I'm setting up some equipment in my attic and could use some advice. I'm clearing out some old Motorola radio repeater gear, so there's a nice little shelf between the studs that might work. However, I'd prefer to actually rack the equipment instead of just stacking it on a shelf. The issue is that the gap between the studs is 22-3/8 inches, and filling that gap with wood seems labor-intensive since I'd need to mill something to fit. Is there a way to buy vertical rack rails designed to fit this kind of space, something that can be screwed into the wood to create a functional rack out of the existing vertical studs? It's too tight to install a standard open frame rack or any typical wall mount.
5 Answers
Have you thought about using something like an Ikea LACK table? It could serve as a base, though I know it’s not traditional rack mounting.
Sounds like you just need to shim the gap a bit. A couple of 2x4s should give you enough support. Just get them cut to size at the store—almost all lumber departments will do that for free with one cut. I honestly don’t get why you’d want to go through all the trouble of milling.
You really don’t need to mill anything. Just measure the gap and take that to a big home improvement store with a lumber section. They can rip a piece for you to the exact width you need. We’ve done this several times just because it's easier than using our own tools at home.
You might want to check out something like the Jingchengmei Steel Rails on Amazon. They could fit the bill, but make sure to check the measurements because they might end up being slightly wide, depending on your exact needs.
Thanks for the tip! That does seem close, but the studs are 22-3/8" wide, so it might still be too wide for standard 19" equipment. Might need to do more searching.
You should look into options like the Square Hole Punched Mounting Rails or the Mounting Rack Rails from Hammond Manufacturing. They have a bunch of different products in their rails section, and you can find something that will fit the gap you've got. Just search terms like "server rack mounting rails" to discover more options.
Yeah, just make sure whatever you choose can actually fit the equipment you plan to use.