Hello everyone! I hope you’re having a lovely day and enjoying yourself immensely! I have a quick question for you. I recently bought a pvc (polyvinylchloride) hockey drying rack kit and was wondering if you could help me figure out how to make it better. I will admit that it is an amazing product and I think everyone should own one. But I am a bit puzzled as to how to modify it to make it even better. So if you have any ideas, please let me know! Thanks so much for your time.
Table of Contents
The Basics
To begin with, let’s take a quick look at how the pvc hockey drying rack kit works. This is a plastic pallet (you’ll learn more about them below) with metal rails running along the edges. There are two shelves: one is made of plastic, the other one is made of wood with a metal bar running along its front edge. The racks are held together with metal clips and the whole thing is held together with plastic ties. If you want to learn more, you can click here to see the kit’s full specs. Now, I own two of these racks and they work great! I use them to dry my various beers and whiskeys. But the problem is that the plastic shelves and metal rails are not indestructible and over time, they will break down and eventually snap off. So, if you drink and game a lot, then this may be a problem. Especially since the shelves are not designed to be taken apart and reattached. So if you’re looking for an indestructible piece that you can use for years and years, then this probably isn’t the best option. But if you just use the product occasionally to dry your cans and bottles, then I don’t think you’ll have any issues. The other problem is that the wood shelves aren’t very stable. They are quite wobbly and almost feel like they would break with just a little shove. If you’re looking for a piece that you can use to store books, or ornaments, or any heavy objects, then this may not be the best option either. Especially since the shelves don’t have any feet and are only held up by the metal bars running along their edges. So if you want to keep your books or ornaments on the shelves for the whole night, then I don’t think this is the best option either. Overall, these are great for people who want to dry their beer and whiskey, but I wouldn’t recommend using it for anything else. The good news is that there are ways to fix both of these issues. So let’s get to it!
The Solution
As the name suggests, the solution is to fix both of these problems. So let’s get to it! First off, let’s replace the metal rails with wooden ones. When it comes to wood and aluminum, there is always the possibility of corrosion…
…so while this might not be a problem in your case, it never hurts to be safe. Now you could also use stainless steel or any other type of steel for the metal rails, but the wooden ones have the advantage of being more flexible and of acting as a buffer between the items stored on the shelves and the walls. Ideally, you want a piece that can handle some heavy object without any problems. But the wooden sides also keep the items on the shelves from sliding off due to their own weight in the case of ice cream or any type of dessert.
As for the shelves, instead of using plastic ones, why not use glass or acrylic? Not only are they much more stable than plastic, but they can also be polished and cleaned easily if needed. When it comes to storing items such as jewelry or small delicate objects, the stability of the glass and acrylic shelves make them perfect. Finally, while we’re at it, let’s put a locking mechanism on the front of the rack so that it can be locked when needed to prevent any accidents when opening up the unit to take out the cans or bottles. This will be extremely helpful especially if you have a large group of people coming over for a party and you don’t want them to accidentally fall off due to the intoxication of the alcohol they are drinking.
The Best Decision
So, in the end, it comes down to this: the best solution is a combination of the two. You could purchase a glass or acrylic shelf with a locking mechanism on it, as well as replace the metal rails with wooden ones.
This way, you will achieve the best of both worlds. Glass and acrylic will be more stable than before because of the absence of metal, while the wooden sides will provide a great buffer between the items stored on the shelves and the walls. Just make sure you put some plastic ties on the edges of the rack in case any of the items stored on the shelves shift while drying and cause an accident.
Of course, this is just one option among many. You could also use clear plastic bags to store your items in, or ceramic tiles on the floors to keep them from being damaged by water or moisture. With all of the options available to you, there is definitely something for everyone! Good luck out there.