Who wants a Home Dock for their Empeg/Rio Car player?

Anyone else want one?

I'd be interested in a dock, shell or complete.

<AOL>Me Too!</AOL>

I'd like another dock if you wanted to make some more.

If you could be convinced to do a last run of real wood (those cherry wood ones you did where beautiful) I'd take one.

-Mike

Eeeks! More interest here than I'd expected!

Okay, so here is what is happening thus far:

I have about 10-15 (not sure.. gotta recount to confirm) inner and outer back panels, which are/were very fussy to cut out originally. I will NOT be making any more of those, ever.

And I just came back up from the shop, where I've cut out enough side panel blanks (MDF) to match the inner/outer back panels. Lots more work is needed to finish those (nine more machining operations per blank).

That leaves tops/bottoms, of which I currently have exactly one set (MDF). So I need to make more of them to complete this series. And those can be made of pretty much any materials.

Fancy wood increases my/your costs (materials and labour), but not by a whole lot. I don't want to spray finish anything, though, as things are still pretty busy around here and that stuff really soaks up time.

I don't want to get into doing the wiring or even supplying the parts for that (docking connectors, fans, pins, RCA jacks, DC-power jack, serial port connector..), so this run will be all unwired SHELLS regardless.

Note: perhaps somebody in the USA could consider being "point man" for the parts, doing a single bulk order from DigiKey, and then redistributing them to the other purchasers when the time comes. Whoever takes on this role first will automatically get onto the list for a shell.

* * *

In summary, I have started up a new batch of around 10+ unwired dock shells, which will have MDF side panels like all previous docks (including the cherry ones).

I have not decided what to use for tops/bottoms, but anything other than MDF will increase the cost by perhaps $20-$30 over the sub-$100 price for plain MDF tops/bottoms. MDF is best for painting, whereas real wood is best finished with something clear (shellac, polyurethane, etc..).

Those of you who have expressed interest (and those who want to), please post again and say what your top/bottom preference would be: MDF ($85), or unfinished real wood ($115), or finished real-wood ($140). Those are approximate SHIPPED price estimates, which may vary in the end by $5-10 up or down.

In the meanwhile, I'll continue to putter along in the shop, and when I have some to sell, I'll go through this thread to figure out who gets first shot at them.

Cheers

I'd take a fancy real wood dock.

If available, I would love a real-wood finished dock.

I would like a MDF dock if it's not too much trouble.

Mark, is there anyway to make a fancy wood one minus the back? That way I could slip my MKI into it.

1 shell, MDF works for me.

Oh, shoot.. forgot all about yours, Laura! Do you still want just a sleeve to encase your Mk1 metal sled?

EDIT: and do the Mk1 units have cooling holes on the lid? How should the airflow work for that.. wouldn't want to cook it, ya know!

Cheers

Disclaimer: I'm not posting this as a request for either myself nor am I speaking for anybody...

Mark, would you be open to letting someone borrow the design to make more copies in the future, giving you a cut and still calling them "Mark Lord Docks"? With all of the resources shown lately in new facias and button kits, there seems to be the posibility that someone here could keep the docks going. We all understand that you are pressed for time and are not able to invest many hours into future runs. The more time I have spent using the two docks I've purchased from you, the more I realize you spent a lot of time and care designing them (ie, they are not simply a wooden box). Because of this, I think that if anyone else made docks, you should get some money on each unit sold to compensate you for your design. I also think that if anyone made docks, they would be "borrowing" your design which would still belong to you if you ever decided to make future docks. It would be a shame to see these no longer made. The two I have now are great, but I could see myself need another in a year.

Fair enough!

As long as there is something sitting around for you to reverse engineer, that'll work! I'd just hate for you to reinvent the wheel a year from now.

I'm interested in an MDF shell.

Thanks,

Rod.

I'll take a unfinished real wood shell please.


EDIT: ARRRRG unfinshed, unfinished, I'm needing more sleep than I've been getting...Or just more caffeine.

i'll take one MDF shell please

Nevermind Mark. It doesn't just slide into the shell like I thought it would. The sides would have to be notched differently. It does have holes on the lid though.

I would like both to be MDF.

Thanks

I'm still in for one unfinished fancy wood shell. I'd be upgrading an existing dock so I guess I really just need the top and bottom panels if that would save a couple bucks (and not be a pain for you).

-Mike

Your existing top panel is firmly glued into place, and cannot be removed/replaced without damaging the rest of the dock.

Cheers

Mark, has anyone sent you pics of a "decked out" dock? I'm thinking of getting the light kit for my empeg and I'm trying to decide what color to finish the dock in. With black, the empeg would blend into the dock. How tacky would a LED 40x40x10 fan be with the same color LED as the facia?

The fan is completely hidden within the dock, and is not at all visible from any angle when the player is docked.

please put me down for an MDF...

I'd also like an MDF one. If available. If not, I'll consider real wood, just let me know.

