DIY Racks

Can someone give me some advice on making a modular hifi rack?

Has anyone got any photos of good ones?

I'll be using wood, and it is to stand on carpet - but it is very short pile.

It has to carry a PC (probably on the floor), then amp, tuner and CD player.

Does the amp have to be on the top/bottom of the stack? or doesn't it matter?

Mark

 

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/flexye.html

 

Good timing, I've also been looking at this too. Yup the TNT open seems quite cool, as does the Isoblue copy that michael uses, this probably offers more flexibility as more layers can be added or taken away without leaving gaps or long screws showing like the TNT.

Any other ideas welcome.

 

It's not wood. However, it can be made in a modular fashion, although cost at the welding shop would go up. You can make the shelves of wood (mine are granite, look a little better since they've been darkened on the edges).

For an idea of how the modular version would work, you can see it here:



The amp table is designed to fit on top of the rest of the rack, although I found it actually resulted in the TV being too high, hence the current layout. Also, obviously, the amp table is awaiting painting.

 

Ahh! This is the picture I was looking for:
Thanks Philip!

However I am now taken by the TNT idea, as it is easy to do, and won't involve trying to cut the triangular wodden blocks used in the isoblue one.

Ok, so how totally superbly cool is this!:


I'm hooked!

I know exactly where to get the metal screw threads from and can't wait to get it sorted!

 

Also look at AKs homemade granite bases as well on another thread in this section for ideas

 

Issac does the NAD not fit! bummer!

 

Philip - it can fit under what is currently the amp table when that's installed at the top of the rack. However, that puts the TV too high up and the amp overheats, even with more than 3in free space above it.

In my new place, the rack will return to normal config with the NAD on the top, and TV elsewhere.

 

TNT Rack

Almost finished the TNT rack, been lookin for some of the noise killer spray they use but cant find it anywhere.

Rack deff looks nice, when its all locked down its also solid.

When i finish i will post some pics.

Actualy, anyone else made this rack? what did you use as a noise killer replacemnet?

Pete

 

I used cork tiles

 

On the subject of noise killer, I'll be using some nice hard wood, so do I really need to use noise killer paint/mats etc, sureley it will spoil the effect of the wood. - And the glass ones certainly don't use it...

 

You can just cover the undersides of the panels and leave the exposed bits untouched

 

i didnt bother with the damping material


got the threaded rod (stud)nuts washers and dome nuts from an industrial fixings and fastning suppliers i found in goods old yellow pages.

 

I built mine using pine shelving (looked nicer) and then use an Isolation Platform on the CDP instead of adding cork tiles or anything.

One day I will get some dome nuts to put on the top.

http://www.holystonemill.co.uk/hifi/hifi1.jpg - Big Picture (Tuner on loan to parents)

Andrew

 

the cork tiles are not for isolation, they act to stop any sound induced vibration thru the shelves. YMMV

 

You should be able to drill out slighty larger holes then slide the shelf so it rests about an inch above a locked shelf.....oh yes to get it that one inch get some super balls from wilko or similar and cut in half alternatively use a part inflated inner tube...there are lots of alternatives.

 

When I was at Uni I did not have room for my 6 tier, so I made my own 3 tier.

All I got was 10mm solid square section cut off lengths and welded up to make 3 rectangular frames.

4 lengths of 30mm square box section for legs and welded the frames at regular spacing.

drilled and tapped a thread in each corner, and then grub screw in each corner and

A quick trip to DIY centre for some wood for the shelvs.

Then Hey Presto

 

Mark,
I made mine with some nice pieces of Ash, finished with Danish Oil. The wood looks really nice and its a much nicer finish than varnish. I didn't bother with damping material/paint. If you want to I'd follow the cork tiles or superballs abvice rather than ruining the wood by smearing bitumen all over it. Although you don't really notice the bottom of the wood I don't think noise killer its a necessity.

 

Good idea about the oil on the wood!

 

Does the oil not peel off if the components get too hot? Of course this depends on the box and closeness to the case, but still....