Anyone consider rack mounting gear?

JoshK · « **on:** 9 Sep 2004, 04:58 pm »

I have wondered for sometime whether rack mounting gear would be a good idea or not. I am brainstorming ideas for how I want to build my rack--trying to make something furniture grade to fit in aestethically in my victorian home--and wondered whether building a rackmount style enclosure inside my cabinet would be a good idea or not.

Anyone know whether good isolation, vibration properties can be done with a rack mount style cabinet? I like the idea of a nice clean setup that could be had from such a setup but it may prove to be inpractical.

nathanm · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Sep 2004, 06:55 pm »

One particular joy of rackmounting is that with the damn thing bolted in there tight you can plug and unplug stuff with one hand without having to brace the gear with your other hand. Try that with something perched atop cones or ball bearings!

JoshK · « **Reply #2 on:** 9 Sep 2004, 06:58 pm »

One of the reasons why I also like the idea of rack mounting. I think in the end I may or may not rack mount all my gear in the cabinet but the video stuff will be rack mounted for sure.

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #3 on:** 9 Sep 2004, 07:07 pm »

Joshk:
I've built all my audio cabinets and racks. Two things I've found is that when they are finished and the gear is in them the suckers are heavy. My suggestion is to make them modular style so you can break them apart for easier handling.

The second thing I've found is when audio gear is installed in cabinets they tend to run hotter than normal. You might think about cooling fans.

Good luck on your project.

MAKE SAWDUST!!!

Cheers
Charlie

Levi · « **Reply #4 on:** 9 Sep 2004, 07:37 pm »

Quote from: JoshK

I have wondered for sometime whether rack mounting gear would be a good idea or not. I am brainstorming ideas for how I want to build my rack--trying to make something furniture grade to fit in aestethically in my victorian home--and wondered whether building a rackmount style enclosure inside my cabinet would be a good idea or not.

Anyone know whether good isolation, vibration properties can be done with a rack mount style cabinet? I like the idea of a nice clean setup that could be had from such a setup but it may prove to be inpractical.

Normally when you rack mount components, you generate more heat. Best practices for rack mounted equipment requires excellent ventillation. Ideally, a separate ducts for cooling if you are putting it inside a cabinet hidden from sight.

Practical? Aestetic? Functional? It is up-to-you which path you take.

Consider good ventillation for your equipment for longer life.

Levi

nathanm · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Sep 2004, 07:52 pm »

You could make a rack with just two rails sticking up (no walls\sides) and everything bolted to it all exposed and ventilation-happy. Easier to get at connectors too. Like so:

JoshK · « **Reply #6 on:** 9 Sep 2004, 07:58 pm »

Nice drawing Nathan!

The way I intend to do it, I think I would still have plenty of room to breathe for ventilation. I was just in the pro audio shop across the street from my work and was looking at their rack mount supplies. They sell lots of single and multiple space slots that are dummy ventilation spaces. Some that are even designed to hold computer fans. I sure that can be done to prevent overheating.

My concern is really about isolation and vibration. I just wonder if linking all your gear to metal rails is good for isolation. I guess the only way to know is to try.

nathanm · « **Reply #7 on:** 9 Sep 2004, 09:07 pm »

I've heard there can be issues with having everything touching a common piece of metal with ground loops and whatnot. They even make little teflon washer doohickeys to avoid that. But I think making it a piece of wood and mounting with wood screws would be better because:

1. easier material to work with
2. don't have to worry about stripping threads
3. position of gear is flexible, don't have to worry about holes not lining up

I built a rack for my recording gear some years ago and used wood strips as the rails. Worked great. I used teflon washers and metal cup washer thingies on the gear so the screws wouldn't scratch 'em up. It wasn't open like my drawing, but if I were to do it again I would make one like that. And it's true, you can make them too big. Mine is a two man lift so I made routered-edge handholds on the side panels. Still, even with casters it's tough to move with all the gear in it. But like I said, it doesn't matter how tight the connection is, you can yank on it and not worry about the gear going anywhere. A nice perk!

JoshK · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Sep 2004, 02:39 pm »

I like your idea of the wood railing. Might have to do it that way.

By the way, anyone know a good drafting program for sketching out plans for such a project? I am not a great drawer and would like to be able to edit easily in a computer based program. Maybe I'll check out the program Chris Brady recommends but it seems a bit complex.

shokunin · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Sep 2004, 03:05 pm »

In the latest copy of Fine Woodworking has a review on CAD programs under $100. It's a good review if you're new to CAD.

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Sep 2004, 04:05 am »

Josh,

Ask Jose Garcia to send you pictures of his DIY rack. You'll be surprised...

JoshK · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 Sep 2004, 12:33 pm »

PA, Why would I be surprised? He did a very nice job of a typical flexy rack.

I own a bunch of salamander archetype racking but I am trying to make something more classical furniture quality. I was looking for some feedback/ideas about how I may rack my gear inside the cabinet.

I think in the end I will likely make maple platform shelving to set the gear on but still use rack ears and affix them to a solid wooden railing inside. This way I can still push like hell

from the back without the gear sliding out.

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 Sep 2004, 01:10 pm »

Quote from: JoshK

PA, Why would I be surprised? He did a very nice job of a typical flexy rack.

Joshua of Nazareth said "You have eyes and you don't see. You have ears and you don't hear."

If all you see is "a typical flexy rack" then you're not seeing...

The main problem/sonic weakness with "a typical flexy rack" is that each component supporting shelf is also a structural part of the rack. In Jose's rack it is not. The structural part is marine plywood (not typical, either), routered to hold individual component bases/combination of bases. This is what gives the rack its versatility and superior sonics. Each component can be individually *tuned*. Jose uses granite and entire rubber/cork/rubber sheets. You can use any combination of materials as you upgrade/change components (Neuance, maple, Moca, carbon fiber, bubble wrap).

Take another close look...and try to imagine working with the rack.

JoshK · « **Reply #13 on:** 14 Sep 2004, 01:22 pm »

I do a similar thing currently. I have a flexy rack and on each shelf I use cork/rubber feet with a 2" maple platform with brass cones and my component.

Psychicanimal · « **Reply #14 on:** 14 Sep 2004, 03:23 pm »

An alternative would be to make steel frames w/ threaded spikes pointing up instead of wood shelves. That would decouple the board supporting the gear from the rack.

Have you ever seen pictures of Albert Porter's rack? It's bolted to the floor and ceiling beams of his house, making it a structural part of the house. That's a rack!

jqp · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 Sep 2004, 04:29 pm »

And yet he still doesn't have room for all his audio junk!!!

Jose Garcia, can you post a picture of your rack for us here?

JoshK · « **Reply #16 on:** 29 Sep 2004, 04:27 pm »

His is nice, but far too modern for my victorian home. Plus with 12' ceilings the rack would be damn tall.

I though of a nice way of having the benefits of rackmounting gear with the convenience of flexibility, non-conforming, etc of most hifi racks. I will still use shelfs in my cabinet. On the shelfs one can put the platforms and cones or whatever else floats ones boat. But inside of leaving it be, which is often inconvenient for me because when switching cords, changing cables, etc things move around too much, I came up with an idea for how to clamp the components (not using shelfs to clamp like has been done).

I am thinking I should patent this idea and start up a business.

But seriously, I think it'll work to help dampen vibrations, hold everything in place but still have decoupling/coupling ability. I have it drawn on paper but now need to implement it. I feel like a mad scientist.