Builing Cases/Racks for office equipments

[Donald E]

Hey! I am Donald from Toronto. Me and my brother are starting a Software Development firm in November. I am looking for for some help. I need racks/cases for keeping various components. Is it better to get a custom made case or should I get something which is already made for certain components? We are going to have future upgradations. Will it be better if I get the cases and rack's done by a custom metal parts provider in Toronto, something like Bayview Metals? I will be mainly placing networking components. Please put up your suggestions below.

 

[giantbucket]

how much gear are you actually going to have? if it's just a few items for now, consider used racks on kijiji or some local business liquidation, or musical equipment racks / half-racks / portable rack cases.

if you're just starting a business, i wouldn't spend a penny on a rack. just stack the stuff on the floor or a box until you're turning a profit. or put it on a nice looking shelf, or even just hang it on the wall cables up/down (instead of front/back), like a picture. it'll be out of the way and cost you $5 to do.

 

[jsmithepa]

I don't know why you would need custom casing. Network stuff are pretty standard and everybody use the 19" rack and lots of equipment fit within that width. Smaller pieces you have mount 19" "trays" and place your smaller pieces there. The nicer ones would have mounts or included power strips, but if it doesn't, is easy enough to mount your own.

 

[g-unit1111]

how much gear are you actually going to have? if it's just a few items for now, consider used racks on kijiji or some local business liquidation, or musical equipment racks / half-racks / portable rack cases.

if you're just starting a business, i wouldn't spend a penny on a rack. just stack the stuff on the floor or a box until you're turning a profit. or put it on a nice looking shelf, or even just hang it on the wall cables up/down (instead of front/back), like a picture. it'll be out of the way and cost you $5 to do.

From an accounting standpoint, I agree 100% here. Any money you spend on equipment during business startup, all the profit you make is going to go back into overhead maintenance and you'll only be paying to maintain the equipment without making a profit. Once you start making money, which won't be for at least a year after startup, maybe a year after product launch - then you can buy the fancy equipment.

 

[jsmithepa]

Any money you spend on equipment during business startup, all the profit you make is going to go back into overhead maintenance

Not if you have one of those "new economy" companies. You sell the investors on the "potential" of future returns, and them thinking they are getting on the ground floor are willing to pump money onto your venture even without immediate profit.

 

[DeadlyDays]

Check out craigslight or some other website that shows people selling things locally. If you are in a major city you can usually find used equipment that people take from work when their companies are offloading them for one reason or another.

You could technically buy a powerdrills, some lumber and screws, and a chopsaw and a measuring tape and just build boxes for them to slide into and stack on. As long as it doesn't cover the bottom/top completely(so it doesn't insulate too much heat) and you don't block intake/outtake) you should be 100% fine doing it that way much much much cheaper than custom fabrication or even buying standard shelving. A lot of people actually have these powertools, carpentry is way cheaper and easier to "do-it-yourself". The wood will only insulate what it touches so you just have it hold the edges with maybe a single piece across the center for additional support, and then stack them up.

I'd get standard shelving ordered online, custom fabrication is really going to be way overpriced for what you want. Networking equipment will come in standard sizes from any reputable company, which is what I hope you are ordering from. So get a rack that fits their equipment, like cisco.

 

[giantbucket]

mount it flat against a wall like this:

 

[Donald E]

All these answer's makes sense! Being a start up, it would be better if we are careful about our investments! Thanks for your suggestions people!