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How do you deal with heavy equipment on hardwood floors?

96.33.215.120
Posted on August 26, 2015 at 05:12:10
artemus
Audiophile

Posts: 15273
Joined: March 12, 2001
 My system is located in the Living Room. The room is 15x20 with Vaulted A ceiling and opens to a 12x12 dining room with adjacent kitchen of same size. I'm ready to change the flooring in the LR from carpet to hardwood. I know it will look better. And I will have to address footers of the speakers and rack.
Here's my dilemma. My speakers weigh 135 lbs. They are easy to slide on the carpet. But hardwood floors will make that impossible. So, how do you position the speakers? Then there's the turntable. It weighs 100 lbs and the custom built stand another 100 lbs. I can deal with it. But I'm wondering if I'm opening a can of worms by making it ridiculously hard to move my equipment. I could change out the speakers. My wife would love smaller speakers IE monitors. But I cannot imagine they would fill such a large room.
Am I missing something here? Am I over thinking it. I want the hardwood but I don't want the seemingly extra trouble. So, how do you deal with heavy equipment and hardwood floors where nothing can be slid into place?
Thanks for your help.
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You paid HOW MUCH for that electrical receptacle?!!! Are YOU nuts?

 

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Furniture Glides and Sliders, posted on August 26, 2015 at 05:37:31
RadioWonder
Audiophile

Posts: 1236
Location: Arizona
Joined: March 16, 2003
 You can find a variety of these almost everywhere...

Amazon... Home Depot...

Here is just one place, purely for illustration...

Sorry, I missed the last sentence where you said "Nothing Can Be Slid In Place"... Time to either get your friends together or hire a crew to move things...

 

Furniture sliders and spike footers, posted on August 26, 2015 at 05:42:15
Dave_K
 Your local hardware stores should have a selection of furniture sliders for just this purpose. If the speakers and/or rack have spikes, attach the sliders to bottom of the spike footers. Once you're done experimenting with positioning, you can remove the sliders.

 

RE: Furniture Glides and Sliders, posted on August 26, 2015 at 06:02:33
artemus
Audiophile

Posts: 15273
Joined: March 12, 2001
 Thanks.I wasn't sure they made sliders for hardwood. I have the plastic type sliders which do a good job on carpet. But I'd be afraid to use them on hardwood.
Also, my statement about no sliding on hardwood was meant that you cannot slide the speakers and equip rack on the hardwood without something under them to protect the hardwood.
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You paid HOW MUCH for that electrical receptacle?!!! Are YOU nuts?

 

RE: Furniture sliders and spike footers, posted on August 26, 2015 at 06:10:30
artemus
Audiophile

Posts: 15273
Joined: March 12, 2001
 I think it would be safer to remove the spikes before moving the speakers. I've also heard about using the old carpet to use as a slider on hardwood. I guess that would be safe. Just trying to get some input from others who have dealt with heavy speakers and hardwood. thanks for the suggestion. I was planning on getting some footers from Herbies for the speaker spikes. They're a little expensive but get good reviews
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You paid HOW MUCH for that electrical receptacle?!!! Are YOU nuts?

 

RE: "My wife would love smaller speakers IE monitors.", posted on August 26, 2015 at 06:58:56
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001

Yep, I'd just have to find a place to hide the sub. =:-0





First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

Yep, posted on August 26, 2015 at 07:07:00
artemus
Audiophile

Posts: 15273
Joined: March 12, 2001
 Thats my computer system. I guess I could move it out in the LR. But, I suspect the color would be wrong. Women have to have pretty stuff. I just want it to sound good. So, why am I putting hardwood floors in? Duh. Too many choices.....
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You paid HOW MUCH for that electrical receptacle?!!! Are YOU nuts?

 

RE: Furniture sliders and spike footers, posted on August 26, 2015 at 07:09:32
-æ-
Bored Member

Posts: 788
Joined: May 9, 2013
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 1999
 Carpet almost always has some pretty abrasive backing. For my 150+
speakers on wood floors, I fabricated some simple wooden blocks (2
inch square by 1 inch tall, drilled a divot on each top for the spikes
to seat themselves, and glued heavy felt on the underside of the blocks.

