saadasound Posted November 22, 2019 Report Share Posted November 22, 2019 I’m building a follow cart and was looking around for Rackman aluminum drawers with no luck. Forgive my ignorance, but are they still making stuff? If so, where can I purchase them? Thanks so much, Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted November 22, 2019 Report Share Posted November 22, 2019 It was Richard Lightstone and I that convinced Rackman company to produce aluminum drawers --- prior to them agreeing to build their drawers out of aluminum the only source I had was Star Case. Lots of us bought Rackman drawers but I don't think that's what drove them out of business. As far as I know, Rackman company no longer exists and we're back to having to rely on Star Case for aluminum drawers. LINK for Star Case Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trey LaCroix Posted November 22, 2019 Report Share Posted November 22, 2019 They aren’t around anymore. I tracked the owner down and he told be they closed the business. Real shame. They made the best drawers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Stalder Posted November 22, 2019 Report Share Posted November 22, 2019 Just out of interest, what sizes (ru) are people typically buying? Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted November 22, 2019 Report Share Posted November 22, 2019 For my Follow Cart I used mostly 3 RU drawers and one 4 RU. On my main cart (several version, older one pictured here) I used a 2 RU for my stuff on my side and a 3 RU one on the backside of the cart (for easy access by my crew). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Wynne Posted November 23, 2019 Report Share Posted November 23, 2019 5 hours ago, Trey LaCroix said: They aren’t around anymore. I tracked the owner down and he told be they closed the business. Real shame. They made the best drawers. Agreed, I was fortunate to build both my carts about four years back with their drawers before they closed up shop. What is everyone else buying these days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth john Posted November 23, 2019 Report Share Posted November 23, 2019 https://www.pennelcomonline.com/us/Penn-Elcom-3U-Aluminium-Rack-Drawer-Black-387mm--1525-Deep-R2294/m-9493.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajcinema Posted December 8, 2023 Report Share Posted December 8, 2023 Resurrecting an old thread- Can anyone compare the Star Case Drawers vs the Penn Elcom Drawers? The Star drawers seem to be inconsistent / have cheap latches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted December 8, 2023 Report Share Posted December 8, 2023 Until they went out of business, several of us relied on Rackman because they were the only one doing aluminum. The Star Case stuff eventually was done in aluminum but you are right that it was inconsistent and not very well made. I looked into the Penn Elcom drawers but when I first looked into those they did not have aluminum - -- that was a deal breaker for me as I was always striving for lighter weight stuff. That's what drove me to be one of the first to experiment with LiFe batteries for cart power (easily a 10th of the weight of the very common sealed lead acid batteries). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajcinema Posted December 8, 2023 Report Share Posted December 8, 2023 Thanks for the feedback, Jeff. I think I'm likely going to order some Penn Elcoms and return the Stars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted December 8, 2023 Report Share Posted December 8, 2023 Plenty of choices for 19” drawers out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted December 8, 2023 Report Share Posted December 8, 2023 7 hours ago, RadoStefanov said: Plenty of choices for 19” drawers out there. Actually, when I last checked there are very few choices for the style of drawer we're talking about in aluminum. I do know that people have used various other sorts of drawers, tool chest container types, plastic, etc., but for standard type drawer in aluminum, very few companies to choose from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OB1 Posted December 8, 2023 Report Share Posted December 8, 2023 8 hours ago, RadoStefanov said: Plenty of choices for 19” drawers out there. Brands and points of purchase? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek H Posted December 8, 2023 Report Share Posted December 8, 2023 I think Penn Elcom is the choice for aluminum drawers these days. Or Star case but they make some weird design choices if you ask me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted December 8, 2023 Report Share Posted December 8, 2023 4 hours ago, Jeff Wexler said: Actually, when I last checked there are very few choices for the style of drawer we're talking about in aluminum. I do know that people have used various other sorts of drawers, tool chest container types, plastic, etc., but for standard type drawer in aluminum, very few companies to choose from. Does it have to be aluminum? 