DIY Stands-Standanddeliver? i Stood, hope i delivered

[magma]

hello all

heres my attempt at some stands for bookshelf speakers.

When i audition various speakers i also do make it a point to see what kinds of stands are availble on display
For the most part either the stands are nothing great and dont impress me or the ones i like are just too expensive.

I have seen 2 kinds of stands
One that are made by local fellows.these are simple.largely two plates of steel sandwiching a steel column.
the joints are welded and the stand is painted
I am generally quoted about 4k and upwards for these.
Suffice to say the workmanship is poor to fair .
i would not pay 4k for these.

the others ive seen are branded like warfedale NAs etc
these are budget stands . Most of the time have 3-4mm thick metal top plate and a 14 gauge cloumn.these are held with nut bolt
mostly these are MS powdercaoted.
warfedakle uses 12mm glass top and bottom plates.
generally these cost 5.5k to 10k
After seeing these i was sure i can build something better for that amount of money

Its not that im trying to save, it only that being a design engg i was sure i can trump these stands for the same amount.

so inspired by dinyaar and gobble(i think hes done the glass rack na?) i got around to some building.

this may turn out more expensive than budget stands i thought ( knowing my hopefully meticulous attitude) but since i was gonna fave fun doing it i went ahead.

 

[magma]

i had seen standand deliver.com
these stands were the same as ones described above except some had 3-4 columns instead of 1.
this helped in inreasing mass ofthe stand.

i thought of copying a design but none intersted me , also i had them checked.
they are built with only 12-14 gauge(2-3mm) Mild Steel
i can do better than thought i thought, designwise and materieal wise

i was going to custom make each part now.
crap.

i considered various materials and i settled with granite and Stainless Steel grade 304
i choose granite cause i could get a 19mm thick heavy slab and also i found the speaker sounding solid on it.
metal was tangy and wood was muddy

i have just started consruction so i willupdate the thread as i go along my journey

 

[magma]

Step1.
i had to keepin mind my speaker size for the top plate,.
the size i decided should be 1 inch smaller that the speaker bas dimensions so that the base gets almost invisible when looking directly at the speaker from my listening position.

the bottom plate was larger than the top by about 2 incheson either side.

16mm holes were drilled as you can see in the pictue.
instead of writing too much i hope the pictures do the talking.

5 holes in the bottom plate
4 for the spikes and 1 for central column.

 

[magma]

Now custom collars had to be designed and made for the spikes since threads in granite wont last long.
the collar can be seen inthe pic
the collar has a groove for stell balls and the granite slab rests on the balls rather than the flat face of the collar.
why this is done well - that explanation is another story.
maybe i just had bugs in my bum.
the collar was internally threaded 3/8 inch

custom spikes were prepared.
19mm OD with the same threads

 

[magma]

Lastly some SS caps were prepared to close the tops and also to add that cool factor
Closing the tops was important as this help the collar in place tightly making sure the balls are in contact correctly.

the bottom plates are now ready.

The top plates still require some more work
A 10 mm granite skirting will be added to the plates you see and them some antislip silicone feet.

Stay tuned for the Custom central coloumn.
i will aslo be making some customgaskets andwisers from differnt materials like delrin and silicone according to the application

PLease do provide your inputs and correct me .

 

[magma]

the finished bottomplate
top view and inverted
P.S in the 2nd pic the smaller granite plate(top plate) on the inverted plate is just stacked there and kept for storage.

 

[anm]

great!!! :clapping:
I like the reason for DIY - and I have same reasons compelling me to go for DIY, but pressed hard on time front.

 

[square_wave]

Great WORK man ! I like your approach. Granite is quite good for the plates.

I had mine custom made by someone I know. 12 mm bottom plate and 10mm top plate (steel).
Two sand fill-able square columns (3.5 inch x 3.5inch) instead of one to hold up the top plate. I do not like circular columns. They do not go with the box design of speakers.
All matte black painted at MRF coat. Similar adjustable spikes as yours.
He still has not given me the bill
It is always good to make your own stands. Good quality control.

 

[musicmypassion]

This is an awesome work... how much did you spent for a pair of standers..??

 

[keith_correa]

Wunderbar! :clapping:

Can't wait to see the rest.

 

[magma]

This is an awesome work... how much did you spent for a pair of standers..??

stands are hardly complete.
still lots of work left
hence no calcualtion of cost

@Square wave
thanks for your encouragement sir
2 colums with 10mm thick MS plates! woah. can you even lift those things!
you are correct on the Aesthetic aspect.

 

[keith_correa]

How about some damping between the feet and the slabs?

 

[thevortex]

Lovely, painstaking work and meticulous attention to detail. All the best for your continued effort, magma!

 

[gobble]

Really cool work on the collars and spikes. How did you make them?

Cheers

 

[prasen_b]

I would also like to know about the collars and the spikes. If you are thinking of using sand filling the center columns try out the white sand used by glass walas for sand etching (it is dried as well as very fine). I got a bag (40 Kg) for around Rs.100.

 

[magma]

How about some damping between the feet and the slabs?

thats happening between the column and the bottom plate.
damping just below the spikes was not giving rigidity and stability

Lovely, painstaking work and meticulous attention to detail. All the best for your continued effort, magma!

thanks vortex for the encouragement

Really cool work on the collars and spikes. How did you make them?

Cheers

hey gobble thanks for the inspiration.
well i designed the collar on the lines of something we use at the factory for isolation too.
spikes were simple to make yaar.
solid steel 1 piece from the lathe machine

if youre interested i will try and make some for them through one of my vendors.
you can send me the design or use mine

 

[magma]

I would also like to know about the collars and the spikes. If you are thinking of using sand filling the center columns try out the white sand used by glass walas for sand etching (it is dried as well as very fine). I got a bag (40 Kg) for around Rs.100.

ooo

i didnt think that was so cheap.
i should ask my glass guys
thanks for the help.much appreciated

i have already arranged for steel pellets which i plan to fill 1/3rd
for sand i was gonna steal some from chowpatty!:licklips:

i didnt know you could get sand for this purpose
where did you get it from(are you in mumbai?)

 

[gobble]

ooo
I have already arranged for steel pellets which i plan to fill 1/3rd
for sand i was gonna steal some from chowpatty!:licklips:

i didnt know you could get sand for this purpose
where did you get it from(are you in mumbai?)

Correct me if i am wrong - Steel pellets for filler will not dampen the sound waves .. they might resonate ... and the sound might have a metallic quality.

I've heard a sewer pipe effect from plain iron stands not filled with sand.

Regards

 

[keith_correa]

ooo

i didnt think that was so cheap.
i should ask my glass guys
thanks for the help.much appreciated

i have already arranged for steel pellets which i plan to fill 1/3rd
for sand i was gonna steal some from chowpatty!:licklips:

i didnt know you could get sand for this purpose
where did you get it from(are you in mumbai?)

Stealing Chowpatty sand is always a good idea :lol: Just make sure you wash it well in Dettol laced water and dry it really well before you use it. Better get started soon because according to the met. dept. the monsoon will hit Mumbai in 4 days so what with this heat that we have here - drying sand will be a matter of hours now.

 

[keith_correa]

thats happening between the column and the bottom plate.
damping just below the spikes was not giving rigidity and stability

Actually I meant damping between the granite base and the collar - with some rubber bushing - maybe.