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Author Topic: Equipment Rack Suggestions  (Read 397 times)

KE5OKQ

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Equipment Rack Suggestions
« on: August 09, 2020, 04:35:51 AM »

I'm looking for a rack to keep my station that doesn't look like it belongs in my garage. It has to be strong enough and the shelves spaced enough to fit my Al 811 amp.  I was looking at the Sanus racks, but they were too pricey. Is metal rack an option,?


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K8AC

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Re: Equipment Rack Suggestions
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2020, 07:18:15 AM »

I use the Sanus posts from the Euro racks and make the shelves out of 3/4 inch oak-faced plywood.  Shelf edges are covered with oak tape which is applied with a clothes iron.  The resulting shelf looks better than anything you can buy ready-made and easily holds my Alpha 89 amp.  For stability, the bottom of the posts are bolted to  3/4' pieces of solid oak that are just wider than the diameter of the posts and the length is about the same as the shelf depth.  Suitable bolts threaded to mate with the posts are available at Lowes in the Hardware dept.  The Sanus posts come in various heights - 5", 8", 10" and maybe others.  They can be hard to find, but they're out there.

73, K8AC
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KC6RCM

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Re: Equipment Rack Suggestions
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2020, 09:16:17 AM »

Have you considered a wood console or rack?  Finished oak has a warm furniture look to it, but metal can be nice too. 
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KB1NO

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Re: Equipment Rack Suggestions
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2020, 10:31:22 AM »

I noticed K8ACs suggestion, which seems like a good idea; I was thinking of building one myself.
B&H has the 12" Sanus posts in stock with free shipping.   But as AC noted, they are a little pricey.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/227547-REG/Sanus_EFP12B_12_Extended_Height_Pillars.html/qa
A little over $100 for a 5' shelving unit plus the cost of the shelves.   Making the double ended joining bolts may require getting longer bolts and cutting the heads off.     
Another alternative would be to use Round or Square wood stock,  cut to length and install T-Nuts or threaded inserts in each end.  A little more effort, but should be less expensive for the posts at least. 
73,
John, KB1NO
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KE0ZU

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Re: Equipment Rack Suggestions
« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2020, 01:18:47 PM »

Nice looking rack, and I think they are metal, but at $1200 it does seem a little pricey.


If you want shelves, or make a nice Oak Rack mount cabinet, the home improvement store has what you need to make some nice looking solutions for a lot less. 
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Regards, Mike
https://mikeharrison.smugmug.com/
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WB8LBZ

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Re: Equipment Rack Suggestions
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2020, 08:29:58 PM »

I built my own from wood I bought at Lowes. Mine is in segments and forms almost a 180 degree arc with 4 19 inch openings and 2 8 inch segments on the ends. The writing surface is 3/4 inch plywood and equipment shelves are 1/2 inch plywood. Vertical elements are 2X4s. Metal angle brackets and wood screws hold the shelves in place. Cover it with your color of choice of enamel paint and load it with stuff.

73, Larry  WB8LBZ
El Paso, TX
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W9FIB

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Re: Equipment Rack Suggestions
« Reply #6 on: August 17, 2020, 01:19:12 AM »

19" racks of various heights show up as cheap surplus quite often. Had a 4' high rack for a repeater project that I paid $5 for. Found a 7' at a scrap metal dealer. Paid $7.50 for that one. Pays to keep a look out.
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73, Stan
Travelling the world one signal at a time.

W0BKR

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Re: Equipment Rack Suggestions
« Reply #7 on: August 17, 2020, 02:24:31 AM »

I'm looking for a rack to keep my station that doesn't look like it belongs in my garage. It has to be strong enough and the shelves spaced enough to fit my Al 811 amp.  I was looking at the Sanus racks, but they were too pricey. Is metal rack an option,?

I never could find one locally, even checked Craigslist.  Ended up making one out of 3/4 inch plywood, put wheels on it and works great.   GL with whatever you can find.  Keep an eye out on Craiglist from time to time they do pop up.
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