Noob question - how to I remove rack nuts from a rack?

[Stolly]

Cage nut removal tools are worth their weight in gold...unless you value the experience stabbing a flat head screwdriver into your hand...

 

[paradigm]

Cage nut removal tools are worth their weight in gold...unless you value the experience stabbing a flat head screwdriver into your hand...

Seriously, do you guys lack basic motor-skills?

Even if I do come across a particularly stiff-cased nut that I can't remove by utilising just my fingers, I can remove them with a flat-blade without so much as even having to think about it, let alone stabbing myself.

Are you holding the right end of the screwdriver by any chance?

 

[iaind]

Seriously, do you guys lack basic motor-skills?

Even if I do come across a particularly stiff-cased nut that I can't remove by utilising just my fingers, I can remove them with a flat-blade without so much as even having to think about it, let alone stabbing myself.

Are you holding the right end of the screwdriver by any chance?

Lol - I was thinking the same thing

The only injury I've ever sustained from building racks is slightly sore fingers from trying to do them by hand. And that time I dropped a PE2850 on my foot

 

[MikeHunt79]

Needle nose pliers

This is what I tried at first, but there isn't enough room between the nut and the side of the rack... Unless you mean use the pliers from the front?

If you can't remove them with a flatblade screwdriver then you are doing something wrong. I can remove them by hand.

I've tried again with a screwdriver, and managed it. I just used a more force this time, I was worried I was going to bend the rails but they seem to be pretty sturdy.

"cage nut tool" in google (just in case one of the ones I link sells OcUK type stuff).
http://img.directindustry.com/images_di/photo-g/cage-nut-218165.jpg
^^This is the type of nut I am talking about, it is possible you are using a different type, as the one I have linked it's pretty self explanatory where you would stick a flatheaded screwdriver, and then leverage, to make it pop out.


rp2000

That's the exact sort of nut I'm dealing with, M6 thread, I've ordered one of those tools, they're not exactly expensive, and it will be worth if it saves me time.

Yes, starting with the UPS. Otherwise it may be prone to toppling when you extend a server out of the rack. HP offer rack stabilizer kits that will help prevent this, assuming you have an HP rack.

Cheers, I've only got about 5 things to go in so far, but I've got a 3Kw 3U amplifier which weighs 34Kg. I've put it at the bottom, and now the rack feels more stable.

I don't have any computer gear for this rack, it's all audio stuff (amps, DSP's, EQ units, etc.) but it seems the same principles apply. I'm surprised there isn't a 'post your rack' thread on here!

 

[dave-lew99]

. And that time I dropped a PE2850 on my foot

Ouch! Been there, it was a Compaq disk array (i forget the model) and it was on the top of a 24U rack, landed right on my foot as i mis-judged the weight of the damned thing when i lifted it off!

I'm surprised there isn't a 'post your rack' thread on here!

There is somewhere, more of a home server thing though http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18047190

With audio kit, apart from amps you tend not to need to worry about where you put the weight in. If you've got the ability to put rear support in for your amp i'd advise it as well as putting all 4 bolts in!

 

[Little_Crow]

I'm surprised there isn't a 'post your rack' thread on here!

There was, but I'm not sure where it went, you tend to find companies who run Datacenters frown upon people taking pictures of them.

Talking of misjudging server equipment, me and a colleague where consolidating racks. We were moving an MSA30, and didn't misjudge the weight, but the length, damn thing fell out of the rack before we expected it, we fortunately caught it in time.