Works like a charm.




If you aren't quite noticing or accepting what is really going on in the present,
but are responding based on your thoughts or feelings about what ought to be,
then you are apt to collide with what is really going on.

 

RE: Furniture sliders and spike footers, posted on August 26, 2015 at 07:17:07
artemus
Audiophile

Posts: 15273
Joined: March 12, 2001
 You turn the carpet over so the soft side slides on the hardwood. But your idea is interesting also.. Thanks.
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You paid HOW MUCH for that electrical receptacle?!!! Are YOU nuts?

 

Keep them on small carpets, posted on August 26, 2015 at 07:30:23
genungo
 Not everyone prefers footers or sliders on hardwood floor even though you can buy footers and sliders made for that purpose.

Try small woolen rugs of medium thickness for maneuverability and protection of the floor beneath the speakers. The manufacturer of a pair of speakers I own specifically recommends this, he doesn't like what spikes and footers do to the sound.

 

RE: Keep them on small carpets, posted on August 26, 2015 at 08:14:33
artemus
Audiophile

Posts: 15273
Joined: March 12, 2001
 No doubt that I will have to play with the footers, placement and sound absorption since I'm going from carpet floors to hardwood. I suspect I will probably god with some type of rug under the speakers. But I'm not sure yet. Thanks for the input.
=========================
You paid HOW MUCH for that electrical receptacle?!!! Are YOU nuts?

 

RE: Furniture sliders and spike footers, posted on August 26, 2015 at 08:20:44
-æ-
Bored Member

Posts: 788
Joined: May 9, 2013
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 1999
 >>You turn the carpet over so the soft side slides on the hardwood

Doh!

If you aren't quite noticing or accepting what is really going on in the present,
but are responding based on your thoughts or feelings about what ought to be,
then you are apt to collide with what is really going on.

 

SuperSpikes, posted on August 26, 2015 at 11:54:26
Mel
Audiophile

Posts: 2993
Location: New York City Area
Joined: February 21, 2001
 These are spikes that have the floor protection attached. They work well for the sound. You can also move the component around--but slowly and carefully.

They used to have US distribution, but they now have to be ordered from Norway. Very friendly and helpful people.

 

Also,, posted on August 26, 2015 at 13:53:20
-æ-
Bored Member

Posts: 788
Joined: May 9, 2013
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 1999

I use these under my equipment-laden racks. They make them for speakers, as well.




If you aren't quite noticing or accepting what is really going on in the present,
but are responding based on your thoughts or feelings about what ought to be,
then you are apt to collide with what is really going on.

 

RE: How do you deal with heavy equipment on hardwood floors?, posted on August 26, 2015 at 15:16:11
Inmate51
 "They are easy to slide on the carpet. But hardwood floors will make that impossible."

Huh. Interesting. I would think that a "slippery" surface would be better.

 

Sistrum SP-101 Platforms for me, posted on August 26, 2015 at 15:20:04
woober goober
Audiophile

Posts: 727
Location: Atlanta
Joined: November 6, 2009



and points at the floor rest on their specialized Coupling Discs.

 

RE: How do you deal with heavy equipment on hardwood floors?, posted on August 26, 2015 at 15:52:41
Garg0yle
Audiophile

Posts: 859
Joined: December 1, 2014
 Probably the suggestion to use large pieces of upside down carpet would work the best for protecting hardwood.

Nylon or Teflon "glides" might work if they are large enough (2" plus), the equipment is light enough and the floor is hard enough.
Even these run the risk of leaving grooves in the floor due to the relatively high PSI.

