lol cheap studio racks from ikea

[scoob]

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2007/...ic-studio.html

yep im doin this some assembly and modification required but no hundreds of dollars needed

[cassiopamusic]

wow that looks like a great idea for cheapos like me

[dontfearthringo]

I ordered one.

I had to stop myself from ordering a couple.

Add $10 for rack rails and you're still getting a really nice deal.

[aussie_techie]

i need a new rack, when the new ikea opens here i will have to get one

[Gone Fission]

I'm working on three right now. Since mine are going to be floor-standing, I didn't drop the bottom shelf. 6u rails are a perfect fit with the stock layout. The first place I saw this sort of project, the guy uses it on top of a desk but uses the space beneath to tuck other gear in, like a 25 key keyboard controller. That might also work for irregular pieces that you don't want to buy a rack shelf for.

Bear

[jbuehler]

Could someone post a link to purchase rack rails that they know work? I looked online and there are many different designs with different options and I am not sure which to choose.

Also, what tools are required to lower the bottom shelf and make it bigger (8U?)

[Gone Fission]

Originally Posted by jbuehler

Could someone post a link to purchase rack rails that they know work? I looked online and there are many different designs with different options and I am not sure which to choose.

Also, what tools are required to lower the bottom shelf and make it bigger (8U?)

I bought 6u rails from this guy. Pretty standard threaded-rail, solidly built, good finish, and cheaper than anything else I spotted.

I don't know about lowering the deck--a drill must be required (or better a drill press) and you might want a tool to countersink for the flare in the bolts. Looks like it might get to 8u on the nose, but it might be a little tight.

If you're using a finish that builds up on the surface, I'd suggest mounting the rails first--mine are maybe a little on the narrow side rail-to-rail. It fits just fine, but I'm using shellac and a couple mm of build up might throw it off. Mask the threaded rails so they don't clog.

Bear

[aussie_techie]

Originally Posted by Gone Fission

That might also work for irregular pieces that you don't want to buy a rack shelf for.

since this is low end theory, RNCs anyone?

have you found any advantage/disadvantage to using threaded rails compared to cage nut rails? appart from the obvious thnig of putting the cage nuts in of course. i have half a bag of cage nuts sitting around anyway and its annoying that all of my current racks have a different screw size.

[scoob]

i use parts express for rack parts, 1/4in trs connectors, silver bearing solder, and shrink wrap etc. Redco audio for cable and xlr's. great service from both companies. just fyi if u don't like eBay parts express sells the same rails as the guy mention above but they are a few more bucks but if i only need a pair i guess it would be even.

[slipstream]

The shopping carts at Ikea are disturbing. All four wheels can turn.

[scoob]

Originally Posted by slipstream

The shopping carts at Ikea are disturbing. All four wheels can turn.

i was there 2hrs ago lol indeed disturbing

[BudgetMC]

The danger of these racks is that you build 'em cheap... but then you've got to spend three or four large filling each one up!

[mdme_sadie]

Awesome idea! Shame I don't actually have any rack units... well apart from my convertor :/

[The Spark]

Hmm... Would there be any downside to using a 1x1" (approximate) piece of wood as rails?

[cassiopamusic]

Originally Posted by The Spark

Hmm... Would there be any downside to using a 1x1" (approximate) piece of wood as rails?

that sounds interesting, i might think about doin that instead of ordering rails. but i don't know if theres any downsides.

[aussie_techie]

Originally Posted by The Spark

Hmm... Would there be any downside to using a 1x1" (approximate) piece of wood as rails?

sure you can screw directly into wood but if you move units in and out the wood wont last. you also wont have the exact hight spacing of using rails but thats may be a good thing as you can leave the air gaps you want

[Stiff]

Very rock 'n' roll

[JPeters86]

Cool, very nice tip. Just wondering where to get the rack strips here in NL.

[Lipps]

im going to ikea tomorrow.

[Robzilla]

Originally Posted by JPeters86

Cool, very nice tip. Just wondering where to get the rack strips here in NL.

let me know if you find them!

[inayat]

These things are great!
Thanks for the hint!

[richardswag]

Nice to see someone with a studio as cluttered and untidy as mine too!

[JFN - Sonalksis]

Brilliant hack!!

And there I went some years ago doing my best to remember wood shop class lessons, when the solution was there just in front of me, the studio corner at that time, was in the bedroom, and if I'd only been more interested in home furnishing than that studio corner maybe I've found those tables on IKEA as well...

HEHE

(racks are home made, all gear on the picture is gone long time ago, apart from the k240s, and the small 1 unit synth module, I think it is a technics, it's not been used for quite a while though).


:D

Cheers,
JFN

[gabehr]

Glad to see I'm not the only person that thought of doing this. I've been hacking apart ikea furniture for years to suit my purposes. At one point I managed to integrate my entire recording studio into my living room set seamlessly.

Modular ikea shelving units with rack rails are amazing. Cabinet units to hide computers. Hacked up shelving to make speaker stands and a place for the monitor...

When I had company over they thought I had a pretty cool looking living room. And it was fully functional as a decent quality project mixing studio!

[cassiopamusic]

i just got some awsome lamps for the studio at ikea, only $10! that place has everything.

[dylansmale]

haha. Ikea is a trip. I can't believe they're making those. what a funny thing

[alternative4]

that's really cool idea!!i just finished to make one today and painted it.
yeah!loving it,very much cheaper rack case for using at home

[thelead]

Wouldn't it be just as easy (probably better wood too) to some wood at a lumber store and build a box? I do not do much wood work, but, that seems pretty simple to just make myself.

[theblue1]

Originally Posted by aussie_techie

sure you can screw directly into wood but if you move units in and out the wood wont last. you also wont have the exact hight spacing of using rails but thats may be a good thing as you can leave the air gaps you want

Also, leaving the air gaps could lmean that, if you did strip some screw holes, you might be able to reposition the unit in order to drill new, good holes.

[firby]

I have had a rast here for a year or two that houses the power supply for my mixing board and some fans.

How I came up with the idea was just to take a tape measure to ikea and starting looking for 19 inch stuff. I also have a very rock n roll rack that houses 6 rack space of external synths. It's just two 1 X 2's and drywall screws. That one sits on the desktop.

The thing I would stress about these DIY racks is to take time and drill a tie down in the rack. I drill a tie down in mine and put in a zip tie which in turn holds a piece of velcro which ties down the cabling. I do one on each side, I/O on one side and power on the other.

Regards.