[brandonnash]

I needed some new speaker stands. My kids/dogs have had their way with my old ones (omnimount 30"). They had knocked them over several times as they are not that heavy weight and didn't have that much of a platform on the bottom to stand on. My speakers are not that heavy (Athena bookshelves that weigh about 15 lbs each) but they are still too top heavy as a whole when added to the stands.


So I started looking around at speaker stands at big box stores and they were minimum ~$50 for anything that said it would hold that much. Even those looked pretty flimsy. SO I decided to build my own. I wanted something very sturdy, a little taller, has a wider and more importantly longer foot. I needed something I could build with the limited tools I have since I didn't want to invade my in-laws garage for a couple hours with this. Most important was I wanted to see how cheaply I could do all this.


Alright, first here are the tools of the trade.


First the circle saw. This is an old one, but the only one I have. Still works great.

Here's my power sander

Wood Glue

My temp sawhorse

 

[brandonnash]

Here's the wood and the cuts.

First cuts done

Here's the cuts for the feet

And the final cuts for the head of the stands

 

[brandonnash]

Assembled with no finish

Finished product.

So here's the rundown of the stands.


Trip to Lowe's included:


2-2x4x96 @ $1.75 each.

1-.75x12x48 particle board @ $2.68 on sale

Wood glue @ Free (leftover from last sub build)

Semigloss black paint @ Free (leftover from last sub build)

Screws @ Free (also leftover)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total cost with tax $6.75 for the pair with wood left over.


This took me about 1.5-2 hours of actual work including the painting. This doesn't include time for the glue and paint to dry.


These are not the best looking and probably not the most functional stands that I could've built, but for less money or more time I didn't want anything better. These should hold up for quite some time and do what I need them to do. Anyone else looking for stands I highly recommend you make your own.

 

[CZ Eddie]

Sand in a compartment at the base works well to prevent tip-overs. Weighs things down very well.

 

[brandonnash]

I'm not nearly afraid of a tip-over with these. 12" wide base with 18" length on the base. These will sit between a tv and walls on each side. If they fall side to side he land on either the wall or the tv and just stay in it's place. The problem I've had is tipping it over front or backwards. That's why I made the base longer. It had passed through my head to make a compartment in the middle of the stand for sand but I decided against it. I was working with little time and I didn't want to be out in the hot sun all day either.


My old stands were just horrible. I actually got them at a discount store unassembled and missing the spikes for $5 each. One of my speakers is broken (chips out of the enclosure and a busted woofer) and I had to make a run to the ER when my 4 year old caught the edge of one on top of his head a few months back because of my old stands. Luckily all he needed was some liquid stitches, but it could've been a lot worse if he would've caught the corner or it had landed anywhere else on his head.

 

[tvrgeek]

Is there anyone out there who has not done almost exactly this?

I have used sheet rock screws for spikes in deep carpet to make them stable. Adjustable for off-flat floors. (providing you can't hurt the subfloor)


Right now I am using a pair of Vietnamese ceramic elephants. Not cheap, but fits the decor.

 

[brandonnash]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tvrgeek /forum/post/16889803


Is there anyone out there who has not done almost exactly this?

I have used sheet rock screws for spikes in deep carpet to make them stable. Adjustable for off-flat floors. (providing you can't hurt the subfloor)


Right now I am using a pair of Vietnamese ceramic elephants. Not cheap, but fits the decor.

I'm not sure if there is anyone who hasn't done exactly this. I saw some diy stands, but they were completed pics. I haven't seen anyone lay out a cheap cost for something like this. If you've made some I'd love to see them and the ceramic elephants. I've never seen anyone balance a speaker on an elephant before so that'd be interesting.


I had to use the sheetrock screws on the previous stands I had. I actually found that the stands were more sturdy without the screws. Plus everytime they got knocked hard it would pull a hole in the carpet.

 

[mjg100]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tvrgeek /forum/post/16889803


Is there anyone out there who has not done almost exactly this?

I have used sheet rock screws for spikes in deep carpet to make them stable. Adjustable for off-flat floors. (providing you can't hurt the subfloor)

Right now I am using a pair of Vietnamese ceramic elephants. Not cheap, but fits the decor.

I did something similar. I purchased a couple of marble stands. They are hollow wood boxes veneered with marble. Taller stand is 12" x 12" x 30" high. I cut a square opening in the bottom and filled with 50 pounds of sand. I cut a piece of plywood (plug for opening) that is about two inches larger than the opening in the bottom of the stand. Place a screw in the center of the plug as a handle. Angle plywood plug through opening and pull back against bottom of pedestal. Screw through pedestal into plug at all four sides and then remove middle screw that was used as a handle. Turn pedestal back upright and place where you want it. This makes for a very heavy and secure stand.

[/IMG]

 

[vili]

Looks good amigo

 

[Starkiller4299]

Hey thanks for the idea. I just made a couple of these babies for my recession busters. They came out pretty good, although I had a slight hint of inspiration--I used Plasti-dip on the top and bottom to give them a good, non-slip surface.

 

[brandonnash]

On the feet of the stands I have not had a problem with them slipping and sliding, but I have put some non slip rubber kitchen pads under the speaker to keep the wood on wood from sliding around. I think I may go out and try to find some industrial strength velcro to keep them attached.

 

[mjg100]



Quote:
Originally Posted by brandonnash /forum/post/16933735


On the feet of the stands I have not had a problem with them slipping and sliding, but I have put some non slip rubber kitchen pads under the speaker to keep the wood on wood from sliding around. I think I may go out and try to find some industrial strength velcro to keep them attached.

I think velcro is a good route to take. Walmart sells it in a small sheet that you can cut up. I bought some to put on the bottom of my speakers, but I did not use it. The stand is so heavy and sturdy that I decided that I could get by with out using it. I also did not really want to stick it to the Burled Walnut.

 

[penngray]



Quote:
I also did not really want to stick it to the Burled Walnut.

Love that veneer!!


I just picked up some from Ebay because of your picture

Im going to my waveguide baffles with it.


You have to explain how you finished it, please!

 

[bodmas79]

Great idea man. I'm going to build four soon. thx for the idea again.
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