can i build my own rack ? if so any tips

[FatBoy]

i need a rack it wont be mobile so i dont need like a flight case or anything and just a basic tabletop rack im seeing is upwards of 75 bucks....im wondering can i build my own or does anyone else have any cheaper solutions

 

[EdWonbass]

I have made racks before with just 2x4's and plywood. I didn't even have rack rails. I just screwed the gear right to the framing with wood screws. You could just build boxes and buy rack rails. Depending on how you need them to look you can get as fancy or as ghetto as you want.

 

[FatBoy]

I have made racks before with just 2x4's and plywood. I didn't even have rack rails. I just screwed the gear right to the framing with wood screws. You could just build boxes and buy rack rails. Depending on how you need them to look you can get as fancy or as ghetto as you want.

so building my own rack out of wood wont harm my equipment....??

 

[acidrock]

I have made racks before with just 2x4's and plywood. I didn't even have rack rails. I just screwed the gear right to the framing with wood screws. You could just build boxes and buy rack rails. Depending on how you need them to look you can get as fancy or as ghetto as you want.

Exactly!
Racks are a ripoff.
If you have any degree of competentcy with tools you can buils any kind of rack you want.
Most of the special hardware they sell can be bought w-a-y cheaper at your local building supply or hardware store.

BTW,I used 1X8's and secured the units with screws and rubber washers.

 

[fluxburn]

Yah u know those $5000 desks? I have two racks and I just bought a 3/4 inch peice of plywood, had it cut to size and now my 2 moniters, two computer screens, a nord lead 3 all sit on top of this desk. I just sit in a chair with my keyboard on my lap. I was looking out for one of those keyboard holders that has a metal clamp thing to attach to my rack.


I wish i wound have build my racks too. Those two racks cost $140 each if I remember correctly. I mean they have wheels, which I don't need and I wish they where shorter now, or I mean it would have been nicer to design them myself for my specific needs.

For $40 you can get all the wood you need from hope depot, have them cut it to your needs, then you get home and assemble it. Just draw it out a few times, use a measuring tape to get the dimensions. I threw the cheapest carpet on mine for looks... Works fine. The whole project for my tabletop cost only $40 and that is because the wood was 3/4 and I had some left over and I build some shelfs in my closet.

Honestly, the table I really wanted cost $10,000. I would much rather build the table myself for $140 or less and spend the time to design it, since it wouldn't take me how long it currently takes me to make $10,000.

 

[FatBoy]

thanks alot....any pics would be great

and as far as being mechanical i can work my way around the garage...

and as far as tools i have everything possibley needed except a sheet medal cutter if i was needing that but i doubt it would need to be that extreme...i mean i guess all i ned to do is build a lil ol frame and ill be good to go

but yea pics would be perect

 

[bigwillz24]

Some guy in the Studio building forum built his own Argosy desk I think he said it cost hime like 200 bucks in parts...

 

[acidrock]

Here's a picture of mine.As you can see I don't have great equipment,I'm sure not going to waste money on a rack.

 

[acidrock]

and as far as tools i have everything possibley needed except a sheet medal cutter if i was needing that but i doubt it would need to be that extreme...i mean i guess all i ned to do is build a lil ol frame and ill be good to go

There you go!
My rack was built in fifteen minutes from scrap wood.

I Just ripped a small strip of 1x and screwed it to the inside of the "box" for use as a mounting strip.This creates breathing room on the sides.I screwed the units in directly with wood screws and rubber washers.
If the inner "mounting strips" get worn,replace them.

 

[FatBoy]

sounds good....
one other question is can i just sit my equipemtn on a tabletop right now uintil i build the rack, i mean can you use rack mount equipment if its not mounted just sitting on a desk ?

 

[notbradsohner]

yes, it will work fine just sitting on a tabletop

 

[gemsbok]

i use to use borrowed plastic milk crates. they use too be exactly 19 inches. if anything it makes a good frame and then you could put wood around it for looks.

 

[thane1200]

This is less work and still cheap. I have one and it is strong.

 

[fluxburn]

here is mine, with my cat hair included


http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/bc/4171fb30_16069/bc/My+Documents/Untitled-2.jpg?BCb.dWCBuiNDseKN

http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/bc/4171fb30_16069/bc/My+Documents/Untitled-2.jpg?CCRZxYCBtFkkZEsE

 

[SonicAlbert]

Here is a picture of the racks I built for my studio. The only one I didn't build is the slant rack in the corner with the boom box on top.

 

[mattamatta]

Splooge.... Everything about that picture is awesome, racks included. Absolutely beautiful, S.Albert.

And AcidRock, yours looks pretty darn nice too.

Maybe I should build my own rack..... I've never seriously considered it, but I have no doubt I could do it.. I've done more complicated stuff before anyway.

This summer I have a rather awesome wood working project ahead of me - some friends and I are building an enormous 12'X12' raft with a 16 foot mast housing a rather sweet looking sail (we stole the design off of an old sailing ship design we saw in a picture).

Should hold upwards of 5 people, and have room for a couple hammocks and a barbeque. Going to be awesome!

Also we're gonna do some serious recording this summer, sweeeeet.

 

[FatBoy]

Splooge.... Everything about that picture is awesome, racks included. Absolutely beautiful, S.Albert.

And AcidRock, yours looks pretty darn nice too.

Maybe I should build my own rack..... I've never seriously considered it, but I have no doubt I could do it.. I've done more complicated stuff before anyway.

This summer I have a rather awesome wood working project ahead of me - some friends and I are building an enormous 12'X12' raft with a 16 foot mast housing a rather sweet looking sail (we stole the design off of an old sailing ship design we saw in a picture).

Should hold upwards of 5 people, and have room for a couple hammocks and a barbeque. Going to be awesome!

Also we're gonna do some serious recording this summer, sweeeeet.

recording on the raft ? lol but man that sounds tight sounds like a pontoon without the motor

 

[SonicAlbert]

Racks are basically just boxes with rack rails to hold gear. They can be as simple as four pieces of wood (as mine basically are), or you can get really elaborate and make them quite fancy.

Here's a thread from gearslutz.com about homemade studio furniture. You won't believe how incredible some of this stuff is.

http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php3?t=25575&highlight=studio

And here's another long thread about project studios that has some great pictures. Lot's of good ideas in these studios.

http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php3?t=20730&highlight=studio

Here's a bunch of pictures of control rooms. There's some really amazing places in this thread, read it and weep.

http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php3?t=3071&highlight=studio

The point is, I love these studio picture threads because there are so many good ideas to be had in them. So many people have found creative solutions for racking their gear and using their space to best advantage. Even if what they have done is far too elaborate, there might be an idea in there that you can adapt to your own needs.