My Do-It-Yourself IKEA Pedalboard Build Thread

[IggyT]

Hey guys ,
here is is..
shellac sealer and nitro lacquer finish
iggy

[mrmorrison]

::heads to his local IKEA:: What a great idea!

[AngryEL34s]

Beauty work Armchair! Love the orange!

I should have looked a little harder at DIY options before I bought my Pedaltrain. I built a DIY out of some pine I had kicking around a while back, but it was a massive, two-tier board that I no longer need since I've downsized.

Depending on how some experimenting goes, I might downsize again, and if I do, I'm definitely going to hunt down some IKEA Gorm!

[Unadan]

I dunno the pedaltrains are pretty awesome and relatively inexpensive. This ikea thingie is about the same size as a pedaltrain jr.

[i like guitars]

the pedaltrain is about $100 bucks, you can build one of these for probably less than $10. plus its super fun to build your own stuff.

[nic'o'caster]

Oh boy, I love this thread ! I find reassuring to see that even in our consumption crap society there are still people who craft their own things they need.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I've added a few more pedal's, a OneSpot power supply and secured 2 powerstrips along the front board. Will post some more pics soon. Again, thanks Armchair for the inspiration!

[Unadan]

Careful with the one spot if you ever power a Malekko pedal - it voids the warranty.

[cqmurphy]

recently finished my IKEA Gorm pedalboard and have used it at a few gigs. it's been great! BUT... getting it around has not been easy.

so... has anyone come up with a good transportation solution either DIY or store-bought?

[harvdog]

Originally Posted by cqmurphy

recently finished my IKEA Gorm pedalboard and have used it at a few gigs. it's been great! BUT... getting it around has not been easy.

so... has anyone come up with a good transportation solution either DIY or store-bought?

This is one of the problems I'm having as well. Currently, I am using a canvas bag that my board barely fits in...it doesn't even fully zip closed.

[JNE]

Originally Posted by Armchair Bronco

Yeah! I'm done....

Nice work! I really dig the simplicity of the construction and the way how you hid all the cables, the transformers etc. I should have checked out this and couple of other threads here before I redesigned mine

[i like guitars]

here is my take on the gorm



i cut it down to size so i could fit it in a case.

[Verne Bunsen]

Wow, that thing is CLEAN, looks great!

[Stringbender.dk]

I have one thing to say..... Cooooool!!!! :-)

When I saw you would paint it orange I thought "oh no..." But it turned out pretty cool. Thumps up!

[Hulk]

Nice work. The simplicity is fantastic!

[ripper]

Those are very cool pedal boards. Has anyone got any pics of any tiered boards they have built?

[FenderLover]

That looks incredibly functional, and I wonder why anyone using pedals wouldn't have a board to put them on (like me, for about 25 years). I think the key is the slats to allow dressing cables behind the board rather than squirrel them between FX, as I stumbled across the same feature last summer. The only thing I did different was the velcro. It's seems like a popular idea, but I don't understand it. I have several boutique and vintage pedals I'd like to keep unmolested with tape, so I favor the little rubber feet you can stick on the back. They grab low-pile carpet real well I think. The pedal only needs to be non-skid, not survive re-entry from space. I glued strips of carpet on the board, edge to edge, to allow access thru the slats for cable routing. works slick.

[Budda]

Great stuff guys! I build my own boards as well.

I have 2 different methods for attaching pedals to boards, when you don't want to use Velcro. Both of these methods make your pedals STAY PUT! And they also allow for more security, considering a crowd member can easily reach onto the stage (In a lot of clubs, anyway. Stadiums? Well, I don't get the opportunity to play those gigs! LOL) and snatch one of your Pedals off of your board, when using Velcro.

1. Bicycle Chain Links. Seperate the 2 sides of the Chain's Links with a Chain Tool. (Available at Bike shops). And use the little "Figure 8" shaped sides if the Links to screw the Pedals to the board. Unscrew the Pedal's Screws, and then screw them back in, with the Link on the screw. Now you have the other hole in the Figure 8 of the Link that you can screw into the board.

2. Replace the Screws on the Pedals with longer Screws, and just screw the Pedals directly through the Pedalboard.

[harvdog]

Originally Posted by Budda

Great stuff guys! I build my own boards as well.

I have 2 different methods for attaching pedals to boards, when you don't want to use Velcro. Both of these methods make your pedals STAY PUT! And they also allow for more security, considering a crowd member can easily reach onto the stage (In a lot of clubs, anyway. Stadiums? Well, I don't get the opportunity to play those gigs! LOL) and snatch one of your Pedals off of your board, when using Velcro.

1. Bicycle Chain Links. Seperate the 2 sides of the Chain's Links with a Chain Tool. (Available at Bike shops). And use the little "Figure 8" shaped sides if the Links to screw the Pedals to the board. Unscrew the Pedal's Screws, and then screw them back in, with the Link on the screw. Now you have the other hole in the Figure 8 of the Link that you can screw into the board.

