Suggestions to add some flair to my project ? - ready to assemble!

[Finnian Dawson]

Hi Guys,

I have roughly stacked up my hifi rack to see how it looks, and to be honest I think it looks a bit plain and could do with something to help give that wow factor.
I will dowel it together, and add a second coat of danish oil.


Any suggestions on what I could do 256479
to make this look a bit "jazzier"?

[Dave Zellers]

Don't change a thing. That's a simple form and anything you add to it to try and 'jazz it up' will only detract from it IMO.

It's beautiful as it is.

Maybe, AT THE MOST, you could put some detail into the posts, like a bead on the corners that would continue through the 3 levels.

[Michael Wildt]

I must say you've done a great job on executing on this project. Nice to see it come together.

Agree, it needs something. One idea is a darken the post so you get some contrast. You could easily take the picture to a photo editor and play around with the look before you commit to the final addition.

edit
Removed my previous idea of a inlay line since I felt it could make it look like cutting board.

[Matt Day]

I agree with changing the colors of the posts, only if you really want to add more visual interest. Something like a dark walnut I think would look good.

[Sam Murdoch]

Add your equipment before you mess with it. Get the big picture and you might just see that your have done it just right!

[Jeff Monson]

Maybe ebonize the posts and continue them through the top, doesnt have to be much, just create the appearance of a through tenon.

[Harry Hagan]

Add your equipment before you mess with it. Get the big picture and you might just see that your have done it just right!

Ditto on that!

[johnny means]

I don't know how you assembled your rack, but if you could rotate the uprights 45°, it would make the piece less square and create a "shaplier" feel.

[Danny Thompson]

Chamfer the top edges, perhaps?

[phil harold]

Hide the end grain

[Pat Barry]

I wouldn't necessarily change it just yet. I agree with loading it up and then evaluating. I think hiding the cords will be much more important though. Please post a pic with the equipment in. Thanks

[Carl Beckett]

Load it up with equipment.

Use it.

Worry about spiffing it up on the design of next project. So... on with the next project!

[Finnian Dawson]

Hide the end grain

I am thinking this too..

So : 1. hiding the end grain, but how? Was thinking of some sort of veneer, but what about that top edge of veneer that would be left exposed?
2. Use ebony colored oil to dye to supports (All my hifi equipment is balck) (Jeff, Not sure i'd go the extra step to bring through to the top for the tenon affect)
3. Pat, will soon get a photo up with the equipment in, travelling at the moment.
4. Johhny, when I get back home I will re-orient that supports to see how it looks (nothing is dowel'd yet)

Thanks for input guys - I'm thinking strongly if using ebony color on the supports, and somehow hiding the end grain??

[Sam Murdoch]

If all your equipment is black and you make your posts black it could end up looking like your components are holding up the shelves that is why I and other have suggested that you load up before you redesign.

If you just must add more detail (or less) I would consider adding some half round moldings to the posts. These could be 1" 1/2 rounds or smaller - 1 or 2 rows - and these could be stained for a nice contrast - black or - have fun go with a red, or silver, or blue or even crazier. Color can be good. I don't mind the end grain in this case. You can hide it but we will all know it's there :).

[Finnian Dawson]

If all your equipment is black and you make your posts black it could end up looking like your components are holding up the shelves that is why I and other have suggested that you load up before you redesign.

If you just must add more detail (or less) I would consider adding some half round moldings to the posts. These could be 1" 1/2 rounds or smaller - 1 or 2 rows - and these could be stained for a nice contrast - black or - have fun go with a red, or silver, or blue or even crazier. Color can be good. I don't mind the end grain in this case. You can hide it but we will all know it's there :).

Good one Sam! "the endgrain can hide, but cannot run" ... oh dear ....

So what do you mean by adding round moldings to the posts? Would you have an example to hand?

[Sam Murdoch]

Something like this - though of course, these are not to scale with your work. An applied molding of any sort could be nice but you need to keep the simplicity and weight of the system in mind.

256517

[phil harold]

I am thinking this too..
So : 1. hiding the end grain, but how? Was thinking of some sort of veneer, but what about that top edge of veneer that would be left exposed?


Something like this An applied molding of any sort could be nice but you need to keep the simplicity and weight of the system in mind.


The veneer can by 3/4" thick a 1/4" wider than the thickness of the shelves, mitre the corners
and apply a molding of contrasting color, wood, or metal trim as Sam points out, if you like

technical note
grain is running the wrong direction for strength and visual appeal
all the glue joints may soften from the heat from the stereo components and sag
will it fall apart? probably not...

[Sam Murdoch]

Here is another way to simply detail a thick edge that I favor:

256541

I would only do this on the horizontal pieces and I would not center the kerf. Color in the kerf is an option. If you clear finish your parts one coat or two then do the kerf it is muss free to finish the kerf with paint as you can wipe off where you paint outside the lines pretty easily.

[Finnian Dawson]

Here is another way to simply detail a thick edge that I favor:

256541

I would only do this on the horizontal pieces and I would not center the kerf. Color in the kerf is an option. If you clear finish your parts one coat or two then do the kerf it is muss free to finish the kerf with paint as you can wipe off where you paint outside the lines pretty easily.

Thanks for suggestions- i think i will dye the supports ebony, and also put a red trim on them by routing a strip as per sam and painting it red. Will any type of paint do or would i be better use a red looking wood dye such as rosewood? Also, to match the trim on the supports with the shelves, will do almost exactly as Sam suggested by using the router to create a kerf- but wouldn't it look nicer positioned 50% of shelf thickness rather than offset to one side?

[Finnian Dawson]

Hey Guys,

Just re-visiting this again, (been very busy at work lately!) I've since picked up some oak moulding as below

257316

I assume that the way to apply this is by mitering the corners of it and gluing it to the 4 edges of each shelf?
The one problem is that there is a slight round-over on the shelves at the moment, and along with the round-over on the moulding, it may not look that great.