Okay, many more responses than I'd expected.

Also, there'll be a delay of a few weeks on these, mostly caused by unexpected good weather here in the Great White North. I'm about to log geocache #1000, a kind of major milestone up this way.

Now.. as it happens, I have another project on the go that requires a large order of parts from DigiKey, so perhaps I could order many of the dock bits'n'pieces at the same time. Especially the fans and docking connectors/pins.

Having me supply those will raise the cost of the dock shells (still unwired) by perhaps $30 each, depending on how many of the bits and pieces I get. Each dock needs: fan, docking connector/pins, DB-9M serial, RJ-45 coupler, 2xRCA audio, power-jackl, and 500ohm VR.

So an unwired MDF shell will cost about US$115 delivered; and more for solid wood docks.

Sound reasonable? I figure I'll get 10 sets of parts, and any shells beyond that will be completely barebones and go for $85 or so, delivered.

Cheers

I would prefer all components supplied.

Thanks
Gleep

My wish list...Two real-wood finished docks, with components.

I would like a mdf shell with parts if possible.

Well, FWIW I know you're probably out of parts now, and you have said repeatedly you don't want to make them anymore (I'd imagine they were probably tedious as hell to make) but I'd sure love to have a complete one. I'd try and make my own but I'm far better with XEmacs and a compiler than I'll ever be with routers and drills and such.

I was out of work (laid off from Sun Microsystems) for a good long time when you were selling them originally, and couldn't justify the expense. I'm a programmer, but spent the last 3 years painting houses, selling coffee, mowing lawns and pulling down the occasional short term contract. I'm back at work at eBay now (after 3 long years, sheesh) and now that I have an income again everyone has stopped selling empeg goodies (boo).

If you could be cajoled into making your famous home docks again, even for a limited run, I'd definitely buy one. If you really want to be quit of them I'd sure love to see you pass the torch to someone so that I might possibly get a chance at one. If not, well I respect your right to make your own decisions and I'm sure I'll survive I just wish I'd been in a better position earlier.

-- Gary F.

I would like an MDF dock w/ supplies please.

Perhaps I've arrived @ this thread a little late but, I would most definitely want a complete MDF dock w/electrics if you could. I've been patiently waiting for another batch not realizing you planned on getting out of it altogether. I just thought you were taking a break from the last run.

Okay, if all goes well, these should happen in May 2005.

Cheers

The Home Docks page has now been updated with a current shop photo and status.

The dock shells in this run are constructed entirely of MDF (sorry, no ordinary wood tops/bottoms here), and are almost ready for glue-up now. I estimate first payment/shipment to happen within 10 days or so, unless my new Dell notebook computer arrives before then..

Cheers

I would love to buy a dock if any are still available.

Okay, it appears that I have sufficient good parts now for a total of about 15 MDF dock shells. Glue-up began today, and there's an updated photo on the Home Docks page showing some of the progress thus far.

Once I have some docks ready to sell, I'll post again here and begin accepting payments etc.. Those who have already expressed interest in this thread will likely get first crack at them.

This time around, the limiting factor is the number of "inner back" pieces.. these were the most difficult parts to create, as every cut (and there's a lot of cuts) has to be pretty much exactly in the right place, with sub-millimetre tolerance. I don't know if I'll ever want to make more of those parts once this lot sells out.

Cheers

Okay, I'm not going to be supplying anything other than the bare MDF shells, plus the internal ethernet cable.

So that means that there will be a need for someone else to supply 10-20 parts kits for wiring up these suckers. Either that, or each purchaser of a shell will then have to source their own parts in "quantity 1", raising the end cost somewhat.

As before, if we have a volunteer that others are happy with, then that person could order the parts and then remail kits to others etc, lowing everyone's costs. And that person will have the option to purchase as many of this run of shells as they want.. (corner the market!).

Perhaps they might even buy the lot, and wire them and then resell.

Anyone interested?

I have 10 all-MDF dock shells (unwired, except for internal ethernet patch cable) just about ready to mail. These shells are priced at US$80, shipping + paypal fees included. Overseas shipments will cost $20 more (airmail) and likely arrive sooner than USA shipments.

The following users get first dibs for the next 24 hours, after that it becomes first-come first served:

ladmo (got email, thanks)
caseyse
Rod
Gleep
elico (got email, thanks)
treize (got email, thanks)
BAKup (got email, thanks
Terminator (got email, thanks)
longhorn (got email, thanks)
banghi (got email, thanks)
l0ser (got email, thanks)
Foz
Snowshoe
smithj

If you are on the list above, then email me (mlord at pobox dot com) and identify yourself with name and mailing address. Do NOT send payment until I reply to you asking for Paypal.

A few extra shells will also get built sometime later this spring/summer, but we'll be scraping the bottom of the discards bin for those!

Cheers

Thus far, eight people from the original list have now replied by email, as noted in the edited posting above.

I can now take additional requests by email.