2. Replace the Screws on the Pedals with longer Screws, and just screw the Pedals directly through the Pedalboard.

Neat idea with the bicycle chain links. Post some pix of that.

[garyd5158]

I thinka, I lika the Ikea pedal board alota.

[hou35male]

Originally Posted by cqmurphy

recently finished my IKEA Gorm pedalboard and have used it at a few gigs. it's been great! BUT... getting it around has not been easy.

so... has anyone come up with a good transportation solution either DIY or store-bought?

That's why I bought a Pedaltrain, comes with gig bag!!!!!

[TheDragonReborn]

Great! I live just 2kms from an IKEA store so I'm going to buy one of these asap & get
working on it. I just feel a bit stupid about missing out on this thread, it has been started
many months ago...

TDR

[Budda]

Originally Posted by harvdog

Neat idea with the bicycle chain links. Post some pix of that.

Scroll to the bottom of this page:

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/stomp-box...dal-board.html

[i like guitars]

Originally Posted by cqmurphy

recently finished my IKEA Gorm pedalboard and have used it at a few gigs. it's been great! BUT... getting it around has not been easy.

so... has anyone come up with a good transportation solution either DIY or store-bought?

check mine out i got a case from home depot for $20 and i cut the gorm down to fit in the case.
opened

closed

[Schizotronic]

Originally Posted by i like guitars

check mine out i got a case from home depot for $20 and i cut the gorm down to fit in the case.
opened

closed

Oh, god... you paid twenty bucks for an aluminum-like (or actual aluminum) case. I wish I could do that..
Here in Brazil a case like this one would never, EVER cost less than US$40 - 45.

Yeah, there are times where I envy you guys. "Good" envy: not wishing bad luck or something like this - just wanting these prices for me

[electricbody]

I got inspired earlier this summer. While I didn't do the IKEA route, I did go to the home store and bought some wood.

I forget to take pictures until I had most of the board together.

[electricbody]

Part Two. Paint. As you can see from the above pictures and here, I used "L" brackets to help hold everything together. I drilled some holes for cables, etc.

[electricbody]

Finished, more or less. You'll noticed I made some changes to the pedals since I first put it together.

I put some Velcro on the top and in the bottom cavity. It took me a while to find a short extension cord since I bought a OneSpot after putting everything together and wouldn't you know it, but the OneSpot is just that much too tall. I eventually mounted the powerstrip sideways, found a short extension cord, and mounted the OneSpot with some Velcro. I used some electrical wire guides as hang hooks for zip ties and tied everything to the bottom with zip ties. I used some screw in furniture feet and some stick on furniture rubber pads for feet.

[harvdog]

Originally Posted by electricbody

Finished, more or less. You'll noticed I made some changes to the pedals since I first put it together.

I put some Velcro on the top and in the bottom cavity. It took me a while to find a short extension cord since I bought a OneSpot after putting everything together and wouldn't you know it, but the OneSpot is just that much too tall. I eventually mounted the powerstrip sideways, found a short extension cord, and mounted the OneSpot with some Velcro. I used some electrical wire guides as hang hooks for zip ties and tied everything to the bottom with zip ties. I used some screw in furniture feet and some stick on furniture rubber pads for feet.

Nice work there. I like the cavity in the bottom to stuff the powerstrip and OneSpot up in.

[Alamo]

Originally Posted by Budda

Great stuff guys! I build my own boards as well.

I have 2 different methods for attaching pedals to boards, when you don't want to use Velcro. Both of these methods make your pedals STAY PUT! And they also allow for more security, considering a crowd member can easily reach onto the stage (In a lot of clubs, anyway. Stadiums? Well, I don't get the opportunity to play those gigs! LOL) and snatch one of your Pedals off of your board, when using Velcro.

1. Bicycle Chain Links. Seperate the 2 sides of the Chain's Links with a Chain Tool. (Available at Bike shops). And use the little "Figure 8" shaped sides if the Links to screw the Pedals to the board. Unscrew the Pedal's Screws, and then screw them back in, with the Link on the screw. Now you have the other hole in the Figure 8 of the Link that you can screw into the board.

2. Replace the Screws on the Pedals with longer Screws, and just screw the Pedals directly through the Pedalboard.

Pedals and Bicycle Chain Links - now that's a natural match, innit.
why didn't I think of that?
I actually asked a clerk in a hardware shop for figure 8 washers - huh, what?
oh well, next board.
I just fitted a small board with velcro, which fits snuggly into a Bosch drill case. it's small, lightwheight plastic and has a perfect handle.

