ERMB's D-I-Y Rack System Build

Very tempting...

 

Dremel has its place, but those cutting wheels are sketch.

Any tool that relies on super high RPM because it has 0 torque is going to be the same way. I only use a Dremel for soft metal cutting and sanding.

 

I picked up a Pencil Die grinder for projects that are above my dremels abilitys.

 

Someone mentioned a Harbor Freight angle grinder and cut off wheels earlier, I think.

They work great. The discs don't last long, but they're super cheap and come in a pack of 10 or something. No problems using either of those items for several years.

If you drop a cutting wheel, throw it away, regardless of brand. Also, don't set the tool down blade first - they don't have a lot of lateral strength and a damaged wheel spinning at high RPM is a potentially life threatening injury in the making.

 

Back to Home Depot for supplies! Goal tonight is to measure out and get the mounts / u brackets installed.

 

Haha I was just there, oddly enough what I was looking for was found with the superstrut. I didn't know they used u-bolts with it but they are the perfect size!

 

They are. I'm pumped about this project. Looking good so far

 

Can't wait to see how this all comes together for you! I'll be at my daughters gymnastics practice waiting on the results

 

Hmmm, maybe another thread "1001 uses for Superstrut and it's accesories"

 

Rough draft for front mounts.
So far:
2x 1 inch spacers stacked in top of each other for each hole.
6mx70mm bolt through each.
Washer, lock nut
Looks and feels decent. Things I need to change, I need a 80-100mm bolt. Need more grab. And I'm wary about stacking 2 spacers like this. It looks and feels fine. Just sketchy to me.
Thoughts?

 

Edit post:
After crossing front to back and side to side I will need about a 3 inch spacer. Didn't account for the distance under the weather strip. I will be going with a cut pipe st 3" for a spacer

 

@Patch92 how tall are the spacers in the back? height off the roof for the rack?

 

I had them at 2" from the base inside the weather strip. Which was only about 1" above the roof edge by the mount. The roof curves up slightly, so 1" isn't enough. I'm going to cut pipe to 3, mount the rack and see how much clearance I have. Then cut down the spacer respectively.
But I'm looking for a 6m bolt long enough and that's giving me problems.

 

Well no hardware store near me has m6 bolts long enough to run through the spacer. So I might shorten the spacer and make the "L" bracket a lot taller. Just need to find one that's more sturdy.

 

Ho long do you need it to be?

 

Well the spacer I have now is 3". I plan to mount it all, and cut it down depending how much clearance I have on the roof.
But there are plenty of 3" 6m bolts at the stores around me. But the thread only goes up 1 inch. So if I shorten the spacer, the bolt won't be able to tighten any more... I could just add washers under the head of the bolt, but I'm trying to keep this clean. Lol.
I like the idea of a longer "L" bracket anyway. It will look better IMO.
Sorry for all the long winded and somewhat pointless updates. I'm just trying to keep people updated in case they are trying to do the same thing.

 

If you own a tap and die set you could run the threads all the way up the bolt to what you need.

 

Would 2.5 work instead of 3? Or is the spacer going to be somewhere in the middle.

 

That's what I am trying now. 2.5" from bottom to hole where the rack will sit on. It looks very close. But I also got some washer I'll throw under the "L" bracket if I need a few more mm clearance.