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Home made AV rack

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Old 26-04-2009, 12:20 AM   #1
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Home made AV rack

I decided that I didn't want to spend a fortune on an AV rack and I couldn't get one deep enough to fit the PC so I decided to make my own.

I got some 18mm mdf cut to 600 x 600mm from B&Q then cheated and got the local carpentry place to drill the holes in the right place for me, cut out a recess at the back of the shelves and router the edges - All for £35!

They did 8 shelves for me (although I only ended up using 6). I also picked up some casters from Ikea as well to make it easy to move about:





What it is replacing (Ikea shelving unit):




Plenty of space for cable management and air flow




Bit of a pain to put together and at some point i'll have to take it all apart again (not until I have fitted the new skirting boards and the new carpet has been delivered though!)

It's still not all plugged in (got to plug in the tape drive and Wii):



PC is plugged into the Tosh LCD and this small touch screen:





Cost wise:

MDF - ~£15.00
Metal Rod - ~£15.00
Bolts and Washers - ~£15.00
Wood cut to size - £35.00
Castors (Ikea) - £14.00
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Old 26-04-2009, 10:17 AM   #2
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Re: Home made AV rack

Very nice indeed and a credit to you.

Just a thought,perhaps some Dome Nuts or Covers over the top nuts just to finish it off ?

KH
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Old 26-04-2009, 11:57 AM   #3
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Re: Home made AV rack

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Originally Posted by KH1096 View Post
Very nice indeed and a credit to you.

Just a thought,perhaps some Dome Nuts or Covers over the top nuts just to finish it off ?

KH
I've got to take it apart again at some point to paint the shelves (unfortunately as it takes a long time to get all the nuts in the right places) and I was thinking about getting hold of some dome nuts to go on the top.

I feel much happier about the kit staying cool as well now
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Old 27-04-2009, 2:21 PM   #4
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Re: Home made AV rack

Looks good, might do something very similar myself. Is there one long metal threaded rod going through every shelf in each corner, and then the waher/bolt above and below holds each shelf in place? If so where did you get the long rods from from?
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Old 27-04-2009, 2:30 PM   #5
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Re: Home made AV rack

haha, quality use of a bit of threaded bar! i love it!
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Old 27-04-2009, 2:36 PM   #6
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Re: Home made AV rack

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1pudding1 View Post
Looks good, might do something very similar myself. Is there one long metal threaded rod going through every shelf in each corner, and then the waher/bolt above and below holds each shelf in place? If so where did you get the long rods from from?
Exactly that...

I got the rods online, when I get home i'll dig out the link for you.

There's a bit of flex in it but then it is called a "TNT FlexyRack"
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Old 28-04-2009, 3:16 PM   #7
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Re: Home made AV rack

How is the little touchscreen part of your system?
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Old 28-04-2009, 3:28 PM   #8
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Re: Home made AV rack

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Originally Posted by yeswotever View Post
How is the little touchscreen part of your system?
It's plugged into the Media Centre PC via a dual output graphics card.

Longer term the plan will be to run some cabling out to the kitchen so that I can move the screen out there (already have speakers in the kitchen ceiling)
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Old 14-05-2009, 3:17 PM   #9
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Re: Home made AV rack

I'd like to see how that comes out is it done yet?
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