DIY Projects

My desktop computer audio setup needed speaker stands for better sound, but being the cheapskate that I am, I refused to pay the ridiculous price being asked for most stands these days. I decided to make a pair, but without using any tools if at all possible. I thought of different materials, and chose fairly large diameter PVC pipe. The speakers base measures about 5" x 5.75", and I found a very heavy duty 14" piece of pipe online for $31. That sounds expensive for a piece of scrap material, but divided by two, that's just $16.

When the pipe arrived, I realized I was going to have to outsource the cutting due to the thickness of the pipe walls, and it would be necessary to fine-grind the cut surface. I Googled "machine shop" and found one just a few miles from home. Gave them a call, told them what I needed, and they said it would be no problem. Dropped the pipe off with the length specifications (5 3/8") and went back later to pick them up. It was a family-owned business with just a few employees and the owner refused to charge me since the work only took a few minutes. I had two six-inch square pieces of glass that I used to serve as a top-plate, and now I have a nice set of stands. Anyone else do something similar that seemed to be a goofy idea, but worked out well?