Bob Marts Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Rackman will be making 2RU, 3RU and 4RU aluminum drawers --- they have already built quite a few for all the new customers I promised them when I was prodding them to make an aluminum drawer. They will also be making an aluminum sliding shelf for mixers, etc., and I have already talked to them about thinking about a latch system so the shelf can lock in several positions. As for the weight, the aluminum drawers, a 3RU, is a little under 6 lbs., and a Mid-Atlantic style steel drawer is around 17lbs. Jeff, Any idea of the total weight of your cart and drawers at this stage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted July 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Jeff, Any idea of the total weight of your cart and drawers at this stage? I will try and weigh it but it won't be easy --- I will get back to you if I have success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted July 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 ...looking at your picture I see you have pinned the shelf bracket. Could you tell me exactly how you pinned it for stability? There did not seem to be much to pin to at the connecting end of the bracket. Thanks, Bob This is actually quite difficult to explain. Maybe I can take a close detail picture (worth a thousand words, right?) how I pinned or locked the brackets. Basically I drilled 2 holes horizontally across the U-shaped track and this hole goes through the upper and lower "tabs" of the shelf bracket while it is fitted into the track slots. Then a bolt is placed through with a nut on the other end. This sort of works but has not really locked the bracket as firmly as I would like. I have to say, if I had it to do over again I would NOT use the FastTrack track or even the shelf brackets. I would find a way to attach the shelves directly to the nylon cart (since I added aluminum channel anyway to the nylon struts to support the track). I would use the plastic pegboard tiles again even though I had to cut them all up and mount them in aluminum framing I had to fabricate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Buncher Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 This is actually quite difficult to explain. Maybe I can take a close detail picture (worth a thousand words, right?) how I pinned or locked the brackets. Basically I drilled 2 holes horizontally across the U-shaped track and this hole goes through the upper and lower "tabs" of the shelf bracket while it is fitted into the track slots. Then a bolt is placed through with a nut on the other end. This sort of works but has not really locked the bracket as firmly as I would like. I have to say, if I had it to do over again I would NOT use the FastTrack track or even the shelf brackets. I would find a way to attach the shelves directly to the nylon cart (since I added aluminum channel anyway to the nylon struts to support the track). I would use the plastic pegboard tiles again even though I had to cut them all up and mount them in aluminum framing I had to fabricate. Thanks Jeff for the explanation and the caution on the FastTrack. A couple years ago I was using an older cart built on a heavy steel hand truck that is actually just a small plywood box with shelves that attaches to the truck frame with hose clamps. It was not as ugly as it sounds but was heavy and only held an SD442 and an HD-P2 with extra space for a few small things. I need something that will serve as a bag cart plus carry more equipment. Thanks again Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted July 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Here is the complete lineup of the carts: Main Cart, Mini-Mobile Cart and the new Follow Cart. I think they look pretty good. They would look a whole lot better on the job instead of in the alley behind my house. In time, in time... I'm ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izen Ears Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 I love what a tinkerer you are. These carts are very nice! I bet it was fun to make em. I also have a smaller "bag-on-the-cart" cart (my first PSC cart actually) for smaller gigs. I find it surprising that after all the sound carts you've made you're still going with the small caster front wheels. Don't those trip you up sometimes? After so many terrible sidewalks and streets I went big and put a pair of 16" wheelbarrow wheels in back and some 10" tubeless smart wheels in the front and I'm so glad I did. However this cart (which is named "Beefcake") is much too heavy to go over more than a single step though... Dan Izen Here is the complete lineup of the carts: Main Cart, Mini-Mobile Cart and the new Follow Cart. I think they look pretty good. They would look a whole lot better on the job instead of in the alley behind my house. In time, in time... I'm ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 I am envious of your follow cart. I love mine, but yours has the WOW factor for sure. Really nice work. Here is the complete lineup of the carts: Main Cart, Mini-Mobile Cart and the new Follow Cart. I think they look pretty good. They would look a whole lot better on the job instead of in the alley behind my house. In time, in time... I'm ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Toline Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Here is the complete lineup of the carts: Main Cart, Mini-Mobile Cart and the new Follow Cart. I think they look pretty good. They would look a whole lot better on the job instead of in the alley behind my house. In time, in time... I'm ready. Nice but needs color to make it pop. Powder coating in Fire engine Red, School Bus Yellow, Money Green, Electric Blue, etc? Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Very nice line up of carts Jeff. I hope you get to use them soon. I'm looking to build a small cart with the hopes that it will attract larger jobs. My sound jobs, so far, are still out of a bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McL Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Ok. Yeah. It's kinda silly, but this brought tears to my eyes. Just a little bit. -- Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted July 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Nice but needs color to make it pop. Powder coating in Fire engine Red, School Bus Yellow, Money Green, Electric Blue, etc? Eric I know those are YOUR colors, Eric, but you know me, my color scheme throughout my life has been basically black and white, occasionally venturing out with a shade of gray here and there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Visser Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Don't forget the ever popular Zune Brown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Let's face it, Jeff, if you don't get another gig soon, you'll need a warehouse just to shelter what is becoming an entire fleet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old school Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 If he doesn't get a film soon I'm going to hire him to build me a new follow cart ;~) CrewC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Toline Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 If he doesn't get a film soon I'm going to hire him to build me a new follow cart ;~) CrewC Is your signature line "So beautiful or so what" a reference to the new Paul Simon album? Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old school Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 Yes it is Eric. I love that album and I couldn't think of anything at the time we moved over here to the new site. CrewC Is your signature line "So beautiful or so what" a reference to the new Paul Simon album? Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Toline Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 I know those are YOUR colors, Eric, but you know me, my color scheme throughout my life has been basically black and white, occasionally venturing out with a shade of gray here and there. Bah! Comeon you're an Aries break out of the past. Get your carts pimped out. Might even get you a new gig. Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zack Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 Powder coating in Fire engine Red BINGO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomboom Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 Mmmm. being a kid of the 70's, I'd go with... huh... METAL FLAKE !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason A Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Hey Jeff- Your follow cart pics have inspired me to try building my own as well. Was wondering if you could tell me where you lined up the aluminum tubing for the build. I've found some large distributers on line, but I'm guessing I couldn't get a small order from them. Also, looks like this is a no weld build. Is that correct? Do you mind giving any hints on the most effective way to connect the joints? Seriously nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Wexler Posted July 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Hey Jeff- Your follow cart pics have inspired me to try building my own as well. Was wondering if you could tell me where you lined up the aluminum tubing for the build. I've found some large distributers on line, but I'm guessing I couldn't get a small order from them. Also, looks like this is a no weld build. Is that correct? Do you mind giving any hints on the most effective way to connect the joints? Seriously nice work! Yes, it is a no-weld construction which is a good thing and a bad thing. The good is that I could do all the work myself, the bad is that it probably is not as rugged or as rigid as it would be if I had it welded. After completing the basic frame I did add to cross-braces (gussets) that made it a lot more rigid and stable. The material I used is again from 80/20 from what they call their HT Series. It is 1.5" x 1.5" tubing which turns out to be a little larger than what was really needed. It comes either with holes pre-drilled for ease of construction or without holes (so I had to drill it all myself). The pieces are joined with "Inserts" that are pre-drilled and tapped. Raw aluminum that I needed for various other bits on the cart was purchased from Industrial Metal Supply in Sun Valley (San Fernando Road). The advantage to the 80/20 over raw aluminum is that 80/20 will make the major cut to length pieces you need and they are anodized. Being anodized, of course, made the prospect of having to weld the cart after all, not such a good idea (would require that I re-anodize or powder coat the whole thing). Fortunately, this did not happen, so I had a cart that was already anodized when it was finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason A Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Yes, it is a no-weld construction which is a good thing and a bad thing. The good is that I could do all the work myself, the bad is that it probably is not as rugged or as rigid as it would be if I had it welded. After completing the basic frame I did add to cross-braces (gussets) that made it a lot more rigid and stable. The material I used is again from 80/20 from what they call their HT Series. It is 1.5" x 1.5" tubing which turns out to be a little larger than what was really needed. It comes either with holes pre-drilled for ease of construction or without holes (so I had to drill it all myself). The pieces are joined with "Inserts" that are pre-drilled and tapped. Raw aluminum that I needed for various other bits on the cart was purchased from Industrial Metal Supply in Sun Valley (San Fernando Road). The advantage to the 80/20 over raw aluminum is that 80/20 will make the major cut to length pieces you need and they are anodized. Being anodized, of course, made the prospect of having to weld the cart after all, not such a good idea (would require that I re-anodize or powder coat the whole thing). Fortunately, this did not happen, so I had a cart that was already anodized when it was finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason A Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 Perfect Jeff! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 I'm a big fan of powdercoating now--not expensive and can make even a crappy cart look really good. My present mixer cart was REALLY a mess after decades of abuse, neglect, bad paint jobs, worse stripping jobs--the powder coating made it look badass, if I do say so myself. My only regret is that I went for stealthy flat black instead of deep blue or metallic green. There were midget race car frames coming out of the oven in those colors when I picked my cart up, and I had instant buyer's remorse..... phil p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zack Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 I loved how my ugly flat grey abused PSC cart transformed into a sexy red hot rod of a cart. Who said sound dept can't look good eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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