https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/6466uberwaltz: I see you also have a Monoprice Monolith XL rack. How do you like it?
Built a DIY butcher block and iron pipe rack over the weekend
A lot our decor in our new finished basement is the rustic/industrial trend of wood and iron pipe. A lot of it I have built myself. I wanted a new audio rack so I was doing a lot of searching and set out to build one this past weekend. I am very happy with the result. It is a beast, weighing about 70 pounds. I used 3/4" pipe for the supports and 1.5" butcher block. It was also my first time using a hand rubbed danish oil finish, I always used some sort of poly or acrylic finish in the past. I would love any feedback. My only thing I am not sure of is the footers. I used the round steel floor plates and to avoid scratching the floor I am using a heavy felt pad on each foot. I know some type of point would be more isolating but its hard to blend isolation into decor without it looking wild and keeping the wife happy too. (oh, just don't laugh at my isolators on the preamp, they are temporary until my new ones arrive, I just noticed them in the photo).
https://imgur.com/a/EeMNwcr
https://imgur.com/a/EeMNwcr
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This one is solid cast concrete and sand. The legs are ABS filled with cast concrete. The whole thing weighs about 700 lbs yet can be moved and set up relatively easily as it is modular in design, you bring each piece in and assemble on the spot. Total cost without the granite machinist plate is only about $100, and you can add that or use something like a DIY butcher block instead. The concrete is painted, could be any color you want. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 |
That looks great! Mingles, I like yours as well. I've been looking for some sturdy and open air racks but don't want to break the bank as I am going to need a few to hold all of my audio and video gear. Building my own has been a consideration but I haven't come up with any designs I like that would also be within my cost goals. Your concept has given me ideas though! |
@jmphotography. I can't thank you enough for inspiring me! I'm really happy with this thing. One more nice feature is that the footers can be adjusted to accommodate an uneven floor. I was able to raise one leg 1/4" to make things level. For what it's worth, I used 1/4" felt furniture pads on the feet. I'm more concerned about my wood floors than I am about anchoring. |
@mingles Awesome! Looks great, nicely done. The 1 1/16 bit did require me to ream the hole out a bit with a sanding cylinder on a drill, but it was a tight fit and I had to tap the pipe through the hole. They are very solid and I love the industrial look as well. Enjoy it, now your friends are gonna want one too! |
@jmphotography I want to thank you for inspiring me to build a similar rack. I used the same materials, but I designed mine with five shelves that are 24" x 24". The total height is 45". I used end caps at the top so the whole thing can be disassembled or reconfigured with more or less shelves. You can also change the shelf height by using different length pipes. It was fun to build, but not as easy as I thought it would be. Drilling holes in five shelves so they were precisely lined up required building a jig and using a drill guide. I used a 1-1/16" Forstner bit, but the resulting hole was too tight. I had a hard time getting the pipe to go in, so I used a 1-1/8" bit to make them a little larger. The total weight is about 115 pounds. I'm really happy with the end result. It has a nice industrial look and it's incredibly solid and stable. Here's a link: https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/2056 |
@jtampakes I drilled a hole on the underside of the top about have the depth of the top thickness. I use a really small threaded nipple just enough to stick up above the coupling but hold the top down securely. I used liquid nails construction adhesive in the hole and then just tapped the top down with a rubber mallet. The hole size was perfect because the threaded nipple was really snug inside the hole. The underside of the top is resting on the union, so it is very solid. I added 2 new images to the album to try and help explain what I did. https://imgur.com/a/EeMNwcr |
Great work! Looks awesome. I did something similar years ago with maple from perfectplank.com and brass hardware from McMaster-Carr. All the parts etc. are in a post on my system thread, if you're looking for ideas. For me, being able to adjust the shelf height easily as gear changes and the deeper top shelf to accommodate a large turntable were key considerations. I'm not handy, they're not too tough to make. Cheers, Spencer |
I built the same with the difference being for the wood I used precut stair treads cut from oak ( Home Depot $35 each). Then placed granite pieces I got for free as scrap from a countertop company on top of the wood. Looks good and adds great isolation to the components. Also built an identical rack for albums just omitted the granite. |
Thanks everyone for the compliments. I bought the butcher block at Home Depot. 3 - 25x50" pieces and I believe they were Birch. I am sure Maple would be even harder and heavier and even more expensive. I have $330 in just the butcher black. I used the Watco dark danish oil finish. @hm9001 after I cleaned the pipe with mineral spirits to get all the oily coating off the iron I used a hammered finish spray paint, and I am sure if you wanted to fill them with sand you could but with the BB tops and iron pipe its already about 70 lbs. @guy-incognito LOL, yes those threaded coupling thingies |
Nice job!!! It really looks great and at the same time is probably highly functional.I built a rack years ago from copper pipes that I soldered together. I filled them with quartz sand to absorb vibrations. Without the sand the pipes were ringing when you pinged it. With the sand it was almost silent. May help for the iron pipes as well to further improve sonic quality.Did you lacquer/paint the iron pipes or did you get them in black color? |
@jmphotography , I mentioned Stillpoints earlier ...to your question regarding (feet, cones, isolation, etc.....) I assume you have access to a drill press based upon this build? The most inexpensive/superior way to decouple your new "rack", will be with springs. Take a look at my systems page. The amp rack support shows you how this can be achieved. You can modify it in several ways but the basic principle is simple. If you have a drill press with repeatable stops, you have all you need to achieve this. The look, will be very similar to what you have now. The sound will be much better than you have now. If this intrigues you, I'd be glad to help you go forward. |
Way back when, I made a similar rack, but with less of a good result as you. No doubt, these are heavy, but permanent pieces. I strongly prefer the look of the pipe with a good finish like what you used, in place of threaded rod, which looks like, yah, threaded rod. The way that you used the pipes looks professional and neat. Changing shelf height would not be that difficult to do either. I bet that you had to sand smooth the bottom stantions though. |
ericsch, its 1.5" butcher block so I used a 2" nipple. Drilled a hole using 1 1/16" bit which lets the 3/4" pipe fit very snug inside the hole, in fact you have to tap it through with a hammer. So the nipple stuck out either side of the shelf which allowed me thread the 3/4" bushing onto the top and bottom of the shelf. When you screwed the bushings onto the nipple and tightened it created a really solid supports. Here is a photo of what I am talking about https://imgur.com/9J1lyGJ and after the next bushing was added https://imgur.com/18MclnT |
Very nice. Glad to see someone else having a go at a home brewed rack. I did mine out of cost shock.... Lol. Think $275 all in for mine but I do wish I had gone for thicker legs like yours. However the threaded rods in mine means the shelves are quickly leveled and changed in height for equipment changes. Not that I ever change my gear much😂 https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/6466 |
