CD Rack (Finally)

[alcarm1964]

Back in November I posted a question here about my plans for a CD rack...this was my first "real" project. Anyway, it's hanging in the family room now...based on most of your responses, I added vertical support. It's all oak, finished with 4 coats of poly. All the oak is

3/4" except for the top and bottom pieces, which are 1/2". The back is 1/2" plywood. I had access to the back of the wall it's hanging on, so there's some pretty big hardware holding it up (it's heavy). Holds about 800 cds, and I have about 700 in it now (I used some of my son's to fill up some empty space when I was checking the final weight). Anyway, thanks for all of your ideas back in Nomber!

[Josh]

Great job. Looks nice. I'm glad to see you left the oak natural.

[Swingman]

I've got about that many CDs on my iPod ... weighs four ounces and fits in my pocket. ;)

Nice job!

[TT]

Nice work, looks good. Watch out that the wife doesn't put plants on the top that start growing down and covering up the CDs with vines!

[Mike Marlow]

[Morris Dovey]

| Back in November I posted a question here about my plans for a CD | rack...this was my first "real" project. Anyway, it's hanging in the

|

job!

-- Morris Dovey DeSoto Solar DeSoto, Iowa USA

[Guess who]

OK, it's slightly OT, which I usually avoid with a passion, but this might be of interest to anyone doing the same ...and why not listen to good music in the background while woodworking [There, I said it.]

Anyhow, go to your nearest dealer and get an FM transmitter that will plug into the computer, or your ipod or any other suitable source. Start the music. Now got to your surround sound system you set up in the workshop [or the old set you got at the flea market for $5.] Leave the ipod in the living room. You don't want it to get plugged up with sawdust. Tune the radio to the frequency you set [easily] on the transmitter, and listen without earplugs. You can even crank up the radio so your nearest neighbours can hear, or get them to tune into the same frequency with their radio.

[Enoch Root]

er

[Ba r r y]

A.) Most of those things sound terrible. The good ones cost more than an Ipod.

B.) Plug up an Ipod with sawdust? Have you ever actually touched one? I know people that run in the rain, ski, cycle, etc... with them. If you're that worried, simply put it in a Ziploc bag. Most MP3 players are reasonably durable and well-sealed.

Barry

[Joe Barta]

I've read that as well (although I don't have any personal experience with them). I also don't own a portable music player.

That said, I DO have a huge collection of music on a computer in one room, and a damn nice stereo in another room. I have the two physically connected with a long pair of monster audio cables and a USB thingie. When I switch over, my computer thinks the stereo is a set of USB speakers and I just play music using WinAmp. It sounds absolutely fantastic... couldn't ask for any better.

I don't remember the exact names or brands of the products I bought and am too lazy to find them now, but if anyone is really interested, I'll do some digging and try to find specifics or more information.

Joe Barta

[Phisherman]

Very nice. That's a lot of CDs!!!

[badger]

Very, very nice.

[Lee Michaels]

One potential problem I see though. You are running out of space!!

Time to build another one??

[alcarm1964]

LOL...thanks all for your comments. I actually have room for about 80 or so more, but I don't buy too many new ones anymore...hopefully I'll get a few years out of it before thinking about an addition!

Before I decided to build one, I was looking around online, pricing something comparable. I found a couple that would hold 600 and were made of oak...but they were about $400! I ended up doing this one for about $60 in lumber and another $20 or so in incidentals. I didn't have a table saw to do all the dados though, but used my neighbor's, so that cost me about another $20 in beer.

Now I have the itch (the same one you guys have probably had for years now)...my next thing is going to be some picture frames. I have a few odd-sized things I've been wanting framed for years (an old railroad map, some old concert posters, etc) but those custom places want a fortune. I have a miter saw, so I think I'm ready to go. Been reading on a few sites about frames, so I'm gonna start one next weekend.

[badger]

Thats cheap, for something that will probably out last you!

Unlike the book shelves they bought in for our temp. offices at work ~150 each (x100), the sides bow out and the little plastic support lugs pull out/break, the shelves are inch thick laminated chipboard and at least one broken foot has been reported already....

[Larry Bud]

One of the hottest setups is to put all your music in MP3 format on your computer, and serve it up using something like the Roku Soundbridge

attach one of these to each receiver in your house and you have ALL of your music at your fingertips.

Plus, it allows me to box up the CD and store them out of sight.

[Guess who]

I DO have all my music in MP3 format, most of it from my old LPs and

45s. There's almost 10Gb on a separate Hard Drive in the computer ...and only one transmitter, no receiver necessary except the radio downstairs, in the garage, in the workshop, a portable in the patio, my neighbours .....

Also, another hint: A DVD holds 4.5Gb.

I'll stick to the $30Can transmitter, the size of my little finger. I can also power it with two AAAs and use it for the car. Attached to the computer it powers from the USB.

Anyhow, I'm done with this, since it is definitely now OT. Thanks for the info. My reference was for those who want their choice of background music in the shop by just tuning their shop radio to that frequency, and that doesn't matter if the shop is out in the yard and the sound source in the house.

[Jason Kensett]

Looks great. I am currently in the planning stage of a similar cabinet, but for DVD's. Would be intrested in the plans for this one or more photos, how was it mounted etc.

Jason

[Rod & Betty Jo]

If you want to save a buck or two on long cables, standard coaxial (reg cable wire) with RCA adapters(TV/Amp/VCR type) or mini adapters (computer sound card port) works just fine. I do prefer the RG6 cable. I run 50 ft from my PC to my TV/Pioneer amp for both Sound and Video. For just sound (no video) I ran another coaxial cable(with RCA adapters) as a digital line between my PC (Motherboard has a digital port) and the Amp. Incidentally short Coaxial with RCA adapters works just fine for digital lines between DVD's and AMP's (much cheaper than official "digital lines") ....Its only slightly daunting wire wise running a ATI All-in-wonder card in my PC with two VCR's all hooked 50 ft to my AMP. VCR, DVD and TV not to forget more wires for the PC network and my 4 port KVM switch.....Rod