Stack rack build

[here.now]

Here's my newest project:

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I based this design off of:

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Credit is due to the original designer whom I don't know the name of.

I built two so I'm able to stand my Modula up between them. TV will be mounted to the wall so it should give enough shelves for my components.
I've attached some build pics. The risers between the shelves were made from 1.5"x3" of 3/4 Baltic birch stacked glued and brad nailed. I realized afterwords that it would have been easier to laminate strips of plywood then cut them into small pieces to save on time and make things more accurate.

I plan on finishing with a clear coat but am not sure how or which one to use. I tested some polyurethane on a small piece and I didn't like the caramel color it left. My Natalie P's will be built of BB as well and finished in a clear finish so I want it to match. The only problem is they're being built by my pops in Wisconsin. I'd also like the clear coat to be hard and durable because the exposed edges are brittle and i don't want them to chip. Ideas anyone?

That said I'd like to ramble on about some of the things I've learned as a novice wood worker. These are things that I'm sure everyone is going to go "well yeah" or "DUHH" but here we go.

1)Cheap plywood is just that, cheap plywood. It's got more voids than Emmentaller. And isn't very structurally sound to boot.

2)Excess glue equals excess sanding. Holy man my arms are sore.

3)You can never have enough clamps.

4)Speed square and large squares should be your best friends.

5)You can't sand somethings square.

6)Wood putty works wonders, if it matches and if it stains well.

Anyway, I'll post some more pictures of the finishing process when I get there.

[Bent]

I really like that.

[here.now]

Thanks Bent

I do too that's why I had to build one.

Here's more inspiration for my interpretation:



I'm considering putting the Dayton spike feet on the bottom to help with isolation and to give it a cool look. Otherwise I'll end up just putting one piece of "riser" on each corner. Input?

I guess I built this for two reasons, first to match my new coming speakers and second to isolate my components from one another in hopes it will help with how my whole system sounds. Attached is a picture of my current setup. See the laptop wired to the side? Lol, yeah I'm trying to go for a cleaner look.

[here.now]

Update

Final sanding is done and I threw together a stand for my CC. Also some shots of my "shop". Yes it is a storage closet. Haha, I make do and play outside most of the time.

Does anyone have advice on what clear coat to use? I may just leave them as is but am concerned about durability.

[ThomasW]

Use water based polyurethane

[here.now]

Use water based polyurethane

Brushed on? And how many coats do you suggest? For the edges do I need to do anything special? Also, is there a specific brand that you recommend that dries clear?

Thanks Thomas

[ThomasW]

The water based poly dries clear and doesn't yellow.

Wipe-on, brush on, try test boards to see what you prefer.

[here.now]

The water based poly dries clear and doesn't yellow.

Wipe-on, brush on, try test boards to see what you prefer.

Just went out and got some Minwax Waterbased Polycrylic and a brush made for polycrylic. Test piece is drying as i type this.

[Curly Woods]

Brushed on? And how many coats do you suggest? For the edges do I need to do anything special? Also, is there a specific brand that you recommend that dries clear?

Thanks Thomas

Edges or end grain should always be sanded to a much finer degree than the surfaces. If you normally go to 220 grit when finish sanding, use 320 or even 400 grit on all exposed end grain and edges. It almost burnishes the end grain and will not let it soak as much finish as it normally would if you did not do the extra steps.

[JonMarsh]

A good idea to do that again after the first coat or two also.

[Bent]

Yup

I used minwax poly on my dual RL-p sealed sub, (IIRC, 9 coats) wiped on, left overnight, cloth buff, repeat. (fine sanded and tack-cloth after 2nd coat)

I found it quite nice to work with.

[here.now]

Excellent, thanks everyone. I'm in the process of trying it on some test pieces so I can get down a routine of coating and sanding. Second coat is on already tonight. Seems to dry to sandability within 4 hours. I've got 220 grit, I'm not going for glossy I just wanted to bring out some of the depth in the wood and protect it. I'll post some pics when I get my first coat on the actual racks.

[here.now]

Finished.

Ahh, much better.

Finishing went well, a lot of trial and error. I think that it could have been better if it was started correctly. I brushed on the first layer, and wiped on the other three. You can still see some streaks from the brush, maybe I didn't sand enough after the first layer, I'm not sure.

Anyway, they turned out better than I expected and I absolutely love how clean my system looks now. It may be high hopes but it seems as though things sound better too, more full and focused, less noise(this makes sense because no components are stacked and the wires are separated and not in coils).

Here's some pictures:

[dsrviola]

Stack Rack

Looks great! Congratulations!