I use three smaller 3/4" glides on my big Altecs, they work very well on a laminate wood floor although it is harder then real wood floor.
(I can move the speakers with just a few fingers)

Folded "moving" blankets also work pretty good as a non permanent option. (Or the wooly carpets mentioned earlier)

△This message will self destruct in 10 seconds△

 

RE: How do you deal with heavy equipment on hardwood floors?, posted on August 26, 2015 at 17:09:14
Kirk57
Audiophile

Posts: 606
Location: Chicago's North Shore
Joined: December 9, 2008
 After battling with tiptoes of various kinds on pennies on my newly refinished hardwood floors, and and finding it nearly impossible to get everything positioned without f%$#ing up the floor, I gave up and used cork or felt pads under the speakers and rack.

I can't hear any difference. Certainly not enough difference to justify putting holes in the floor.

 

No problem here, posted on August 26, 2015 at 21:50:54
bouncy ball
Audiophile

Posts: 1221
Location: British Columbia
Joined: July 26, 2003
 I use it on my big tannoy speaker, no problem at all on my hardwood floor.

 

Thanks for the input. , posted on August 27, 2015 at 06:40:36
artemus
Audiophile

Posts: 15273
Joined: March 12, 2001
 Many good products and ideas. Your help is much appreciated.
Now, anyone want to join me in a hardwood floor laying party? I've laid quite a few. But that was quite a few years back before the floor became a challenge to get up from!! I keep wondering, "John...Do you REALLY want to do this?"
=========================
You paid HOW MUCH for that electrical receptacle?!!! Are YOU nuts?

 

RE: Thanks for the input. , posted on August 27, 2015 at 14:28:02
Inmate51
 "before the floor became a challenge to get up from!"

So, you're at that point where you're sayin' "what else can I do while I'm down here?". ;)

Hey, I laid tongue-and-groove flooring as part of a summer job back in high school. What beer will you have on hand?

:)

 

Herbies, posted on August 28, 2015 at 06:32:31
mcondo
Audiophile

Posts: 1411
Joined: May 12, 2002
 Don't even think twice - get Herbies gliders. I use them and was skeptical at first but over time I have come to love their ability to move my ProAc's effortlessly on my hardwood floors. Is there a sound quality improvement - only you can be the judge on that since the whole spike/footer issue is so subjective and case dependent. I think they have a 30 day return policy if you don't care for them. Again, just get them.

 

Granite Tiles for the loudspeakers, posted on August 28, 2015 at 06:35:29
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15166
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 And you DONT need to spike a 100 lb turntable to the floor. It won't move ;-)

 

Get, posted on August 28, 2015 at 07:27:58
mt10425
Audiophile

Posts: 2399
Location: 3 hours west of Chicago
Joined: January 23, 2004
 pre-scratched flooring. No one will notice when you move the equipment. It will have a rustic look.



"It's all fun and games until someone doesn't pick up on the sarcasm"

 

Thoughts about carpet pieces, posted on August 28, 2015 at 10:55:08
Inmate51
 My concern about carpet pieces, whether upside-down or not, is the potential for staining the flooring. A few weeks is one thing, a few years is another. Especially with the heavy weight, dyes and other assorted chemicals can leach out and discolor the flooring.

So, when you sell the house, the new owner will be able to say "here's where John had his speakers. No wonder he never liked his setup." ;)

:)

 

RE: Thoughts about carpet pieces, posted on August 28, 2015 at 11:33:02
Garg0yle
Audiophile

Posts: 859
Joined: December 1, 2014
 Ha!
△This message will self destruct in 10 seconds△

 

I recently went to a Bamboo floor in the LR. . . , posted on August 29, 2015 at 21:45:58
risabet
Audiophile

Posts: 3197
Location: SoCal
Joined: January 10, 2005
 and not wanting to tear up a new floor with spikes switched out all of them with felt glides with 1/4" 20 threads and nuts to tighten them down and damned if there isn't an improvement in sound though I can't say if it's the floor or the glides providing it. Simply to many variables to account for with unplugging and replugging, moving the gear to install the floor (f*&^%ng nightmare) and all the various little changes that occurred. Still, the glides are cheap, available at the link below you'll have to add the self-stick felt pads, or the Home Depot, cheaper and plastic but have the felt already attached, and if you don't like the results not much money is spent. Good luck!


Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.

Adam Smith

 

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