My DIY Speaker stand projects

[admin_exported]

Hello, i thought id start a thread to document the progress of my new build of speaker stands, they are far from finished but i thought id share, they will be tidied up, insulation spikes added and painted gloss black. Here are some pictures for you

Comments and criticisms welcomed

Sam

 

[idc]

All threads with pictures and stuff being made are very welcome.

Could you incorporate some sort of cable tidy on the back of the stand? I never liked my stands and the way the cable, particularly the heavy, not very bendy Kimber cable just half hung and half coiled out the back of the speaker.

 

[Anonymous]

I could, or possibly use some kind of cable clips..

Or maybe some conduit running the length of the back

I'l try something

 

[Anonymous]

I think the top plate is a bit big for the speakers. No?

 

[Anonymous]

Looks very good well done. I take it these will house a much bigger speaker soon !

Run a length of black conduit up the back on saddles will look plush!

 

[Anonymous]

is that a BLT baguette in the background?

 

[Anonymous]

The baguette was sausage and onions

They will be housing Warfedale 10.1's on Christmas day

Ive just been in the shed putting filler on all the joins making them look nice

Sanding and priming should be done tomorrow hopefully

Pictures will be provided

Sam.

 

[Anonymous]

have read on another forum that wooden speaker stands are much better than those made of steel ... so keep us informed!

 

[Anonymous]

Thats good news, i just used MDF as i have lots of it lying around

I dont have anything to compare them too so maybe is someone local to me wants to try them they are more than welcome

Sam.

 

[PJPro]

Speaker stands tend to benefit from a bit of added weight, unless the construction materials are already hefty. How do you intend to add this wieght?

Excellent to see a bit of DIY, by the way. Well done!

 

[JoelSim]

PJPro:Speaker stands tend to benefit from a bit of added weight, unless the construction materials are already hefty. How do you intend to add this wieght?Excellent to see a bit of DIY, by the way. Well done!

Yes, I'd be worried about resonance with MDF.

Perhaps see how they go and then build another set from solid oak or cherrywood.

Are you going to have spikes into the bottom of the speakers?

 

[Anonymous]

Yep spikes are on, if im not happy with these, i think that oak will be my next idea

 

[gpi]

Nice neat job. How tall are they as they look quite high for standmounts?

 

[gpi]

PJPro:Speaker stands tend to benefit from a bit of added weight, unless the construction materials are already hefty. How do you intend to add this wieght?

Excellent to see a bit of DIY, by the way. Well done!

That's obvious - four small children or short adults standing, one on each side. Job done. )

 

[simonlewis]

gpi:Nice neat job. How tall are they as they look quite high for standmounts?

About 3/4 the height of a kitchen unit.

 

[Anonymous]

I Honestly count tell you exactly from my head, I made them by eye lol, i would say roughly 25'' though they sit around shoulder level when i sit on my sofa

 

[harveymt]

Where would you get wood to build speaker stands etc? I'd be interested in building a rack to house my home cinema gear. Most available ones with glass etc look great until you add all the wires in. Also, getting one that has a nice big compartment for a home cinema amp is hard enough. I'd like to build one that is closed in with glass or wood doors. That way I could close the doors and keep the place looking tidy. Bonus points with the wife. I suppose you'd need a large square piece for top and bottom.

What types of wood would be good? Would walnut be any good as it would match the floor.

And is it possible to buy one of those cantilever things for TV that could be screwed to the rack? Or on thinking about it, could you use a normal wall bracket that was screwed into a sturdy piece of wood that was itself screwed to the rack

 

[idc]

I have a carpenter mate who uses a wood merchant who cuts planks etc to size for him. Check out Yellow Pages. As to what type of wood I have no idea. Bear in mind the comments about MDF being light. The wood used by Ikea is light and so is the very expensive Torlite used by Russ Andrews to make it's stands and shelf units. Both get very good write ups and reviews as stands. If you use spikes, other vibration suppression such as polypods off ebay and nothing wobbles, I would not write off using MDF or pine.

 

[harveymt]

I was thinking that you could use wooden worktops from kitchens. A specialist kitchen supplier could probably cut all the pieces exactly to size and bevel the edges if required. Just a matter or screwing it together after that.

Alternatively the DIY warehouses or Ikea do worktops. And checking eBay, they also sell them fairly cheaply. Then cut them myself. My brother's a joiner so he has the proper kit to do it well.

Oak is widely available. Would it that be a good choice? It can be stained to whatever colour to match.

I don't know about spikes on the wooden floor but some of those half circle things that I can't currently remember the name of would keep it off the floor.

 

[PJPro]

harveymt:
I was thinking that you could use wooden worktops from kitchens. A specialist kitchen supplier could probably cut all the pieces exactly to size and bevel the edges if required. Just a matter or screwing it together after that.

Alternatively the DIY warehouses or Ikea do worktops. And checking eBay, they also sell them fairly cheaply. Then cut them myself. My brother's a joiner so he has the proper kit to do it well.

Oak is widely available. Would it that be a good choice? It can be stained to whatever colour to match.

I don't know about spikes on the wooden floor but some of those half circle things that I can't currently remember the name of would keep it off the floor.

Take a look at the DIY rack in my useful(?) posts thread (see link in signature).

 

[harveymt]

That is essentially what I would want to do. Only I would it split into thirds. The middle one left with no shelf to leave plenty of room for the amp. The spaces to the side would be split into two with shelves.

Does the solid shelf allow heat away effectively? Could you drill some holes in the shelf or if you have enough room around the side and top of the equipment it shouldn't be an issue?

Did you not choose oak only due to the cost?

Could you put some doors on it? Would a remote signal from a Harmony One go through glass? Or on thinking about it I could get an IR repeater/extender and have the receiver of it put somewhere discreetly on the rack.

I'll try and draw up what I mean and post it. I've been meaning to learn how to do photographs for a while so now's as good a time as any.

 

[gpi]

spanerman:
I Honestly count tell you exactly from my head, I made them by eye lol, i would say roughly 25'' though they sit around shoulder level when i sit on my sofa

Back on the OP's topic: Spot on. Anything from 600 mm to 650 mm is fine (yours are approx. 635 mm).

 

[Anonymous]

Not bad for a rough guess

Whats the best way to paint the MDF, the edges are machined and will absorb the paint like a sponge?

Sam.

 

[Dave_]

spanerman:
Whats the best way to paint the MDF, the edges are machined and will absorb the paint like a sponge?

Sam.

A coat of MDF primer,then a good sanding, a couple of coats of undercoat,sanding in between,then a finish coat of your choice.

You may need to do several coats of primer/undercoat on the machined edges to achieve a good finish though....

 

[Anonymous]

Where would one be able to get mdf primer from?