=2&o=32

I choose a 5/4" Poplar material simply because it's easy to work with, stains and finishes well, and is inexpensive (the best part :biggrin:)

http://s910.photobucket.com/user/mreeter/media/IMG_4077683x1024683x1024_zps93feda66.jpg.html?sort=2&o=21

http://s910.photobucket.com/user/mreeter/media/IMG_4079683x1024_zps25f62f10.jpg.html?sort=2&o=23


1-1/2 Schedule 40 PVC pipe, used threaded rod to pull everything together, incorporating rubber stoppers to wedge into the PVC and isolate the shelves and used O-rings for a trim collar.
http://s910.photobucket.com/user/mreeter/media/IMG_40871024x6831024x683_zps04f51dcb.jpg.html?sort=2&o=25

http://s910.photobucket.com/user/mreeter/media/IMG_40921024x683_zps2ef68e75.jpg.html?sort=2&o=29

http://s910.photobucket.com/user/mreeter/media/IMG_40961024x683_zps73fa9345.jpg.html?sort=2&o=31


I opted not to spike the rack and used casters instead, as it makes moving it out and cleaning much easier.

My ability to add pictures to a thread just suck!

EndersShadow

Mike, that looks VERY nice. I could see myself copying your design for a rack in my house

4xoddic

Looks mighty fine! You must be heating the shop . . .

Is that PVC gray, or did you paint it silver?

I see these colors offered: Red, Orange. Yellow. Blue. Green, Violet. Black. Bone & Gray

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/asw-furniture-grade-colored-5-pvc-pipe-1-1-2-schedule-40

I'm contemplating something in wood below my 60" plasma & wondering IF a matte finish would reflectthe picture back onto the screen.

Mike Reeter

ZLTFUL wrote: »

I am a HUGE fan of the flexi-rack designs. Especially when folks adapt them and make them their own. Beautiful work.

Poplar is such a great wood to work with...affordable, stains and looks like maple and can be painted if need be.

Thanks for reposting the pictures! My wife calls me T.C., short for "Tech Challenged", I like the simplicity of a Flexi-Rack, just never cared for the look of the exposed All Thread.

The PVC was just a way to cover the rod up and to give the rack more of a finished appearance. The Poplar was half the cost of Maple and other hardwoods, I also like the varied colors it has in in.

EndersShadow

Mike Reeter wrote: »

Thanks for reposting the pictures! My wife calls me T.C., short for "Tech Challenged", I like the simplicity of a Flexi-Rack, just never cared for the look of the exposed All Thread.

The PVC was just a way to cover the rod up and to give the rack more of a finished appearance. The Poplar was half the cost of Maple and other hardwoods, I also like the varied colors it has in in.

Mike, you've got me wondering about having a clone of your rack made ... I would customize it a bit different, but man thats a stellar job. I to dislike the thread view of the flexi rack's but LOVE the easy of expandability.

Mike Reeter

4xoddic wrote: »

Looks mighty fine! You must be heating the shop . . .

Is that PVC gray, or did you paint it silver?

I see these colors offered: Red, Orange. Yellow. Blue. Green, Violet. Black. Bone & Gray

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/asw-furniture-grade-colored-5-pvc-pipe-1-1-2-schedule-40

I'm contemplating something in wood below my 60" plasma & wondering IF a matte finish would reflectthe picture back onto the screen.

Most definitely heated :biggrin: it's a small 24'X24' that I keep very comfortable with a vent-less, radiant style Gas Heater.

The PVC I used was a White, Schedule 40 plumbing pipe that I primed then painted with a Silver Metallic, I like the look of the Silver over Black.

I used a Semi-Gloss Poly on this piece, you can get a much duller finish by simply rubbing down with a fine steel wool which might cut down on any reflections.

Mike Reeter

EndersShadow wrote: »

Mike, you've got me wondering about having a clone of your rack made ... I would customize it a bit different, but man thats a stellar job. I to dislike the thread view of the flexi rack's but LOVE the easy of expandability.

Plus you can build or design whatever YOU want, with the shelves spaced exactly as YOU want them etc, etc.

My TT is 20-1/2" wide (almost too big for most racks) and pretty heavy, I needed something to accommodate it's size and weigh and look decent, also keeping a low center of gravity.

Mike Reeter

EndersShadow wrote: »

Mike, that looks VERY nice. I could see myself copying your design for a rack in my house

Thanks, but I can't take credit for the PVC and the rubber lab stoppers idea. I found that concept on the web. I used that to incorporate a rack of my own size and shape.

westmassguy

Very nice Mike.

hochpt21

Man, there's some talented folks on here.

Nice work.

PolkieMan

Very nice looks like one of those Sanus Racks only nicer. Let me know if you decide to make them :-)

http://www.valleyseek.com/sanus-afv48b-sanus-afv48b-accurate-a-v-stand/store/show_item/336843/?source=prod_ads&gclid=CIyBjfXhzLwCFY8-MgodThsAZA

WagnerRC

Very well done. congratulations. I like it!

