Posted to Instructables by garyguitar
Step 1:What you need
- 15 CDs
- 1 5mm threaded rob (usually sold in 1m lengths)
- 8 5mm hex nuts
- 5 5mm lock nuts
- 100 5mm rivet washers (usually sold in packets of 100)
- 1 20mm dowel stick
- Permanent marker
Step 2:Make a template
Take one CD and mark a dot on either side of the centre hole, midway between the centre hole and the edge of the CD. Make sure one dot is about 1cm above the other one (take a look at the image to see how to mark it out).
With a 5mm drill-bit, drill two holes where you've put the marks. This is the template for the rest CDs.
Step 3:Drill out the CDs
Take a stack of about three CDs at a time and, using the template, carefully drill out the holes. Make sure to set the drill on the slowest setting and drill very slowly.
Step 4:Cut threaded rod
Once you have drilled all the holes, cut the threaded rod into two 25cm long pieces with a hacksaw. File the ends of the pieces smooth with a file or some rough sandpaper.
Step 5:Assemble the rack
Now assemble the rack. Put the rods through once CD and put a hex nut on the one end. Now put 7 washers on each rod and then another CD. Every 5 CDs you can put a hex nut on and tighten the whole lot up, but be careful not to crack the CDs, like I did, twice. A hex nut is as wide as 2 washers, so you only need to put 5 washers and a hex nut on for every fifth CD.
Once you have put all the CDs on, tighten it all up so that there is no play in the CDs or threaded rod.
Step 6:Give it legs
Now cut two 7cm and two 6cm pieces of dowel. Drill a 5mm hole 1cm from the top of each. These are the legs of the rack. You can paint them if you like.
Now attach the longer legs to the rods higher above the centre hole, using lock nuts. Do the same with the shorter legs. Now just make sure the whole thing stands straight and tighten the lock nuts.
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Manu O. says:
wow...i gotta try this at home...finally my ruin and old cds has a use.
Ken O. says:
In the interest of not using up hundreds of washers, why not use plastic bottle caps - the kind that seem to also be on every wax carton of milk or juice? (what a waste!)
Manu O. says:
using of plastic bottle caps as alternative for washers is such a great idea. we are making our CD rack more earth friendly.
Durzo B. says:
awsome i just stole ur idea... hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...i used it for an man arts assignment...hheheheheh