3 hours ago, OB1 said: Brands and points of purchase? AC Infinity Rack Mount Drawer 4U with Aluminum Faceplate, with Lock and Key, for 19” Equipment Server AV DJ Cabinets Racks https://a.co/d/bbBmBpc Light cheap with lock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Karlsson Posted December 8, 2023 Report Share Posted December 8, 2023 3 hours ago, RadoStefanov said: Does it have to be aluminum? The difference in weight is quite significant. Especially when you have a follow cart with 4-5 rack mount drawers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted December 10, 2023 Report Share Posted December 10, 2023 On 12/8/2023 at 2:23 PM, Johnny Karlsson said: The difference in weight is quite significant. Especially when you have a follow cart with 4-5 rack mount drawers. I just borrowed a PSC Eurocart Aluminum drawer and honestly it is very heavy. The aluminum plate that is made from is very thick. The steel drawers seam a lot lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Karlsson Posted December 10, 2023 Report Share Posted December 10, 2023 15 hours ago, RadoStefanov said: I just borrowed a PSC Eurocart Aluminum drawer and honestly it is very heavy. The aluminum plate that is made from is very thick. The steel drawers seam a lot lighter. Weird. Normally a 2U aluminum drawer would be half the weight of steel…. Like 7 pounds vs 14 pounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted December 11, 2023 Report Share Posted December 11, 2023 On 12/9/2023 at 9:13 PM, RadoStefanov said: I just borrowed a PSC Eurocart Aluminum drawer and honestly it is very heavy. The aluminum plate that is made from is very thick. The steel drawers seam a lot lighter. Something is not right here --- I cannot imagine an aluminum drawer being heavier than an all steel drawer. Oh, well, I think we've given the poster some choices and the answer to whether it has to be aluminum or not is a personal one. For me, the difference, particularly in a follow cart as Johnny K. has said, was night and day. I would never have wanted 4 or 5 steel drawers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted December 11, 2023 Report Share Posted December 11, 2023 EuroCart aluminum shelf measures at 9.4 pounds and it is smaller than 19” A similar size but bigger 19’ is 7.3 https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1197114-REG/grundorf_152476_compact_rack_drawer_for.html/specs?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&lsft=BI%3A6879&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAg9urBhB_EiwAgw88maK42VAP33iKbQjT1vmMi895ZuWNmLwjx4Idpeh630Sgyx2GONVTfRoC4qoQAvD_BwE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Documentary Sound Guy Posted December 11, 2023 Report Share Posted December 11, 2023 7 lbs for a shelf!?!??! That's 35lbs in bare metal alone. That's nuts, no wonder aluminum makes a difference. I can't speak for the EuroCart shelves, but they must be made out of at least 1/4" gauge on all sides to be that heavy. 9lbs of Aluminum is a lot of aluminum ... or something isn't right with the specs. I don't have a horse in this race, but has anybody looked into manufacturers of airline carts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solowiej Posted December 11, 2023 Report Share Posted December 11, 2023 I have a sheet metal brake and shear to build my own aluminum drawers and shelves. It's really the choice of drawer slider mechanism that adds weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tajcinema Posted December 11, 2023 Report Share Posted December 11, 2023 Specs from the sites: (I haven't verified the weights, but PE does appear to be significantly heavier unless that's a shipping weight): Starcase: 2U - 7 lbs Interior: 16.1 x 14.25 x 2.75 4U- 9 lbs Interior: 16.1 x 14.25 x 6.25 Penn Elcom 2U- 9lbs Interior: 14.02 x 16.02 x 2.91 4U- 11.2lbs Interior: 14.02 x 16.02 x 6.42 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted December 11, 2023 Report Share Posted December 11, 2023 2 hours ago, The Documentary Sound Guy said: 7 lbs for a shelf!?!??! That's 35lbs in bare metal alone. That's nuts, no wonder aluminum makes a difference. I can't speak for the EuroCart shelves, but they must be made out of at least 1/4" gauge on all sides to be that heavy. 9lbs of Aluminum is a lot of aluminum ... or something isn't right with the specs. I don't have a horse in this race, but has anybody looked into manufacturers of airline carts? Sorry not a shelf. A drawer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted December 11, 2023 Report Share Posted December 11, 2023 I am experimenting with sign materials. It’s a sandwich of plastic with aluminum sheet panel inside. Very light. but yes drawer hardware is very heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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