Building A Rack Case?

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sjaguar13

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I am getting more and more rack equipment, and I am needing a case. I was looking through the forums and someone said just to make your own. I even seen directions on this site. I decided to just buy one because even though I don't completely suck at wood working, I'm not the greatest. I looked on eBay, but pratically all the ones that would work were made by the guy selling them. Shipping on a case at least 8U was too high.

So I build a box out of plywood. I don't get the whole thing with the pine. I also plan on covering it with either black or red tolex, so it doesn't look obivious it's homemade. Where do I get the latches, rails, corners, handles, and aluminum edges. I found the latches and handles for like $30 for latches, and $50 for handles. Is it economical to build it yourself?
 
Damn right. There's a few threads around on how to roll your own.
 
www.partsexpress.com and www.digikey.com i might be forgetting a dash between digi and key or between parts and express, i cant remember. both places send you free big freakin catalogs, you can get anything from stuff to make racks to stuff to make your own cables/snakes. you name it, even computer stuff
 
I searched the threads, but all I found was wood racks that were used in the studio. I need this one to be mobile. I need front and back lids, strong construction, and as light as possible. Is this something I should just buy?
 
Well, if you need something to fly with or have shipped, i'd buy something like ATA cases. If it's for gigging around town, I'd build them. That's what I used to do and they were pretty darn good. For something like that you can get the hardware at a Home Depot.
 
I am building two for my friend within the next 2 weeks. I can post a bunch of pics if you want.
 
Yeah, pictures are cool. Are you making cases, or just racks for a studio?
 
Bad idea. I build guitars (as a hobby, but my work is stands up next to my father's, who is not an amateur). We have a first rate wood working shop. I am a very good wood worker, and I still would rather have cases made by someone who knows what they are doing. This is not a low skill design or fabrication job. It is also much easier to get it right if you have done it before. You can not just screw together some plywood and expect your case to stand up to any kind of transportation.

I work as a stage hand, and home made cases are most like to be damaged, and they ALWAYS suck to move. Their are probably a thousand good case manufactures in this country, and most of them will give you some kind of a warranty, which in and of its self makes them worth it.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
I would have to second that.

If your going to be moving them around your doing yourself a disservice if you don't just buy a good stufdy high quality case. Think of how you would feel if your gear got damaged in a move because you didn't build the case to be sturdy enough t handle the rigors of moving around.

On the other hand, if it's just sitting in your studio then by building your own you can customize it for the size you want and save quite a bit of money. Handles you should be able to get at any good sized hardware store as well as wheels/casters (if you want them). For the rails that go on the inside, I can't remember if it was at the hardware store or the local pro audio store I got them. I know for sure that the rail clips with the screws to hold the gear in, I had to get at the local pro audio store.

Good luck.
 
I suck at welding, but my brother can do it. I will be putting a computer, sound card, power supply, and some other stuff in the case. I don't want the stuff inside to get beat up, so I was thinking about just buying one. The only problem is the computer is really deep. I have yet to find a case that will hold it. I think welding is the best option. How would I do it, though? Should I put a square brace in each edge, like a frame, then weld sheets of aluminum to the frame? Then just add the rails? I should also make front and back lids out of sheets of aluminum? Would Home Depot have everything I need?
 
If you are using aluminum

I would weld an inner frame from box tube, 1/2 or 3/4". (or other structural extrusions). Thin aluminum panels for the sides could be welded on or attached with bolts(you can thread the aluminum). The front and back (if present) definitely need to be removable so bolting is best option. You don't have to use alumimum sheet. Anything thin will work(plastic, wood, metal). Try not to mix metals. Aluminum and steel do not work well against each other.

If you are using steel, you can use either box tube, angle iron, or channel. They all make very strong frames. The rest would be the same.

I built an open angled rack for my home system. The rack part is aluminum(heavy) U channel drilled and tapped for rack use. The base is oak designed to hold the channels up raking back at about a 10 degree angle. I can remove the 4 bolts holding the base to the U channels and lay the entire rack down for transport.
 
Re: If you are using aluminum

sloop said:
I would weld an inner frame from box tube, 1/2 or 3/4". (or other structural extrusions).....You don't have to use alumimum sheet. Anything thin will work(plastic, wood, metal).
Click to expand...


Are you saying I could build the frame out of aluminum, or use something else as the sides? If I bolt the front and back lids on, I would then need a rachet to get them off? Can I get this stuff at Home Deopt, or do I need some kind of metal place, and about how much does this stuff cost?
 
I reccomend building your own for home use, but for travel there are cases made that will be 100 times lighter, stronger and more safe than anything you could build. And many are customized to hold computers or anything else for that matter. Besides, nice cases make you look cool...
 
I'd go with an SKB case for travelling. You can get them really cheap used and sometimes even new. Awhile back Guitar Center was selling 8space shock racks for less than $100.
 
The computer is 20.91 inches deep. I need a case that can hold it and is at least 8 units big.
 
Yes, a covered frame is very strong.

What I was thinking about was something very strong. A solid frame built from structural metal covered with a skin is very strong. It can surpass commercial built cases if done properly. Unfortunately, it is probably more expensive than a commercial case.

If you are looking for something for home/light duty find a used rack someplace or get creative and design one that you want. I really like my custom angled rack I have at home, but then again I had access to the proper materials at hand.
 
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