CD storage solutions

[SonicMan46]

Hunting around in an effort to find reasonable quality, reasonably priced CD storage solutions to prevent my precious collection from ruination at the hands of my even-more-precious daughter once she's mobile,................

Mark - LOL -  - yes, once those 'rug rat's' (my brother's term) become active - BEWARE!  Our son started crawling in the mid-70s (he's in his mid-30s now & walking quite well -  ) - back then, of course, I had a bunch of LPs, and every night that I came home from my radiology residency, I would find my LPs out of their jackets w/ the edges chewed!  Well, they still played w/ pops & clicks - not sure that CDs would survive the same treatment - so whatever your choice, beware that crawling & chewing babies are a detriment to your CD collection!   

[Renfield]

You know you can rip all the conventional stereo to hard drive.  Also if you transfer the rest of the cds from jewelcases to the archival sleeves you can cut your storage needs by 4/5ths.

I just noticed this thread, and simply wanted to reiterate the above quote from the first post. This is exactly what I do, and it works wonders! (And I do keep the jewelcases stashed wherever I can fit them: no need to easily access them, though.)

One thing to note, however, is that I don't transfer CDs out of box sets, unless they are simply a bunch of ordinary jewelcases with a fancy cover; likewise for "specially-packaged" CDs, like Paul Lewis' Harmonia Mundi Beethoven cycle.

[Anne]

Mark,  Another thing you might want to plan your defence against little Hazel is her access to the TV buttons or the remote.  We found that by raising the height of the television for several years, removed a lot of frustration on our part.  As other parents will tell you, toddlers LOVE to stand directly in front of the TV.

[Solitary Wanderer]

toddlers LOVE to stand directly in front of the TV.

...and bang their sticky hands on the screen

[Anne]

...and bang their sticky hands on the screen

The voice of experience! 

[Mark]

Thanks, Anne.

Ours is an old CRT TV, with an unused VHS player in the front of it. Quite frankly, I'm more worried about Hazel sticking Jelly Tots in the PVR than I am about her coating the face of the local newsreader in jam.

[Lethevich]

While looking for something on the Ikea site, I ran into this lockable CD rack:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/30123231

It looks sort of unbalanced on its long legs, but if it's fixed to the wall, that should not be as much of a problem.

[johnQpublic]

While looking for something on the Ikea site, I ran into this lockable CD rack:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/30123231

but if it's fixed to the wall, 

It must be fixed to the wall according to what it says on the link's page.

[Lethevich]

It must be fixed to the wall according to what it says on the link's page.

Indeedie - given how tall, shallow and heavy all of Ikea's CD racks are, it is important to use the wall fastenings that they come with, but even more so with the strange one on stilts

[SonicMan46]

Well, a fun thread that probably needs to be revived - I'm sure that we have 'old & new' members wondering 'what' to do about CD (or DVD) storage!

I'm an amateur woodworker, and make a lot of my own storage units - these are typically small projects that I adapt to spaces in my den and/or computer room - well, as expected, I've runned out of 'den storage' for my classical collection, so moving my 'new age & world music CDs' into the computer room - just finished the storage unit shown below.

This will be a 'wall hanging' unit w/ 4 shelves - will accommodate about 168 CDs (not accounting putting some on top or attaching a clear plastic unit to the bottom, which I often make w/ acrylic or polycarbonate plastic), so will likely be enough room for 250 or so standard CDs.

Construction is 1/2" solid oak case frame put together w/ 'box joints' (made w/ a jig + router); shelves are 1/4" solid oak w/ stopped dadoes on the insides; back is oak veneer 1/4" plywood; 1/2" oak trim on the front so that the shelves are set back for easy access to the CDs; finish is simple - amber shellac first to add a little color + brushed on mixture of poly & naphtha; will attach to the wall w/ a couple of screws into a stud.

Yes, you can buy these storage units in various sizes, but the joy is to know 'what space' you have free, and then to build a unit that fits perfectly into that space and looks good! 

   

[Appy34]

Very nice!

[johnQpublic]

Hey SonicMan...I'm ready for you to build me some whenever you are! 

[George]

Hey SonicMan...I'm ready for you to build me some whenever you are! 

