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Post by orbscure on Jan 28, 2015 22:19:55 GMT
I have a simple request chaps, do any of you have any recommendations for decent cost effective oak hi-fi racks which can take around 6 items of standard width kit either one above the other or two side by side? Independent bespoke racks would be of preference and my budget would be for me to spend no more than £500... but less would of course be better...  Cheers Pete |
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Post by Stratmangler on Jan 28, 2015 22:23:09 GMT
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Post by ChrisB on Jan 28, 2015 22:28:47 GMT
I don't have any specific recommendation, but I do have a little advice. There is a lot of nice looking, seemingly good value Oak furniture about but I can't help thinking that some of it is made from timber that isn't properly seasoned. Oak that isn't properly dried has a very distinctive 'wet' vinegar-like smell to it. The implications are serious because if you take that into a centrally heated house, it will crack, bend, warp and split unless you are very lucky.
Ask some probing questions before you buy!
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Post by orbscure on Jan 28, 2015 22:41:48 GMT
 Many thanks guys... I should have added that I have extensively searched for racks but found that with manufacturers like HiFi Racks etc, by the time you factor in something being capable of taking six items of kit, you looking at silly money. I was hoping that one of the members here had found an independent cottage industry manufacturer who had slipped under the radar but was capable of knocking up good quality racks which not only don't cost the earth, but which also do a good job with isolation etc...
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Post by Sovereign on Jan 28, 2015 23:18:39 GMT
I run a building firm. We get all sorts of work tops very cheaply. With our discounts, it would take a carpenter a day to knock together a coppy hifi racks stand, so we could come pretty close to £500, you may have to oil it though
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Post by orbscure on Jan 29, 2015 11:34:57 GMT
Appreciate the kind offer James, but having thought about it a bit more, perhaps £500 is just too much. Having revisited the HiFi Racks link provided by Chris above, I'm looking for something along the lines of the 995mm x 400mm 3 Tier Rack podium slimline xl but just not at £455 (plus P&P)... |
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Post by zippy on Jan 29, 2015 13:40:17 GMT
I have an Alphason stand which I'm well happy with - it's double width with internal shelf and holds my hifi and a 46 inch TV on top. With no TV it would easily take 6 hifi units.
It's light oak veneer finish and very well made - it's strong enough for me to stand on as well as all the kit - I think it cost about £300 at the time.
I know they make all sorts of other decent stands too so take a look at their web page.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2015 14:56:27 GMT
Appreciate the kind offer James, but having thought about it a bit more, perhaps £500 is just too much. Having revisited the HiFi Racks link provided by Chris above, I'm looking for something along the lines of the 995mm x 400mm 3 Tier Rack podium slimline xl but just not at £455 (plus P&P)... That looks incredibly simple. Three lengths of oak worktop (or one length if you can get a 3 metre one) A few bits for legs and that's it. You could spike the bottoms of the legs so there is some isolation. I reckon about two or three hours work max. There must be someone near you who could knock that up if you can't. |
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Post by orbscure on Jan 29, 2015 15:19:01 GMT
I have an Alphason stand which I'm well happy with - it's double width with internal shelf and holds my hifi and a 46 inch TV on top. With no TV it would easily take 6 hifi units. It's light oak veneer finish and very well made - it's strong enough for me to stand on as well as all the kit - I think it cost about £300 at the time. I know they make all sorts of other decent stands too so take a look at their web page. I've had a look at the Alphason webpage and their stuff does indeed look very reasonable. Only problem is that their kit is a mixture of wood & glass... That looks incredibly simple. Three lengths of oak worktop (or one length if you can get a 3 metre one) A few bits for legs and that's it. You could spike the bottoms of the legs so there is some isolation. I reckon about two or three hours work max. There must be someone near you who could knock that up if you can't. If I had the time and confidence Gordon, I did woodwork at school and would have a bash myself. I'll put the feelers out locally and see whether there is anybody around with the skills who could help... Cheers Pete |
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Post by Sovereign on Jan 29, 2015 15:39:15 GMT
Appreciate the kind offer James, but having thought about it a bit more, perhaps £500 is just too much. Having revisited the HiFi Racks link provided by Chris above, I'm looking for something along the lines of the 995mm x 400mm 3 Tier Rack podium slimline xl but just not at £455 (plus P&P)... That looks incredibly simple. Three lengths of oak worktop (or one length if you can get a 3 metre one) A few bits for legs and that's it. You could spike the bottoms of the legs so there is some isolation. I reckon about two or three hours work max. There must be someone near you who could knock that up if you can't. Your right. I can get oak work tops in 5m lengths. Carpenter is £150 for the day.... |
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Post by orbscure on Jan 29, 2015 15:41:25 GMT
What thickness's do the 5m lengths come in James?
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Post by Sovereign on Jan 29, 2015 15:51:42 GMT
Sorry the longest is 4m and there are two thickness options
4m long x 62 wide x 40mm thick is £220
4m long x 62 wide x 27mm thick is £163.99
There is a £60 delivery charge
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Post by orbscure on Jan 29, 2015 16:23:02 GMT
Many thanks James... that gives me an idea of cost/thickness. I've found an oak & pine furniture maker not far from me and have emailed them a general enquiry, so time for me to put some meat on the bones of my designs |
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Post by Sovereign on Jan 29, 2015 16:27:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2015 16:43:13 GMT
The hi-fi racks ones look like 27mm to me. Unless you have huge and heavy equipment, more than enough I would think. Oak strip worktops are pretty strong and rigid.
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Post by Sovereign on Jan 29, 2015 17:01:49 GMT
The hi-fi racks ones look like 27mm to me. Unless you have huge and heavy equipment, more than enough I would think. Oak strip worktops are pretty strong and rigid. Your right, but I'd say the lags are 40mm |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2015 17:09:50 GMT
The hi-fi racks ones look like 27mm to me. Unless you have huge and heavy equipment, more than enough I would think. Oak strip worktops are pretty strong and rigid. Your right, but I'd say the lags are 40mm When I first saw this company advertise, I thought it was a bit much, just making stuff out of what is after all, just made for kitchen worktops. Sort of stuff a DIYer might use. Some of the designs are a bit basic to put it mildly. However, they seem to have developed a bit and so good luck to them. |
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Post by orbscure on Jan 29, 2015 18:37:42 GMT
Great stuff chaps, I really appreciate your collective feedback on this, what I've now dubbed as the TAS AV Rack I've now drawn up three different designs based on the use of 4m long x 62 wide x 27mm thick for the three shelves with either two 62 wide x 40mm solid side supports or four 40mm x 40mm square sides supports, but before I decide which to choose, am I correct to guess that the solid side designs would be better for rigidity and vibration issues rather than four square supports in each corner? I appreciate that the former may well be more expensive than the latter, but vibration suppression is important to me. I have a fourth design which includes spike isolation between three separate solid sided tiers, similar to the design seen here. However, I have a feeling that this will increase the cost still more whilst offering very little in return against the three other single piece designs... still, this fourth design is my preferred option, so it won't hurt to ask at the same time |
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Post by Sovereign on Jan 29, 2015 18:59:37 GMT
The fourth design shouldn't increase the cost at all, a good chip should be be able to easily knock that together in a day for you.
If your localish I could get one of our chaps to make it for you and you could pick it up. That way you know it's going to be made well.
Your choice
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Post by orbscure on Jan 29, 2015 19:03:52 GMT
I'll drop you a PM James...
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