Review of storage boxes for vinyl records, instructions for making them yourself

Vinyl records are at the peak of popularity today.
These once forgotten carriers of songs are now in unprecedented demand. Naturally, the collected collection needs to be stored somewhere. Drawers will be an original, stylish and spacious place to store vinyl records.

Read the article about what they can be, how to use them correctly and how to make them yourself.

Why and what is the box needed for?

Record boxes are used for the following purposes:

1. Aesthetic appeal, the opportunity to decorate the interior with an unusual decorative item.
2. Convenient collection storage. The records will always be collected in one place.
3. Protection from external factors: moisture, sunlight, high temperature.
4. Protection against deformation.

Vinyl records are not just music records, but also a valuable item for a pleasant pastime.
Collectors enjoy looking at their “wealth” and showing it off to friends and relatives. To ensure that the appearance of vinyl brings aesthetic satisfaction, it is stored in stylish boxes. In addition, to extend the life of records, they need to be properly cared for. The fragile material does not tolerate exposure to moisture and direct sunlight . Elevated temperatures can lead to their deformation; putting them in a box helps protect them from environmental factors.

Vinyl connoisseurs do not recommend storing records in stacks. Most often they have different thicknesses, which can lead to their damage. Envelopes can be placed vertically in the box.

IKEA for the audiophile

Sometimes, even in happier times, it is very interesting to find something for audiophile use, but in other, completely non-audiophile areas. And what’s even more interesting - at completely non-audiophile prices...

There have been stories online for several years about making hardware racks from Lakk coffee tables. It would seem a strange idea, but the idea is quite working. A lot of examples can be found on the website ikeahackers.net, and on various audiophile forums - you just have to set a goal. Once upon a time, I had to temporarily live for six months with such a rack; at that moment, another restructuring of the system was taking place and the exact number, nature and weight of the components were not yet known, so I did not want to spend money on a serious rack. In addition, research interest prompted experiments.

And what can I say, the homemade stand turned out to be such that, in terms of the nature and level of vibration isolation, it could compete with many not even the cheapest specialized models. All you need is a few tables, glue, long screws and a simple set of tools. And to this add a set of four cone legs, for example Inakustik.

If you want to improve the design for installing a vinyl record player, no question, another table top, another set of cones, and you get an additional untied top shelf. One table will cost 450 rubles. A set of cones costs about 2000-3000 rubles. Four disk stands for studs - another 400-800 rubles, if you are not looking for something special. The manufacturing process is not complicated, plus you can adjust the height of the shelves - the legs of the tables are hollow, with chipboard “corks” glued into them at the top and bottom.

So, just saw off the leg to the desired size, carefully knock out the cork from the excess trim and glue it into the shortened leg. If you wish, you can experiment with filling the legs (just not with something heavy) or filling them with polyurethane foam. In other words, you can assemble everything in one or two days, spending a very modest amount by audiophile standards.

You can also experiment with the design; again, on the Internet you can find a lot of photographs of what audiophiles from different countries assemble from these tables. This rack looks good, it can support three or four components weighing 15 kg each, and maybe it can handle more. You select the height of the shelves according to your taste and color (there is a choice of starting tables). And adding a shelf is not difficult - one more table, four screws and time to work. But the most interesting thing is not the price, and not the flexibility of the process, but the fact that lightweight tables perfectly dissipate vibrations and dampen resonances, and the design as a whole is so successful in terms of sound properties that it will be possible to find analogues for it with a multiple increase in the budget.

Racks for CDs and especially for vinyl records are a separate topic, but almost all of my friends who have large and regularly replenished record libraries use Ikea shelving and racks for storage. And it’s not even a matter of price, but simply of convenience and expandability.

But let's return to vibration isolation. Many companies produce stands and plates for equipment, and such structures can cost quite a bit. The designs are different, the mechanisms of operation are different, but the goals are approximately the same. And here an interesting option can be found in the kitchen utensils section. The Aptitlig cutting board is made of bamboo cuts glued together, measures 45x28 cm and costs 400 rubles. The dimensions are a little smaller than we would like, but not all components need to be mounted on supports at the very edges of the case. We install the component itself on three cones, then on the board, and under the board there are three more cones with the tip up. Just for stability, we unfold the “triangle” of cones in different directions. The costs are modest, and the results are very worthy. I have seen such designs in several audiophile systems, in systems with very expensive components. Why spend more if the design works? This is the summary I heard from the owners.

And the last example is more of a topic for thought. Cable stands. The topic is very controversial, but still not without meaning. Such things are often expensive, but some craftsmen, after experimenting with expensive specimens, found a simple and elegant solution - stands for chopsticks (though, it seems, they are not sold at Ikea). 20 pieces of wooden coasters can cost 700 rubles. 10 pieces of ceramic - 300-400 rubles. And this is just one example, but in general, if you understand what’s what, you can find a lot of options at very attractive prices.

Kinds

Most often, boxes for vinyl records are made of wood. They look very authentic and fit well into any interior, regardless of its focus.

When choosing a box, you need to take into account the scale of the collection . For 20-25 records, a single box is suitable, and for 80-100 it is better to purchase a rack with several compartments.

