DIY Equipment Rack Build

[bosa]

Wot no build thread??

What was your timber of choice?

For mine I picked up a slab of beech locally which had been stored for a couple of years so nice and dry. Just the right size for 3 shelves. The legs are oak from a local timber merchant, £10 for sawn offcuts. Oiled with Danish oil. Spiked shelves.





My son’s rack is sepele shelves and oak legs, again using offcuts from the timber merchant. Danish oil. Fixed shelves.

[Bksabath]

Why 4 legs ?
3 legs would have sorted the wobbly table problem
Still love it

[Marco]

We could then run a few poles:

"Is your wood hard or soft?"

a. Hard, b, Soft, c, It depends.

"How often do you polish your wood?"

a, Week, b, Monthly, c, I can't remember the last time, d, I've got blisters!

"What does your partner think of your wood?"

a, She won't leave it alone, b, She accepts it for what it is, c, She hasn't even looked at it in years

Love it!

Marco.

[Marco]

Nice, Jonathan! Dazza, that's the 'spike and cup' arrangement I was talking about... For me, sonically, it's always a winner

Marco.

[bosa]

I have to admit I have a HiFi Racks stand for my main system and I copied the design using M8 inserts in the shelves and legs with bolts so the legs are easy to change. I made a longer set as a spare. The spike cups are inserted flush into the shelves. All hardware from ebay or Amazon.

[DarrenHW]

For mine I picked up a slab of beech locally which had been stored for a couple of years so nice and dry. Just the right size for 3 shelves. The legs are oak from a local timber merchant, £10 for sawn offcuts. Oiled with Danish oil. Spiked shelves.

Looking good! That's an interesting colour on the Beech, did you dye it, or is that it's natural colour?

My son’s rack is sepele shelves and oak legs, again using offcuts from the timber merchant. Danish oil. Fixed shelves.

I really like the look of that! I was tempted to use Sepele for the legs on mine, but I just wasn't brave enough so settled on Steamed Beech.

[DarrenHW]

Why 4 legs ?
3 legs would have sorted the wobbly table problem
Still love it

Whilst I was temped to rock the tripod, I was concerned about shelves sagging. My Power Amps weigh 35kg each and that's before adding 25mm Slate. I'm actually going to install a fifth leg in the centre of the bottom shelf just in case.

[DarrenHW]

Nice, Jonathan! Dazza, that's the 'spike and cup' arrangement I was talking about... For me, sonically, it's always a winner

Marco.

Yes, I'm familiar with the concept, that's what I was referring to in my OP:

The majority of commercial timber racks seem to be of a modular design and constructed of Oak.

The idea behind my rack is to experiment with mass loading and take CLD as far as I care to. Plus (no offence meant to anyone, beauty is in the eye of the beholder) I don't really like the look.

I have no idea what the result will be, but the only way to find out was to take a leap of faith and build one. As this is for the AV it's not as critical as supporting a TT or Valve Phono Stage etc.. so not much to lose. And as you have previously eluded to, I still have the option of isolating equipment individually on the shelves, to this end, I'm far more interested in pursuing a ball and cup arrangement.

I have no intention of permanently housing equipment on the top shelf so this will act as an easily accessible test shelf. A piece of equipment can be placed on the top shelf, evaluated and then moved over to another rack e.g. the Mana, for comparison. Which ever solution is deemed most effective will form the basis for the equipment support in the listening room and you can bet your arse you'll be invited/dragged round for that .

[bosa]

Looking good! That's an interesting colour on the Beech, did you dye it, or is that it's natural colour?



I really like the look of that! I was tempted to use Sepele for the legs on mine, but I just wasn't brave enough so settled on Steamed Beech.

This was the natural colour. The Danish oil brings out the colour and grain rather than dying it.

[bosa]

Whilst I was temped to rock the tripod, I was concerned about shelves sagging. My Power Amps weigh 35kg each and that's before adding 25mm Slate. I'm actually going to install a fifth leg in the centre of the bottom shelf just in case.

I used this to calculate the potential sag in some shelves...

https://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator/