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Audio Rack Construction

Happy New Year All!

I'm planning a rack with three wood (maple) shelves using threaded rod as the supports. This will be something similar to Salamander racks. Besides, the metal washers and nuts, I'm going to be using some type of isolation washer that will contact the top and bottom of each shelf.
So...shelf, isoloation washer, metal washer, and then nut.

Questions: 1. When passing the threaded rod through each shelf, should the holes in the shelves not allow the threaded rod to touch, so the only thing touching the shelves are the isolation washers? 2. Besides neoprene, what's a good material for the isolation washers? 3. After leveling each shelf during assembly, I'm planning to add aluminum tubing over the threaded rod and nuts between each shelf for a cleaner look. This would mean that the top and bottom ends of the aluminum tubing would also contact the shelves. Should I avoid this, or additionally add some isolation material between the ends of the tubes and the shelves?
kennythekey
jdoris
972 posts
 
I got a lot of helpful suggestions on a similar topic here:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?htech&1158841915&openmine&zzJdoris&4&5#Jdoris
kennythekey OP
593 posts
 
BR3098 - Thanks, I'm just copying the threaded rod concept from Salemander and will be using heavier maple shelves and as recommended, shot inside the external tubing around the rod. The end result should be a lot heavier and more rigid. I'm not placing my turntabl;e on this rack.

Jdoris - Thanks for the link I will check it out.
kennythekey OP
593 posts
 
Wow, tons of info from the link provided by Jdoris. The original thread was back in 2006, and the raw materials have gone up nicely since then. That still won't stop me.

Lots of stuff to go through and I'm taking off for vacation. Will be back next week and will re-focus then.

Thanks everyone!
kennythekey OP
593 posts
 
I'm back from vacation and had time to contemplate all of your good information.

I've decided to abandon my wall mount ideas for my Table, and place it on the new rack. My Target wall shelf was a failure, so why shell out big bucks for a Finite wall shelf? The Finite was maple with an aluminum anodized back plate, so I was going to add silver aluminum anodized tubing to the new rack. I don't need to do that now.

I have an old Farmhouse, so I would like to hide the industrial look of the rods and nuts. Looks like I will be using an anodized tubing with a colored powder coat instead. I found a local source for this and if their product is decent I will let everyone know becuase it's so inexpensive.

I will also add shot to the tubing but in the end I'm hoping that this eliminates any potential ringing and does not make the sound less lively. Any thoughts on that?
jdoris
972 posts
 
Hi Kenny.

I've got a 1905 home, and the industrial look of brass and maple has grown on me, esp. as they've picked up some patina.

Since you're thinking of covering the the rods, will you still go brass? Some favor the sonics of brass (I'm not confident I could detect a difference), but I'm pretty sure you would save a a good bit on the rods by going stainless or galvi.

I suppose that filling the rods could reduce the possibility of ringing and the like. Note that filling the rods may, depending on the amount of fill needed, add significant weight; my 4 shelf rack is pretty heavy as it is.

One more thought on the visuals: Boos block is now offering walnut and cherry blocks (at a price), which gives more options for matching decor. Again, some favor the sonics of maple, but I'd not be surprised if their ears were much better than mine.

John
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