[czech-one-2]

Thanks Armchair for the inspiration. I decided to try this out as the pedaltrains arent readily available here [and I'm a do-it-yourself tightwad!]
And there is an IKEA nearby.
it really worked out nice having the bbe supacharger underneath,much more room on top.3m dual-lock secures everything.

the old Dod A/B box is a true bypass tuner mute for my fender st-1 tuner.These tuners have a peice of smoke colored acetate over the led display,by changing that to clear it is very bright and i can see it on outdoor stages.
the Ross distortion is actually my OLC THOR with a bass boost switch where the old 1/8 mini power jack used to be.
the mxr envelope filter and Ross phaser rotate with a boost,compressor or ibanez ts-9.

[harvdog]

Originally Posted by czech-one-2

Thanks Armchair for the inspiration. I decided to try this out as the pedaltrains arent readily available here [and I'm a do-it-yourself tightwad!]
And there is an IKEA nearby.
it really worked out nice having the bbe supacharger underneath,much more room on top.3m dual-lock secures everything.

the old Dod A/B box is a true bypass tuner mute for my fender st-1 tuner.These tuners have a peice of smoke colored acetate over the led display,by changing that to clear it is very bright and i can see it on outdoor stages.
the Ross distortion is actually my OLC THOR with a bass boost switch where the old 1/8 mini power jack used to be.
the mxr envelope filter and Ross phaser rotate with a boost,compressor or ibanez ts-9.

Nice work. Looks very clean!

[electricbody]

Originally Posted by czech-one-2

Thanks Armchair for the inspiration.
it really worked out nice having the bbe supacharger underneath,much more room on top.3m dual-lock secures everything.

Very clean underneath. Makes me want to go back and redo the underside of mine. Nice work.

[czech-one-2]

Thanks you guys!
The beauty of these is they are basically ready to go.
I dont even own a proper saw,but i only made one cut and that was cutting the side rail to length.
mine didnt need any support underneath as the three panels dont flex at all.
the biggest expense for me? a hole saw bit to cut the hole for the power supply cord and two cans of spray acrylic laquer[one primer grey one flat black.] the rubber feet were about 5 bucks too.
I already had the dual lock, but if i didnt that would be an additional $10.00. To me,the bicycle chain links wouldnt work,cause i change some pedals like underwear,and who needs a phillips head to do that?
so in reality,including the dual lock I've got about $30.00 into my 'gorm'.
Its lightweight,the perfect size and best of all.......cheap!


now, Anybody know what 'GORM' means?
My guess is its Scandanavian for functional!

[Armchair Bronco]

My orange pedalboard just got a writeup over at LifeHacker.com.

http://lifehacker.com/5383339/diy-pe...help-from-ikea

My board is famous!

[czech-one-2]

Originally Posted by Armchair Bronco

My orange pedalboard just got a writeup over at LifeHacker.com.

http://lifehacker.com/5383339/diy-pe...help-from-ikea

My board is famous!

seriously,you should get an IKEA endorsement!

[mlweidl]

so where do u buy the little ends to the cables and u cant just buy cables like that? cause the only ones i can find to connect pedal sand the dimarrzio ones that are like 10 buck s a piece

[difeng]

It's a great thread - I'm working on my Gorm pedalboards right now!

[Jeff_K]

Yeah, I just did mine on Monday. The velcro cost more than the shelf and extra boards, total cost $15 including rattle can. Painted black with black velcro and it looks great and actually a lot like the Pedaltrain. I didn't even do as much work as the OP. Put one of the extension boards (cut to size) on one end to give the board the tilt. The Gorm was pre-assembled and if you use the smaller one ('train junior size) you don't even need the support board down the middle of the bottom. The sucker is strong! I just used a jigsaw to cut a little "V" shape cutout for the plugs to pass through, 3 cuts evenly spaced across the width. The absolute minimum of work required and it looks great. Makes my previous DIY board look like a 4th grade project. Everyone should make one of these! How do you beat $15 total cost and 10 minutes of time? However, as mentioned, even the smaller Gorm is still a big thing to lug around and I haven't worked that part out quite yet.

[Schizotronic]

Originally Posted by Jeff_K

Yeah, I just did mine on Monday. The velcro cost more than the shelf and extra boards, total cost $15 including rattle can. Painted black with black velcro and it looks great and actually a lot like the Pedaltrain. I didn't even do as much work as the OP. Put one of the extension boards (cut to size) on one end to give the board the tilt. The Gorm was pre-assembled and if you use the smaller one ('train junior size) you don't even need the support board down the middle of the bottom. The sucker is strong! I just used a jigsaw to cut a little "V" shape cutout for the plugs to pass through, 3 cuts evenly spaced across the width. The absolute minimum of work required and it looks great. Makes my previous DIY board look like a 4th grade project. Everyone should make one of these! How do you beat $15 total cost and 10 minutes of time? However, as mentioned, even the smaller Gorm is still a big thing to lug around and I haven't worked that part out quite yet.

PICS! PICS!