Our tech tip last week on rack standards (see inSync 3/23/00) generated quite a few responses from people looking to build their own racks. As such we now have a few additional tips about that.
- Buy pre-drilled and tapped (threaded) rack rails. Drilling and tapping the holes yourself, and getting it perfect is not going to be easy unless you have all the proper machinery. And even then it’s a time consuming pain. Prefabricated rack rails aren’t that expensive. You can buy them in long lengths and cut them down to size(s).
- When deciding upon dimensions allow for a little extra space between the wood (or whatever material your rack will be made of) and the outside edge of the rails. This extra gap is easy to control by inserting washers in between the wood and rails when you mount them to the wood. It serves three purposes: A) It gives you a margin of error on your wood working; B) Rack gear can be easier to get in and out when the edge of the rack is not right up against the rack rail. This is especially true if you plan to recess the rail into the rack an inch or two. And C), it helps with ventilation by providing a path for air to move around the gear.
- For mobile racks recess the rail into the front of the rack an inch or so. This will help prevent the knobs and stuff from being sheered off while moving it. In fact, you can almost get away with not having a front or a back if you recess like this (depends on your exact circumstances).
- For all rack users. Resist the temptation to skimp on screws by only using two screws for your gear. Most people incorrectly do this by using a screw on the top of the gear on one side with a screw on the bottom of the other side. This can put unnecessary torque on the case, which can cause all kinds of mechanical/electrical problems down the road. If you must use only two screws to mount a piece of gear you are better off just using the bottom holes on both sides. When the rack is upright this will hold the equipment in the most stable and least stressful way. Try it, you’ll see what I mean once you see it in practice.