Introduction: How to Make Cheap and Easy Speaker Stands

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Our class has a new studio for recording and editing. The studio has monitor speakers but sitting them on the desk makes it difficult to hear. To get the speakers at the right height for accurate listening we decided to make some speaker stands. We used recycled materials to save money.

Step 1: Materials

  • 4 pieces of wood ( dimensions will depend on the speaker size)
  • 2 lengths of PVC tube (Our pipe was 300mm long and 110mm in diameter)
  • 4 pieces of circular wood (105mm in diameter) to locate the pipe.
  • Threaded rod, nuts, flat washers and spring washers
  • 2x 1kg bags of rice to add weight
  • Glue
  • Paint (optional)
  • Sandpaper
  • Tools: ruler, drill, jigsaw, spade bit, pencil, safety glasses, spanner and socket

Step 2: Plan, Measure and Cut

First measure the speakers and decide which way up they will go. Because our speakers measured 20cm x 25cm we decided to lay them down so that they wouldn't fall over easily. We chose to make the top wooden piece 20x30 cm and the base slightly larger at 25x30 cm so it would be more stable. (MH)

Step 3: Mark the Wood

Next cut the wood and find the centre of the top and base pieces by marking the diagonals.

Step 4: Drill the Centres

Drill a hole in the centre of each piece of wood using a 1/4 drill bit (this was the same size as our threaded rod). Use a spade bit to enlarge the hole so the nut will not stick out. (MY)

Step 5: Locating Pieces

Use a jigsaw to cut 4 circular pieces of wood. These will locate the PVC pipe. These will also need a hole drilled in the centre. Now it is time to sand the base and the top.

Apply some glue and attach a circular wooden piece to each base and top section. You may need a piece of threaded rod to line them up with the existing holes (RM)

Step 6: Cutting the Threaded Rod

Now cut the threaded rod. To work out the approximate length you will need to add the length of the PVC pipe and the thickness of both wooden pieces. In our case it was:

300 + 17 + 17 = 334mm

Step 7: Assembly

Finally its time to assemble the stands. Place a nut and the washers on the threaded rod and pass it through the base. Slip the PVC pipe over the rod. Have an assistant hold the pipe while it is filled with rice. The rice will help weigh the stands down and stop any noises. Place the top piece on and add the other washers and nut. Use a socket and spanner to tighten it up. (MY and MH)

Step 8: Conclusion

Our speaker stands worked well and were cheap and easy to make. They will look fantastic when we paint them. If we made them again we would add more rice to make them heavier and stop vibrations. We would add something to go under the speakers and protect them. The design of the stands could easily be adapted to suit different speakers, different materials or different listening heights. (MY and MH)