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Building A Rack

JoshuaZ

JoshuaZ

New Member
Greetings!

I've got a robust Pioneer Spec system that I'd love to throw into an ACTUAL rack. However finding a Pioneer Spec Rack is impossible, or insanely expensive, and while I love the looks of the racks at AudioRax.com you're pushing $800-900 for a 24U unit.

Has anyone built their own rack with rails before? Any advice?

I found a guide on building a server rack, which I understand would be the right spacings. I'm decently handy so I could make something that is functional and looks nice next to all my other gear.

https://tombuildsstuff.blogspot.com...MF1FjUIEWawRxtgkKyfKKnyMX8f1-yg_cznGGzj7t0esg

I see a lot of people building their own beautiful stands/ shelves, but very few people building full on racks.
 
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I would suggest looking at Craig's List or local For Sale ads for a computer rack, we get them here ( Kissimmee, FL ) fairly frequently at very reasonable prices.

Be prepared to spring for a rattle can of Rustoleum spray paint & some blue painter's tape since these kind of racks often have lived "interesting" lives and may need some TLC to look their best.

Or go wild with Wood add-ons.

Way cheaper than buying new.

Mark Gosdin
 
mgosdin said:
I would suggest looking at Craig's List or local For Sale ads for a computer rack, we get them here ( Kissimmee, FL ) fairly frequently at very reasonable prices.

Be prepared to spring for a rattle can of Rustoleum spray paint & some blue painter's tape since these kind of racks often have lived "interesting" lives and may need some TLC to look their best.

Or go wild with Wood add-ons.

Way cheaper than buying new.

Mark Gosdin
Click to expand...

I've been keeping my eye out, but the ones that do show up are... very beat up.

I think I'm going to try my hand at building my own. Give it a bit more wooden feel. Make it a bit taller than usual, something like 28U to fit everything.
 
Long ago I built one out of 3/4 inch birch plywood iirc. It had one wood shelf below the top surface, an open front, with angle-aluminum rails, that I never used because I never had any rack-mount stuff. :) Sold it for a pittance. It looked nice.

I say go for it!
 
There are many types from the consumer grade cheap stuff that is all so popular to Studio Rolling racks you find in musical gear catalogs or the ever endearing metal parts you sift through in countless pages on the net in the computer server world...
Most of my gear is old school heavy and i hate moving a stack to get rear access unless its on wheels and has a open back..But some i ended up having to make myself like the Marantz and McIntosh racks because i didnt like the industrial studio look on them..Ive surfed through all the high end catalog stuff and to be honest its all very over priced junk, dont care if you paid hundreds for a Vulcan rack..its crap compaired to studio grade stuff..I
 
Hope everyone is using cooling fans as otherwise everything is being placed to close together. And amps should never be put on the bottom though we all seem to do it., requiring even more cooling. After all we Don't want our racks tipping over.
 
twiiii said:
Hope everyone is using cooling fans as otherwise everything is being placed to close together. And amps should never be put on the bottom though we all seem to do it., requiring even more cooling. After all we Don't want our racks tipping over.
Click to expand...
This is why i dont use consumer boxs..Studio rolling racks and DIY skeleton racks only..those 70s-80's hifi racks are for the low power BPC era audio..
 
I preferred the racks with out sides or backs that were welded Better cooling that way especially when you don't want noisy fans I am sorry I had to cut 1/2 of the picture off to the right, BELOW AND ABOVE, but the file was just to big for AUDIOUntitled 32a.jpg KARMA. Enough MC 2300's for you guys? We picked Altec Green for the wracks because we were using big Altec for speakers. 203B's 803 B's with 291 drivers and 815 enclosures with 515's for voice only. Cutting off the bass at 80 HZ. Untitled 32.jpg
 

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Wow! Thanks for all the input. I really appreciate it.

Hmm... I suppose I could just build shelves for the exact sizes of the gear, like that Marantz rack. Part of me was thinking that doing a full 'industrial' rack would save a little bit of space, though the above comments about about cooling make some solid points.

I'll be mounting a Spec 2 and 4, as well as an RT-707. They're all pretty heavy items.

I suppose I would be making a wooden version of something like this Samson rack. It's 21U, same size as the original Pioneer Racks.

https://www.amazon.com/Samson-SRK21...ocphy=9018702&hvtargid=pla-569224398922&psc=1

61HC%2BfiIhUL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
 
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