Today I stopped by the local electronics depot (tiny) to see if they had *any* of the electrical bits and pieces in stock, just toying with the idea of perhaps wiring up a few full docks. No luck. Nothing, nada.

Not even the special RJ45 crimp-on connectors I like -- which may mean a slight delay even on this first bunch of dock shells, since I do prewire that portion regardless (and there are NOT even 10 sets of connectors on hand .. oops!).

I will be sending out payment requests for the first of these shells as soon as I can wire up the internal ethernet patch cables (those RJ45 gizmos) and pack'em up for shipment.

Cheers

Oh yeah, everyone please note:

These are bare MDF shells, with only a small internal ethernet patch cable installed. These do NOT work as-is. You'll have to purchase elsewhere a docking connector, RCA jacks, and a DC power jack (for use with your AC Adapter) to make them usable. Plus a DB9 connector for the serial port if you want that. Plus wire it all up (not difficult).

Thus the discounted price. If I could still talk SWMBO into ordering all the parts here and wiring them, they'd cost an extra $100 or so each. No go.

Wiring instructions are on the Home Docks page.

Cheers!

A parts list that I put together.
The serial connector is missing from the list. If anyone can provide a link for that, and perhaps the AC Jack at Digikey, I will update it. Does someone here (USA) want to source these parts for distribution, or should we try to fend for ourselves?

Also, does that list look right?

There's a parts list (with many Digikey numbers) linked-to from the Home Docks page.

Yep. Which is what I went off of. But, it didn't have pricing or nice convenient links to the parts.

Ah, okay. But your list looked shorter than mine.. did you miss something from the original list?

Cheers

I didn't add the bits of wire, and I couldn't find the exact DB9 piece. I also didn't include the felt pads and I appear to have overlooked the Power Connectors.

Added Power Pins for Docking Connector.

Good. I just noticed my own list was missing "RJ45 data coupler" for the external ethernet socket.

Cheers

As of today, the first 13 of the new dock shells are now all in the mail to various destinations. I have two more here to sell, and no more (zero, nadda) in the pipeline -- having run completely out of back panels and inner panels, the trickiest pieces to make.

I'm hoping to hear back from Rod B. and Jeff B. on the final two, before looking for new takers.

Cheers

All are now gone.

-ml

Thanks Mark for all your hard work making these! my empegs thank you as well! I absolutly love my cherry dock and will love this new one just as much especially since I get the fun of wiring it up

Oh, just to add a little extra suspense and excitement.. some of the new dock shells are "two-toned" (similar to the middle 100 or so of the main run), and the the others are a more uniform "MDF brown/beige" colour. I boxed them all up plain before sticking address labels onto them, so no idea who gets which sub-variety. You'll just have to wait and see!

Cheers

I just got a present in the mail today!!

Great work Mark! Keep up the good work!

My two came today! Thanks Mark!

got mine as well! Thanks Mark!

What size screws are needed to attach the fan and sled plug?

For the fan, a pair of #4 x 3/4" round head "metal" screws.

For the docking connector, a pair of #4 x 1/2" round head "metal" screws.

[EDIT] I've just now added those to the parts list on the docks page..

-ml

Thanks again.

*runs out to the hardware store*

Don't forget the two #6 x 1/2" flat head wood screws for the underside of the lid!

These dock shells have one part "loose" in the packing (newspaper bits): a small machined MDF block that is essential for hooking up the internal ethernet cable.

Be sure not to toss it out with the packing materials!

There are photos on the docks page showing how to install this block.

Cheers

You mean that little block of wood I'm using as a door stop?

j/k Very nice work on the docks, everything just falls into place easily.

I got in the parts from digikey, and starting to wire it up. Looks fairly straight forward, I shouldn't burn myself or set the place on fire.

Okay, by now I expect that all of the dock shells should have reached their destinations. If you are expecting one, then check the Home Docks page (link at top) for a tracking number, and find out what's happended to it.

For the USA, the tracking numbers are for Canada Post's "Expedited Parcel" service, which translates into "surface parcel" or some such thing for the USPS.

Two of the shells have gone overseas: one to Britain, which ought to have arrived by now, and another to Australia -- which should be there now or within a few days I expect. No tracking numbers for these two, but delivery should be quite reliable in those parts of the world.

Cheers

Looks like maybe "Global Economy Parcel Post"? But the 6-9 days estimate makes it looks more like "Global Priority Mail". Ah, who knows? USPS options are remarkably confusing anyway, not helped by the fact that they don't seem to have a simple chart of them.

I doubt the USPS has any clue what it translates to either. When Mark sent me his old digital camera and a dock that I bought from him, they left the well insured package which explicitly required a signature in front of my door in a sketchy college student appartment building.

Matthew

Received mine. Beautiful. Thanks.

I got mine last week! Thanks, Mark! And thanks for the surprise! (I always enjoy reading the paper!)

Received mine. Thanks again Mark!