Since I have thought to invest in a X360 after the recently announced price-cuts (and an AVR shortly) and the components keep piling up, I have decided to make a AV flexi-rack instead of buying a shelf off the market. 
The best part of this rack is the flexibility it offers to vary the height between the individual shelves and the possibility to extend it side-ways by adding more shelves with studs to support them - thus that explains the name flexi-rack.
Here are some conceptual designs I snatched off the web -
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4
I would start off with a simple design of 4 racks supported by 4 studs. The expense for building one is not very high either. The breakdown for the materials are given below:
1. Shelves - I have planned to invest in a 8 ft. x 2 ft. x 17mm thick pre-laminated particle board for about 1250 INR. The shelves can be made of plexi glass as well - they bear sufficient loads without much wobble provided the holes on each shelf are matched and the shelves are secured properly with neoprene washers beneath each plain washer + hex. nut. Another choice of material is plywood or MDF but they are expensive and require additional painting/varnishing to lend the finish.
2. Studs - Or threaded rods are they are known commonly. I chose to use M16 studs as they seem to complement the shelves properly. If the material is SS (stainless steel), it would turn out to be very expensive given the fact that SS as such is expensive and that studs of longer lengths are generally not available in the market and need to bee made on order. Thus, I chose to go with MS (mild steel) instead. They are less expensive and for corrosion prevention and to lend a slick look, they can be chrome plated/galvanised/powder-coated. Not aware of the costs as yet.
3. Nuts - M16 hex. nuts. MS material and to be chrome plated. Not aware of the costs as yet.
4. Neoprene washers - M16. Helps prevent wobbling and vibrations. Secures the shelves with a good mount. Not very expensive either.
5. Plain washers - M16. To keep the neoprene washers in place and to evenly distribute the load. Not expensive.
6. Dome cap nuts/Acorn nuts - M16 - On top of the first shelf instead of the hex. nut to give it an ossum look. Looks like these - link 1, link 2.
Tools required:
The sheet of board can be cut to the required dimensions from the factory itself. Else one may need a handsaw and some sand papers to finish the edges. Even the required holes Some of the essential tools are as follows:
1. Adjustable wrench - to tighten the nuts. Costs about 200 INR (low grade material) all the way upto 1000 INR (high-grade CrV steel - usually engraved in the handle itself!).
2. Spanner - to hold the nut on the bottom of the shelf while the top one is being tightened.
3. Some elbow-grease.
Castor wheels can be screwed beneath the bottom-most shelf, in case the shelf needs to be moved often. Or a bush can be inserted at the bottom of the stud.
A hole is drilled one ach shelf to facilitate the entry of wires to avoid the clutter at the back.
I have attached a pdf file which shows the design I have made in Autocad.
Comments and further suggestions welcome.
The best part of this rack is the flexibility it offers to vary the height between the individual shelves and the possibility to extend it side-ways by adding more shelves with studs to support them - thus that explains the name flexi-rack.
Here are some conceptual designs I snatched off the web -
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4
I would start off with a simple design of 4 racks supported by 4 studs. The expense for building one is not very high either. The breakdown for the materials are given below:
1. Shelves - I have planned to invest in a 8 ft. x 2 ft. x 17mm thick pre-laminated particle board for about 1250 INR. The shelves can be made of plexi glass as well - they bear sufficient loads without much wobble provided the holes on each shelf are matched and the shelves are secured properly with neoprene washers beneath each plain washer + hex. nut. Another choice of material is plywood or MDF but they are expensive and require additional painting/varnishing to lend the finish.
2. Studs - Or threaded rods are they are known commonly. I chose to use M16 studs as they seem to complement the shelves properly. If the material is SS (stainless steel), it would turn out to be very expensive given the fact that SS as such is expensive and that studs of longer lengths are generally not available in the market and need to bee made on order. Thus, I chose to go with MS (mild steel) instead. They are less expensive and for corrosion prevention and to lend a slick look, they can be chrome plated/galvanised/powder-coated. Not aware of the costs as yet.
3. Nuts - M16 hex. nuts. MS material and to be chrome plated. Not aware of the costs as yet.
4. Neoprene washers - M16. Helps prevent wobbling and vibrations. Secures the shelves with a good mount. Not very expensive either.
5. Plain washers - M16. To keep the neoprene washers in place and to evenly distribute the load. Not expensive.
6. Dome cap nuts/Acorn nuts - M16 - On top of the first shelf instead of the hex. nut to give it an ossum look. Looks like these - link 1, link 2.
Tools required:
The sheet of board can be cut to the required dimensions from the factory itself. Else one may need a handsaw and some sand papers to finish the edges. Even the required holes Some of the essential tools are as follows:
1. Adjustable wrench - to tighten the nuts. Costs about 200 INR (low grade material) all the way upto 1000 INR (high-grade CrV steel - usually engraved in the handle itself!).
2. Spanner - to hold the nut on the bottom of the shelf while the top one is being tightened.
3. Some elbow-grease.
Castor wheels can be screwed beneath the bottom-most shelf, in case the shelf needs to be moved often. Or a bush can be inserted at the bottom of the stud.
A hole is drilled one ach shelf to facilitate the entry of wires to avoid the clutter at the back.
I have attached a pdf file which shows the design I have made in Autocad.
Comments and further suggestions welcome.
