Different ways to use Erecta-Rack drying rack
Following on from the information on the Erecta Rack system. As I explained, it has been used and worked on for several years by some very sharp painters we know in the USA – they have used it successfully and regularly on new site work, also set it up within a full workshop, and of interest to us, had very positive results for in-situ kitchen cabinet painting… Their opinion and judgement is not plucked out the air.
And start delving, and there is more to the Erecta Rack than meets the eye. It has been in constant development and is proving much more versatile than it first looked.
Here’s a bit more to digest from the USA about the potential of Erecta Rack, starting with the main function, and moving on through to some neat twists, pardon the pun, and advances.
Stack standard items on the racking
It was primarily designed for stacking doors of any size, full height or kitchen cabinet size. Also move the supports further apart to handle lengths of trim and add an extra support to stack longer lengths (16 feet long comfortably). It is modular, so keep on adding to suit your needs.
It was originally conceived for stacking items that have been painted one side at a time. ie You paint items on a trestle (one side only) and stack them on the Erecta Rack out the way of the hustle and bustle. Leave paint to dry, and repeat for the backs.
The racking takes up the same footprint as the largest item on the rack.
You can split the 10 level rack into 2 sets of 5, so one set upstairs on a job, one downstairs; or in different rooms or set up in sets for different size items.
For lighter items of architrave and skirting, it will go up to 15 levels without losing its balance. See main Erecta site for more examples
Stack heavy exterior doors on the Erecta Rack
An additional support in the middle will enable you to safely stack heavy doors, up to 500lb (200kg) in weight total, on one set of racks.
Stack doors that have been painted both sides.
This is where it gets more interesting again, painting and drying a door painted both sides, nice. If you screw into the top and bottom edge of a standard internal door, and suspend the door off a trestle, you can paint one side then flip it and paint the other side. Place it on the Erecta Rack to dry. If you have 2 or 3 coats to apply, and work with a labourer, it is well worth the effort.
Stack heavy external doors that have been coated both sides.
The image says it all.
Curt Scadden who developed the Erecta Rack says:
The attached photo shows what one of our customers did for his heavy exterior doors. He actually made brackets that screw to the ends of the doors so he could finish both sides and then set them on the rack without having the finished surfaces touch the cross bars.
To increase the load capacity, he bought some extra support blocks and trimmed off the little rib that stops the crossbar from going all the way through the support block. This way, he was able to slide a support block to the center of the crossbar for additional support.
Erecta Rack on wheels
Look at the image above, you can see the next potential advance in action.
Scott Burt of TopCoat Review has been using the Erecta Rack for several years and last year the compnay gave him a prototype wheeled base for his Erecta rack. As you will read in the article, it integrates into the basic system, not a wooden frame like the above workshop solution. Scott rates the addition, and doesn’t plan on returning the prototype!
Wonder when that will be available commercially?
The basic Erecta Rack design is very versatile, and these modifications and advances are possible, due to the intrinsically sound design of the platform.
Erecta rack and kitchen painting
Three Traditional Painters have ordered one. The first is already happy, as you can see from Martin’s photo of it in simple action at the top of the article, a neat and tidy solution. And Mark Nash is eagerly awaiting the arrival of his, so he can move the 20 doors currently laid around the kitchen onto the rack and out of his way.
Experienced pros who had never thought they needed a rack, till they saw one that just works, and packs down into a carry bag.
One obvious challenge is to see if there is a way to rig it so that both sides of a standard kitchen door can be painted at the same visit and then stacked. I don’t think anyone is suggesting drilling 4″ screws into the top and bottom of a nice oak door btw! Ideas on a postcard.
How to get an Erecta Rack in UK
1 – Available in UK * from * MyPaintBrush for £279 plus VAT.
Any questions, we have some very experienced users ready to answer them for you.
I am sure most painters have thought at some stage about the issue of drying and stacking on site or in a workshop.
There are a few angles to look out for and check off a list (ease of use, stability, space, cost, time to erect / dismantle…) Ordinarily the result is “let’s move on” or a home made racking system, which is fine, but I think where the Erecta Rack does tick boxes is its mobility from job to job, and depending on how you value your time, it isn’t that much money compared to the time and effort of putting together your own rack.
And with the potential option of painting both sides at one hit, and mobile too, and they are looking at different coatings on the support bars, this is a very interesting proposition for a lot of scenarios – not all jobs every time will require one, but when the need arises, get it out the bag and make a difference.
Rather than make a mistake of refusing to adopt what our peers in America have proven works for them, and miss more tricks, I’d say in for a penny in for a pound.
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3 comments to “Different ways to use Erecta-Rack drying rack”
Okay, I’ve been paying attention and decided to shell out for the erecta rack.
I’ve used it successfully on 2 jobs so far, it does work really well. Leaving kitchen cabinet doors laying flat to dry helps with the finish too and it’s great to leave everything in the one spot. The first time I used it the customer came in to see how things were going and was very impressed with the system, it looked professional. He was so impressed he went and brought his wife to take a look too. It’s reassuring for customers to see a system like the erecta rack at work as opposed to having cabinet doors laying all around the house.
I have figured out how to paint both sides of a door and rest it on the erecta rack, which will really speed up the jobs without lowering the quality.
Before I ever used this erecta rack I didn’t know I needed one, now that I have one I need a second.. Big thumbs up.
Oisin.
oisinbutler.ie
Good to hear you like it. There are plenty of cynics, understandably. It does challenge conventional wisdom, and it does cost more than 50p to have a go, but with modern paints being so fast drying and if you work clean, most of the reasons why not owning one seem to become mostly irrelevant to them that have one, or two, or an eye on a third. But like any tool, just because you have one, doesn’t mean it is the right tool for every job either. If doors are better left on in certain instances, leave the rack at home, but at least you have the option. cheers 🙂
Hi Andy,
I’m really intrigued by the Erecta-Rack, looks like an incredibly useful bit of kit. Is it possible to get one delivered to Ireland?
Cheers.