- Manufacturer & Model
-
Boltz LP Storage Rack (2 Shelves & 3 Shelves)
- MSRP
- $648 & $828 (as configured)
- Highlights
-
Solid construction, easy assembly, industrial look, expandable
- Summary
-
Looking for an attractive storage solution for large vinyl collections can be a losing battle. You can spend next to nothing, or you can spend thousands. The Boltz offerings are decently priced, rock solid and the will grow and expand with your collection, eliminating the need to buy additional racks or replace with something with a larger capacity.
It's been an exciting few weeks around here, as the supply chain has been catching up with the orders we placed last fall after purchasing our new home.
One thing we left behind when we moved was the IKEA Kallax and Expedit shelving we had been using for vinyl storage. It was fine for what it was, but I felt like the honeycomb core construction was adding extra static to my records, which was a huge downside. So once we were in the new house, I started looking at options. In the interim, I ordered a couple of inexpensive Crosley-brand MCM-styled units from Target so I would have something to unload the boxes into. Quick tip - avoid these at all cost. The legs included in the package would not even install, and if they did, I wasn't confident they would hold the full weight of the records, so these sat on the floor.
On to the search. There are so many really cool products on Etsy and with various vendors made of solid wood, beautiful walnut options, etc., but the capacity was not enough. I was willing to pay a decent amount for the right product, but these were usually at about my full budget, and my collection would require multiple units. My budget and our room would not allow for taking up that much footprint.
I considered building my own, but quite frankly, I didn't want the hassle. So the search continued.
I then stumbled across Boltz via a comment thread on an Instagram post by Discogs.com. These seemed to be pretty close to what I was looking for - they were priced reasonably, they looked solid, and they were expandable, so as my collection grows, I can simply add a shelf or two and build up instead of out. Most importantly, they were in stock. So after several weeks of going back and forth and making sure there wasn't something more fitting that I would find, I placed an order for a two-shelf unit and a three-shelf unit. And then, nothing.
After a week or so of the order just sitting there, I reached out to discover the shelves were NOT in stock as indicated, but they should ship within a week or two. Guess what? They didn't ship within a week or two. Three months later, they have arrived.
I put together a quick video with the assembly process and quick first thoughts.
After a few days, I believe I am going to return the casters - when I've had time to remove the records and take them off. They seem to be introducing a bit of a forward lean to the units, not to mention they make it almost impossible to place them with any sort of precision. They also allow for a slight wobble when situating records. Going higher will obviously make these more top-heavy, and the last thing I want is for one of these to tip over. Having paid $149 per set, I don't think the value is there.
That said, overall, I love these racks, but I also have ideas to make them even better.
I would love to see the ability to easily order shelves and the side uprights in different finishes, to add some contrast. The standard finishes are Anthracite (which is what I ordered) and Black. There are custom paint colors available if you contact Boltz directly, though these may also incur an additional charge.
I'll put together a follow-up video once I've lived with them for a few more weeks. First impressions are mostly very positive. Instructions could have been better, especially with the back supports I ordered along with them. There was no direction for installing them. And installing them leaves me with 10 vertical supports and no use for them. Seems wasteful, and I don't want to have to store these. There are also add-ons on the website that I have no idea how they could be implemented, having had my hands on the racks themselves.
Until next time...
Boltz Furniture LP Racks
- Format: Classic or Organic
- Material: Steel
- Capacity: 275lbs (180LPs) per shelf
- Manufacture Location: USA
- Guarantee: Lifetime
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