+ 1

[marvinbrown]

+ 1

+2 count me in!  Nice craftsmanship SonicMan  .

  marvin

[SonicMan46]

Thanks, guys! 

I love red oak, esp. when finished naturally - now, for all of those orders, I'd have to setup a production line!  Despite the modest size of that case (and having a lot of experience - and making no major mistakes this time!), still put in about 10 hrs or so putting that project together! 

If you like that one, below is one I put together late last year - this one w/ some doors - same 'box joint' carcass construction but made from mahogany - used dowels for the shelves - similar finish; currently holding my 'jazz swing music' & 'women blues singers' - but it is in the den, and may in the near future be exchanged for some classical CDs!  Dave 

 

[johnQpublic]

10 hours, times minimum wage is doable with my budget. I'm placing my order now! Do you take American Express? 

[SonicMan46]

10 hours, times minimum wage is doable with my budget. I'm placing my order now! Do you take American Express? 

Hello JohnQ - LOL!    Guess I'll have to setup a PayPal account or something similar? 

But, I think that I'll keep my 'paying job' as a radiologist - interestingly, I'm on a woodworking forum (Woodnet.net - I'm Giradman there w/ the same avatar), and occasional topics involve getting paid for woodworking projects - not an easy calculation, esp. since WW skills are so variable, and the products produced so different in their quality & beauty.

But, just for that fairly simple (but rather attractive) CD storage unit, the wood alone was $60 - then, add in 10 hrs. of labor @ $6-7 minimum wage (but should it be more?) - would one be willing to pay $150 for such a work - now that's less that $1 per CD storage - not bad - but not a great way to make a living unless you're really good! 

For those who may be interested in really fine woodworking, just a few stimulating sites: John Fry - Chisel & Bit Gallery (John is a member of the forum I frequent, and an outstanding professional woodworker - you can imagine 'what' he charges); and Segmented Bowl Turning - I've looked at these offerings locally and the ones I enjoy are like $800+ just for the smaller versions - beautiful stuff! 

[George]

I have enough space for two Bennos. Together, they will hold 360 CDs.

I believe that some of you have converted this Billy (Width: 15 3/4" Depth: 11" Height: 79 1/2 ")into a CD shelving unit. Could you please tell me how many CDs it holds? This unit will also fit, but the depth is not optimum for me. I was thinking that if the Billy held a lot more, it might be better for me. 

[jlaurson]

I have enough space for two Bennos. Together, they will hold 360 CDs.

I believe that some of you have converted this Billy (Width: 15 3/4" Depth: 11" Height: 79 1/2 ")into a CD shelving unit. Could you please tell me how many CDs it holds? This unit will also fit, but the depth is not optimum for me. I was thinking that if the Billy held a lot more, it might be better for me. 

I got five Bennos and two Billys as emergency shelving when I got stranded in Munich.

In theory one Billy could hold about 400 CDs because the "inner" walls of two Bennos would be saved.

In practice the Billy is too deep for convenient CD storage and even if you bought enough extra shelves (which you would need to), you would not be able to put them in easily to maximize the space for CD storage. You'd end up with extra expenses, extra work, and still less storage space than two Bennos would provide. If custom furniture is no option (even a simple carpenter's job would not look worse than an Ikea shelf), then it sounds like the Benno should be your choice.

[George]

I got five Bennos and two Billys as emergency shelving when I got stranded in Munich.

In theory one Billy could hold about 400 CDs because the "inner" walls of two Bennos would be saved.

Great! Thanks!

In practice the Billy is too deep for convenient CD storage and even if you bought enough extra shelves (which you would need to), you would not be able to put them in easily to maximize the space for CD storage.

This is what I figured.

You'd end up with extra expenses, extra work, and still less storage space than two Bennos would provide.

Less space? I thought that the Billy holds 400 Cds, while two Bennos hold 360 total. Actually, I plan to get the white surface and in white the Benno is $40 x 2 = $80, while the Billy is only $35 plus $10 for the two extra shelves. So the Billy would be $35 cheaper. Like I said above though, my space is really cramped and the extra depth of the Billy would not be desirable.

If custom furniture is no option (even a simple carpenter's job would not look worse than an Ikea shelf), then it sounds like the Benno should be your choice.

I think that since the Billy is deeper, I'll go with the Benno, especially since the Billy only holds 40 more CDs.