Steve's New Racks

[Mike Caffrey]

They look great and sound like th most pefectly designed racks ever.

I'm curious - why not leave the back open for even more ventilation? I no there's no need to get access through the back, but is there a need to seal it?

Also, what about building in a liquid cooling system or attaching it to the HVAC system?

[stevep]

Originally Posted by Mike Caffrey

They look great and sound like th most pefectly designed racks ever.

I'm curious - why not leave the back open for even more ventilation? I no there's no need to get access through the back, but is there a need to seal it?

Also, what about building in a liquid cooling system or attaching it to the HVAC system?

Hi mike,

I think Neil wanted to keep the backs on for strength when the rack folds out.

As far as the cooling, since the desk will need the AC on all the time the racks should be ok , But........

If i need to i can run HVAC duct to the rack, its real close to the machine room and i ran plenty of duct work there.

I would really like to not have to do that but it shouldn't be that hard if i do.

Also the sides open and if it gets to hot i can open the sides until i run the HVAC duct work .


steve

[NeilTDeal]

Originally Posted by stevep

Hi mike,

I think Neil wanted to keep the backs on for strength when the rack folds out.


steve

Steve's right about one of my main reasons for keeping the backs closed But there is another:

In order to minimize the gap between the top of the cabinet and the wall, we will install the unit by screwing the backs into the wall studs, and then butting the top as tight to the wall as we can (you don't want a gap into which anything small you set on the top can fall down the back). Since the sides will be trimmed-out, even If there was an opening in the back, there would be no place for the air to go (except into the 703 which is as much of an insulator as it is an accoustical treatment).

With this ventillation design, I know that the cabinet will breath no matter how tightly it is installed against the wall, and if in the future Steve decides to pipe HVAC to the cabinets, the top exhaust will help all the more.

[NeilTDeal]

Here are some pictures of the top vent holes:

[NeilTDeal]

And Annother:

[stevep]

Nice !!

Those things look HEAVY ....... who's going to lift them ?



Nothing good is easy is it


Thanks man,



steve

[NeilTDeal]

I know for most of you this is like watching gray paint dry, but what the pictures can't show is all the prep work. Over the next three weeks you will see a great deal of progress, but that apearance of progress can only exist with the hours prep work that proceeded it. So that's what we have we have been up to today.

We added power strip mounts to the back of the racks. These mounts are constructed from plain-old 2x4s but since we would like to allow any power strip to be mounted in the future, this is the best (and most cost effective solution) I could come up with. I plan to paint the rack frame (including the 2x4s) in flat black.

A wide shot:

[NeilTDeal]

And a closeup:

[NeilTDeal]

And a closeup WITH the attachment

[NeilTDeal]

There is a BUG that is driving me crazy . Lets try again...

[NeilTDeal]

I also added a tube that will serve as a handle for lowering the rack:

[NeilTDeal]

I have now shaped and cut the side panels:

[stevep]

Looking NICE !!!!!







.

[NeilTDeal]

It was a very busy day! I am tired buy very happy at how it is starting to look.

Here is a wide shot:

[NeilTDeal]

As you can see, the frames are primed and ready for paint.

[NeilTDeal]

The cabinet interiors are painted flat black, the doors and sides are installed, the top is edged and stained and even the kick board is stained!

Here is a closeup of the top:

[NeilTDeal]

Here is the Ball latch on the left door:

[NeilTDeal]

Here is a wide shot of the left door (open)

[stevep]

Dude that is looking like a rack

Great work !!!

there getting closer,


thanks again,



steve

[NeilTDeal]

An awesome Jeep trip, and several major car repairs have kept me away from this project but now I am ready to give it my all and finish it up.

I started this afternoon by finishing the face frames and painting the rack frames. (actually my Dad painted the rack frames). The next step will be to build the drawers.

I will post some pics when I can get my camera battery charged.

[Sqye]

very pretty - looking AWESOME.

GREAT JOB!!

[InGear]

Wow, Neil, really nice job on the racks!

[NeilTDeal]

Here is my progress this weekend:

On the surface, it may seem that I took a step back because some of the stained parts have been sanded down again. But this is just part of the process. The first stain coat serves as a guide coat to show where the scratches are. I finish sanded the top today so now it is ready for the finish coat of stain. I also installed and finish sanded all of the face frames, drawers and drop doors. All that is left is the side-door trim and finishing.

Here you can see the the drawers. The two on the right are missing the drawer fronts which are resting on the top of the cabinet:

[NeilTDeal]

Here is another angle:

[NeilTDeal]

Well the top needs a few more coats of poly and I still need to install the grounding buss and cable guides but here she is...

[NeilTDeal]

and again

[NeilTDeal]

and annother...

[NeilTDeal]

With the racks out...

[NeilTDeal]

And one door open...

[Mark O]

Awesome,
love the flip out rack concept