Oldfatdogs

Nice work Mike,that Poplar worked well.

Dan

cfrizz

Very, very nice, looks nice and solid! I'm a big believer in casters for those time when you are forced to move it out to do whatever.

leftwinger57

Mike the job came out very well and I like the design. It's the kind where you needed length and I would need height for my room. Did the poplar come w/ the corners rounded or did you take a router to them? I also like the idea of casters for change outs and cleaning. Your stain finish work looks great and it's time I ditched my contemperary 90s tall boy for something more pro looking. The idea of the pvc to add stability and eye candy was a good choice even though again I would go w/ black. It's hard to notice but I have about six mini casters on the very bottom shelf that I built the rack on. Very well done......Lew

gudnoyez

Very nice design I have looked every where for something similar to that but without the supports in the middle shelf where a CSIA6 would fit in, TV on Top and Reciever on the bottom left and Oppo player on the right, with room for a Panamax on the right of the center channel and room for a three Channel amp on the left. Very nice work. What is the height width and depth on yours? Awesome rig you got there Mike.

SCompRacer

Outstanding job!

I have a Salamander flexi rack and don't care for the exposed threads either. It's in a basement system so no big deal.

gudnoyez

I could of ordered a Salamander rack at a Hi Fi shop here in town but it was $975 a bit pricey so I passed, actually Mike did a outstanding job.

Thorton

That came out very nice. I like the style and the craftsmanship. I will be upgrading in the near future and may go to DIY route also. Nice job.

Inspector 24

I have to say, I'm a tiny jealous of these gorgeous racks that put everything out in the open on display….Alas I also have cats which need kept away from the awesome sleeping perches they make, so enclosed and ventilated via fan audio racks is what I have. Maybe some day when I'm a brazillionaire I can build my own separate audio garage in the back yard with it's own power supply, and all the open levitating racks I can imagine….

Also, gorgeous work, looks like the stuff non DIY people pay thousands for!

WLDock

Great job! How was the threaded rod hidden on the top? I hope to to build a Salamander Synergy knock off myself but I might consider PVC.

Toolfan66

Great Job!!!

Mike Reeter

Many thanks everyone, I'm pleased with the way the rack turned out. I simply can't afford a Manufactured stand that has any style, the ones that are usually on sale or at a decent price are pretty bland in appearance.

Lew, I purchased the Poplar from a retail wood outlet in 8' lengths, cut it into 4' lengths, cleaned up the edges and glued them together. I used a Jig Saw to round off the corners, and finished with a small Round Over router bit. The size I choose was 20" X 48".

I used a 3/8" Threaded Rod instead of the heavier stuff, it's more than strong enough to keep the shelves tight and stable, I installed 3/8" Threaded Inserts into the bottom side of the top shelf. http://s910.photobucket.com/user/mreeter/library/?sort=2&page=2# "If" I were to make another rack, I would get a 6/4" material (1-1/2" thick) that would allow you to install the inserts until they were flush with shelf surface.

I used size 8-1/2, one hole, Rubber Lab Stoppers (the holes had to be drilled out a little to accommodate the 3/8" rod) tightened down all the rods until about 1/8" of the stoppers were exposed (that's a very snug fit) and trimmed the gap between the stoppers and shelves with an 1/8" O-Ring.

I recessed the holes on the bottom of the lower shelf deep enough to accommodate a flat washer, locknut and tap, cut off the excess length of the rod to where it was flush with the bottom side of the shelf. Then attached the casters directly over that hole.

That's about it besides shooting four coats of Poly and rubbing out between each coat on all sides. It was a fun project that set me back less than a couple of hundred.

One of these days I figure out how to load pictures properly :biggrin:

heartystatue

Hey Mike, The Rack is beautiful. Very nice work indeed. Let me know when you begin taking orders Speaks look great!

Mike Reeter

ZLTFUL wrote: »

Mike,
Since you use Photobucket, it is pretty easy...just click on the little mail envelope icon above your picture, click the links tab and the double click the bottom link code to copy it...then in your message here, right click and select paste. Viola...image in post and no need to upload to the site.

Thanks,I will make a note!

vulcan

Excellent work, I really like that style of audio stand. What kind of TT have you got?
Good luck with your future projects.

Jhayman

Very nice work Mike..

bikerboy

Very nice alternative to the exposed threaded rod. I think the poplar is nice. The great thing about diy is that you made it the right size for now and if you ever need to change the size or height it is easy and cheap. The flexy rack design is one of the easiest to change if needed. Very nice rack.

vcwatkins

Outstanding, Mike!

aboroth00

Looks great! Outstanding workmanship.

Mike Reeter

heartystatue wrote: »

Hey Mike, The Rack is beautiful. Very nice work indeed. Let me know when you begin taking orders Speaks look great!

Thanks Dave, Won't be taking any orders soon! Too labor intensive! I'm getting closer to the day when I can roll in the 2.3TL's.