Could this be made in NZ cheaper?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Could this be made in NZ cheaper?

networkn

Networkn
32863 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#303901 18-Mar-2023 21:56

https://addictedtoaudio.co.nz/products/topping-sr2-aluminum-rack

I'd be OK if the quality was slightly lower, but I'd like it to look as well finished. Does anyone know someone who I could approach to make something similar?

1 | 2 | 3

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#3051697 18-Mar-2023 22:07

For $399?

No way, no how.

gzt

18682 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7821

Lifetime subscriber

#3051702 18-Mar-2023 22:30

Reminds me last time I bought a Zalman case - giant block of aluminium with a power supply built in.

Ge0rge

2114 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2060

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3051704 18-Mar-2023 22:39

If you had the tooling at home already, you could hunt around and find good deals on scrap metal, off-cuts etc, and probably put it together for less. Could you approach someone to do it for you? Not unless they know you know where they hid the body.

Handle9

11924 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9675

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3051725 19-Mar-2023 08:05

It could be made cheaper in NZ. How many container loads are you ordering?

networkn

Networkn
32863 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3051726 19-Mar-2023 08:20

So, would anyone have a ballpark figure on what the materials themselves would cost?

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
9333 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6202

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3051732 19-Mar-2023 09:14

I don’t understand your fixation on this - $400 for class piece of kit like this seems more than reasonable to me.

If you want a cheaper version, would you be happy for it to be made of timber and plywood?

The materials - presumably aluminum sheet and polished tube - might be, dunno, $100? Probably more if you’re buying small, one-off quantities. Then it’s the cutting, machining, finishing and assembly that’s very specialised - time consuming and thus expensive. As others have said, no way it could be done by a charging third party as a one-off for less than $400.

https://www.google.com/search?as_q=&as_epq=TOPPING+SR2+Aluminum+Rack&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&lr=&cr=&as_qdr=all&as_sitesearch=&as_occt=any&safe=images&as_filetype=&tbs=

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-sr2-aluminum-rack.37166/

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

mike

307 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 20

Trusted

#3051738 19-Mar-2023 09:44

Wow! Over $100 per tiny 20cm shelf - that’s an incredibly expensive unit. I get what you mean.

Ge0rge

2114 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2060

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3051739 19-Mar-2023 09:46

networkn: So, would anyone have a ballpark figure on what the materials themselves would cost?

Altus sell ali plate offcuts - choose the grade and thickness you want. They are really good to deal with.

Edit - just realised they dont have prices shown - its approx scrap metal cost plus a little bit extra - certainly not eyewatering.

I'm unsure how the uprights are done, or what size has been used. I'm guessing it's solid, and they have threaded each section together with the shelf secured I between. These guys sell offcuts of bar, when they have it in stock.

Otherwise for bar, you could just buy new and you're starting to see why it costs what it does.

Eva888

2762 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2426

Lifetime subscriber

#3051814 19-Mar-2023 12:08

What about glass shelves. Surely it’s not that difficult to find smooth steel or chrome piping cut to size and add capping and rubber buffers to each shelf for the glass to sit on. I had something similar many years ago made of glass and chrome.

Rust

110 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 105

ID Verified

#3051817 19-Mar-2023 12:09

Ge0rge:
networkn: So, would anyone have a ballpark figure on what the materials themselves would cost?

Altus sell ali plate offcuts - choose the grade and thickness you want. They are really good to deal with.

Edit - just realised they dont have prices shown - its approx scrap metal cost plus a little bit extra - certainly not eyewatering.

I'm unsure how the uprights are done, or what size has been used. I'm guessing it's solid, and they have threaded each section together with the shelf secured I between. These guys sell offcuts of bar, when they have it in stock.

Otherwise for bar, you could just buy new and you're starting to see why it costs what it does.

Last time I purchased aluminum from Altus (about a year ago) their offcuts were approximately $27 per kg. I think they give the weight of each offcut on the website.

There is at least one seller on Trademe offering cut lengths of aluminum round bar, but a quick back-of-the-envelope check says they want $39.50 per kg.

Eva888

2762 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2426

Lifetime subscriber

#3051820 19-Mar-2023 12:12

Something like this and you just don’t build it up that high https://www.ebay.com/itm/Modern-AV-Cabinet-with-Tempered-Glass-Shelves-for-Entertainment-Stereo-Component/224602086064?pageci=f2779240-fe50-4339-ab23-9e85eeea3aec&redirect=mobile

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

rb99

3505 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1830

Lifetime subscriber

#3051822 19-Mar-2023 12:16

Don't Topping do amps for less than that price ?

There's stuff here -

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/topping-sr2-aluminum-rack.37166/

and / or -

https://www.aliexpress.com/i/1005001854123950.html

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

networkn

Networkn
32863 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3051833 19-Mar-2023 13:31

eracode:

I don’t understand your fixation on this - $400 for class piece of kit like this seems more than reasonable to me.

If you want a cheaper version, would you be happy for it to be made of timber and plywood?

It's hardly a 'fixation'. It's a tiny rack, and good for you if it presents value but to me $400 for something that size seems pretty spendy. I was simply *asking* if it could be made for cheaper. Plenty of items are charged at a premium just 'cause'. I am certainly no stranger to paying a premium for quality products.

Wondering if I got the cheaper version and then found a way to blacken the perspex, or got a replacement black perspex, it would create much the same look. Though it depends if it's the reinforced glass that is very expensive.

Cheaper Version

Mehrts

1112 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 984

Trusted

#3051869 19-Mar-2023 15:08

A couple of years back I had a three tier glass tv stand/shelf thing (see pic below, but with black legs) that I wanted to adjust the height of the middle shelf.

I went to Ulrich Aluminium and found 2.5m of aluminium tube (half a standard length) with the correct inner and outer diameters to match the plastic bumpers that sandwiched the glass. For memory it was only around $30 for the tube and a bit of time cutting it into shorter lengths and then spray bombed them all black. Looked identical to the original setup, just with the middle shelf now at a better height.

Glass Shelves TV Stand for TVs up to 55" - Silver/Black, image 1 of 5 slides

Stu

Hammered
8742 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2407

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3052077 19-Mar-2023 16:24

You'd definately be able to find something cheaper that would look fine. You asked if something could be *made* in NZ, and look "as well finished", but be cheaper. Having something manufactured to your requirements that won't fall apart and looks nice will take someone time, and will have a cost to reflect that time (and their skill, use of equipment, etc).

I think importing from AE (as in your link above) would be the most cost-effective option. Spray painting the underside of clear acrylic black might give you the look you're after.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

1 | 2 | 3