Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => AmpTools/Tech Tips => Topic started by: Lucifer on January 09, 2013, 07:20:30 am

Title: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: Lucifer on January 09, 2013, 07:20:30 am
While working on my newly acquired Super Champ, I decided it was time to have something safer than a few loose wooden bits to hold the amp, and this is what I eventually came up with.

Basically, there are three identical 'cheeks', with the middle one able to slide along the three connecting dowels, enabling it to accommodate a wide variation in amp sizes.  The length of the dowels (45 cm) was determined by the biggest tube amp in my arsenal (a Cornell Rambler 40 - custom built here in the UK).

The great thing is that the cradle can be tipped 60 degrees from the horizontal position to hold the amp in at really accessible angle.  The centre [UK spelling] of gravity of the amp is still within the footprint of the cradle, so it is totally stable.  Even with only a small front lip, the cradle hugs the amp to itself.

As a bonus, the cradle can hold pedals too - the one in the picture is my Super-Hoochie-Zen-o-Klon (guess what's in it  :think1:).

And when the cradle is not in use, it can hold a fair number of books, or it can even be a vertical display stand.  Now, that's wht I call versatile !
Title: Re: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: sluckey on January 09, 2013, 07:49:59 am
Simply beautiful!
Title: Re: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: smackoj on January 09, 2013, 07:54:29 am
Good stuff mr. Brit.  a REAL time saver.  'mother's little helper'.  double cheeky whatever that means?   keep 'em coming

 :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: Geezer on January 09, 2013, 08:49:23 am
Simply beautiful!

And beautifully simple.

Thx for sharing your innovation.

G
Title: Re: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: kagliostro on January 09, 2013, 09:18:26 am
Very nice

simple & effective

 :bravo1:

K
Title: Re: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: John on January 10, 2013, 04:51:17 pm
Thanks for sharing that!
Title: Re: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: PRR on January 10, 2013, 08:00:45 pm
Need one of those for my pellet stove.

258 pounds, and the trouble is always lower-rear.
Title: Re: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: kagliostro on January 11, 2013, 12:59:01 am
Quote
Need one of those for my pellet stove

At first I thought you wanted to use it as material to be burned  :laugh:

K
Title: Re: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: tubenit on January 11, 2013, 05:27:39 am
Great design.

With respect, Tubenit
Title: Re: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: twbranch on January 11, 2013, 11:03:23 am
Hope you don't mind but I may build that! I built my last one and it seems to suck more than it is useful!
Title: Re: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: Lucifer on January 11, 2013, 02:53:05 pm
Hope you don't mind but I may build that!

Thanks to everyone for their kind comments.

I'd be delighted if anybody wants to build my amp cradle - I posted the information in the hope that it might be helpful to anyone needing a simple design.

Unfortunately for those who still work in imperial, the dimensions are in metric - that's because my wood drills were metric, and the dowel was in metric, so I had no choice - but I'm sure you could vary the sizes quite widely without upsetting the functionality, stability, and sheer sexiness of the cradle.

I'd be interested to see pictures of anyone else's versions.
Title: Re: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: twbranch on January 11, 2013, 04:17:38 pm
Metric doesn't bother me. I will post a pic when i am done. May a month before i get to it though.
Title: Re: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: PRR on January 11, 2013, 07:06:37 pm
> I thought you wanted to use it as material to be burned

I'm serious. The stove has a lot of fans and sensors, and has a lot of years on it. It also needs to be up off the floor. Seeing Lucifer's plan, I realized I can build the stove support much like his plan. It is almost within my wood-hacking skill. When the stove goes wrr-wrr but pellets don't go, I can pull it out a few inches (=163.7mm), tip it onto the nose of the stand, and have everything exposed for vacuum or hammer.
Title: Re: Versatile Amp Cradle
Post by: KeithR on December 25, 2013, 04:52:21 pm
The beauty of this particular cradle is the functional simplicity of it! I wished I'd have seen this a couple years ago before I built a different,  "more elaborate" style as seen on a different site. What, with it's pivot's, slides, and various lock downs it's a damn contraption of exceeding proportion by comparison. Funny thing is, I made a bookrack just like yours back in my junior high shop class,40 years ago! Albeit with thinner dowls. Do you think I could have remembered and repurposed the thing? It's a bitch gettin old. I still play "stairway" when I demo at the toy stores! Good job!