Boxes can be closed or open, with side walls made of slats or cast plates. There are mobile boxes with and without wheels, with handles of different shapes and sizes.

The wood from which the boxes are made is an environmentally friendly material. Therefore, they can be placed in any room and anywhere in the house.

You can rarely find metal containers on sale . They are less practical due to their heavy weight. In addition, metal containers will not fit into every interior. Therefore, coasters are often made from it.

Top 3

The most popular boxes for vinyl records:

Alive Audio Nature 38x52x15 cm

The product is made of wood, the model is available in 4 colors:

• black,
• white,
• blue,
• woody.

The box looks very stylish and will fit well into any interior. There are no compartments for records; they are installed leaning on each other. Price - 3000 rubles.

RECORD PRO Wood GK-R41A

The product has dimensions that are optimal for vinyl records . It will take pride of place in the interior. There is an image of the record on the side, so it is impossible to confuse it with other storage containers. Price – 4000 rubles.

Stand RECORD PRO (wood)

The wooden stand looks very much like a box, has two sides and a bottom. The V-shaped design will fit perfectly into any interior. The stand can store up to 25 albums at a time. Price – 3000 rubles.

Vinyl furniture: modern turntable equipment

With a record player, the living room becomes colorful, bright and full of music.

Visitors to the Design Museum resource will most likely agree that vinyl periodically returns to fashion. It is most often loved by people who value excellent sound quality.

Moreover, sound equipment can bring a unique style to the room. Make a sound room or install special furniture in which there will be space. You can also do everything yourself. The comeback of vinyl has never looked so good!

Want to learn how to integrate a new console into an existing room? Just place it in a wall unit unless you want it to become the center of attention. The unit's four flip-out storage drawers from Blake Tovin can hold up to 640 records and still have room for CDs and DVDs.

This cabinet is designed to store a large number of albums

As the description of Symbol's flagship audio line, the Modern Record Console, says, “it pays homage to all the hi-fi consoles of the 1950s that have come back into fashion” (according to the description on the device’s web page)

This gorgeous console is designed to be the focal point of any room.

If you can't find exactly what you're looking for, you'll need to install individual components, or if you want something truly unique like this unit, you can hire a carpenter/craftsman to design a beautiful turntable stand.

This device fits harmoniously into the stylish interior of the room

Of course, you can also go to a vintage store and find a true vintage turntable, but it may need a new stylus and the wiring will need to be checked, but the technology hasn't changed much so you'll still get great sound decades later.

Vintage items are more affordable

The Symbol stereo console is free, modern, and ideal for a small player that won't take up much space.

Stereo console in white: fits fewer records here, but leaves plenty of space for other purposes

If you're looking for an inexpensive cabinet, Etsy (seller Paperish Mess Made) offers a simple, space-saving solution.

Hand-built console with internal stash

This beautiful and interesting model is designed and manufactured by Cush Design Studio in Red Hook, Brooklyn. It can be made to your specifications or sold as one piece with your audio equipment.

Wooden stand with shelves can be moved as needed

Are you saying you want something low profile literally? Hugh Miller Furniture crafted this beautiful installation from wood and included a vintage 1985 Bang & Olufson record player.

Elegant minimalist design

You can always set up a small listening station in the corner to create a “music corner” that is separate from the rest of the room.

Use digital headphones to enjoy recordings

How to use it correctly?

Features of using a record box:

1. The container should be installed away from sunlight. If this is not possible, then the records should be protected from direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation by choosing a box with a lid.
2. Envelopes are placed vertically in the box to avoid deformation of the material.
3. The box must be kept clean.
4. The records should stand freely in the boxes. You can't force them in.
5. It is unacceptable to place the box next to a heating source.
6. Any breakdowns must be repaired immediately after they are discovered.

How to do it yourself?

To make your own box for vinyl records, you will need the following materials and tools:

• board, which can be found at a hardware store;
• screws;
• wood glue;
• drill;
• saw and drills;
• sandpaper;
• ruler;
• roulette;
• wooden clamps.

If desired, the box can be equipped with wheels. When all the tools are ready, the main work begins.

Procedure:

1. Blanks are cut from the board. They are made taking into account that the standard envelope size is 32 cm. It is simply not possible to place them in a box with smaller dimensions.
2. All bars are processed with a grinding machine, removing chips and roughness.
3. Prepare the bottom by connecting the bars with screws and glue. While they dry, they are fixed with clamps for reliability.
4. Assemble the side elements.
5. Connect the sides to the base, fixing them with glue and screws.
6. The wheels are installed on self-tapping screws.
7. Cover the product with varnish or paint.

Vinyl record boxes from the store often arrive disassembled. The manufacturer includes a set of screws, a screwdriver and assembly instructions in the packaging.

Making an oak stand for vinyl records with your own hands - in the video:

Types of shelves in IKEA

Depending on the design objectives, mounting methods and general design concept, you can choose different shelf options.

Wall-mounted with console

You can buy a separate console and a separate shelf, combining different series and creating a design to suit your taste.

Mounting options