DIY:12U Rack

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Introduction

In May of 2018 I built a 14U wooden rack frame, while working fine it was a very rudimentary build with no flair, heck not even rails (equipment was fastened directly to the wood).

In the beginning of 2020 as nothing more than wishful thinking, I began designing a rack cabinet in SketchUp. Beginning as a 24U cabinet (2 revisions), shifting to a 20U cabinet (3 revisions), then 12U cabinet (3 revisions), then dual 12U desk (2 revisions) and finally settling back on 12U rack cabinet (4 more revisions). Based on the EIA/ECA-310-E specification, I started with the Z-Series rails from Star Case and included all the features I wanted in a cabinet.

Parts List

Glass

• LEXAN 11" x 14" x 0.093" Clear Polycarbonate Sheet-GE-34    GE-34
  8.98  —  Home Depot (Purchased: 2021/01/04)

Lumber

• 1" x 4" x 39" Common Board Bed Slat    1001749849
  2.39  —  Home Depot (Purchased: 2020/12/31)   |   3

• 2" x 4" x 92-5/8" Prime Whitewood Stud    569062
  4.98  —  Home Depot (Purchased: 2020/12/14)   |   6

• Endesa Sandeply Plywood 1/2" x 4' x 8' (12mm)    454532
  35.95  —  Home Depot (Purchased: 2020/12/28)

• Kelleher 3/8" x 48" Round Dowel    IM6406U-40
  0.98  —  Home Depot (Purchased: 2021/01/01)

Hardware

• Everbilt 5/16" x 2" Stainless Steel Hex Lag Screw, 5 pc.    812680
  7.56  —  Home Depot (Purchased: 2020/12/31)   |   2

• Everbilt Surface Mount Soft Close Hinge, 2 pc.    9289518
  11.48  —  Home Depot (Purchased: 2021/01/04)

• Kreg 2-1/2" Coarse Zinc-Plated Steel Square-Head Pocket Screw, 50 pc.    SML-C250-50
  5.97  —  Home Depot (Purchased: 2020/11/09)   |   2

• SPAX 5/16" x 3" POWERLAG Hex Drive Washer Head Lag Screw    4571820800757
  0.87  —  Home Depot (Purchased: 2020/12/31)   |   4

• Teks #8 x 1" Philips Truss-Head Lath Screw, Zinc-Plated, 170 pc.    21508
  7.57  —  Home Depot (Purchased: 2020/12/26)

• TITAN Industrial 2" Polyurethane Swivel Caster w/ Brake    4126599LN
  6.98  —  Lowe's (Purchased: 2020/12/31)   |   4

Rack Hardware & Accessories

• 2U Blank Rack Mount Spacer, Slotted Venting    00406023
  17.95  —  Navepoint (Purchased: 2020/12/31)

• Rackstuds Series II, Purple, 3.2mm, 20 pc.    B07W7BWRX3
  17.00  —  Amazon (Purchased: 2020/12/26)   |   2

• Star Case 12U Steel Rails, Z-Series, 2 pc.    Z12U
  35.90  —  Amazon (Purchased: 2020/11/13)   |   2

Spray Finish

• Deft Aerosol Interior Clear Wood Finish Brushing Lacquer, Satin    01713
  5.98  —  Home Depot (Purchased: 2020/12/22)   |   2

Build Pictures

I attempted to document the process as best as I could. The frame was made from the 2x4s once they were transformed into 1.5x3s, the bottom mini-frame is supported by oak 2x1s that I cut from a piece of oak (1x5) in my scrap bin. I then wrapped the frame in 1/2" sanded plywood, using hardwood dowels to secure the rear frame (making it removable).