My latest project, 18" Dayton home sub.

zarrdoss

I decided to build myself a sub-woofer. I had a Dayton 240 watt plate amp and wanted to go big. I thought of a 15 inch but I have been there and done that so I decided on a 18” Dayton sub from PE. I was given a sheet of ¾” MDF and decided to go with a sealed design. I built it at 4.4 cu ft and braced the hell out of it. I went with a seal design for simplicity and just seem to sound better not to mention its already huge sealed. I don’t have any fancy woodworking tools just a Royobi 18v combo kit and some sanders. I use a piece of aluminum channel that I use for a rip fence and just clamp it on the stock, it works great. I used 2” screws and liquid nails, I recessed the screws so I can fill over them for painting. I got it all together and started sanding I sanded it with a orbital sander, and filled in the screws with wood filler. I rounded off the corners and made my grill and screwed it to the front so when I sanded it would be flush with the box.
I got cheap 97cent flat paint for a primer as it takes a bunch before it actually builds up, MDF soaks it up like a sponge. Heres what I have so far. The sub will be in next week, I will post pics of the progress and finished results.

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Conradicles

Wow I like that. Good job. I built an 18" sub for a custom car installation back in high school. Big subs rule!

Toolfan66

Holly crap dude that looks awesome, I am coming up when it's done.

zarrdoss

Thanks, I should have it done by next weekend. I am just now coming off the high from the paint fumes, lol

cnoat

Very Sweet!!

zarrdoss

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heres what the sub looks like, Due to back order difficulties I now have two of these coming.

Knucklehead

That looks really nice dude....did you find plans for this online?

zarrdoss

Knucklehead wrote: »

That looks really nice dude....did you find plans for this online?

Thanks! no I have been building enclosures (mainly for cars) for a long time and just got the idea and put it on paper and went to build it. I have built a few other home subs but none this big.

Polkersince85

zarrdoss wrote: »

I got cheap 97cent flat paint for a primer as it takes a bunch before it actually builds up, MDF soaks it up like a sponge.

Sanding sealer works good to start with. Seals and is easy to sand smooth. Looks like a fun project.

notnow2010

That's a huge sub. What other components do you need to make it work properly?

zarrdoss

just this

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-804

greyford1979

I was waiting for you to start building this thing:p Looking great so far, can't wait to see the final product and to hear your thoughts on how it sounds:D

Sherardp

Wicked project bro. Your work looks outstanding. Just in time for some War of the Worlds on BD here shortly. Wish I had the talent.

zarrdoss

Sherardp wrote: »

Wicked project bro. Your work looks outstanding. Just in time for some War of the Worlds on BD here shortly. Wish I had the talent.

Thanks, anyone can do this as long as you have the patience and do your research. I got the amp in loosely this morning as the paint needs a another day to dry.

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ben62670

Are you going to put wheels on that beast?

leroyjr1

Looking good!!!

leroyjr1

ben62670 wrote: »

Are you going to put wheels on that beast?

:):):)

notnow2010

Sherardp wrote: »

Wicked project bro. Your work looks outstanding. Just in time for some War of the Worlds on BD here shortly. Wish I had the talent.

Great looking Home Theater. I'm a newbie here and already impress to what I've seen and read. Nice forum.

notnow2010

zarrdoss wrote: »

just this

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-804

Thanks zarr. You just gave me something to think about...:cool:

zarrdoss

ben62670 wrote: »

Are you going to put wheels on that beast?

lol, I thought about it I have some but no afraid it would roll away when using it, lol The casters in the pic I had on a table so it would be easier to work on and roll out of the way. I put simple rubber feet on it for now, if it ever goes on carpet I will get some spikes. Cant wait till Wednesday when the sub comes in.:D

zarrdoss

finished it! I have to dial it in and break it in but wow is all I can say so far, a really well made sub for the money, the box has no leaks or rattles of any kind, the house however does, I have it hooked up to my 2.1 ch right now but it might find its way into the main HT. It sure sounds good with the 2.3tl right now, it gets much lower than they go. Well got to clean up the mess. Pics:D

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Cthulhu11

That looks great zarr!! i used that same sub when i built my HT sub went a little different way and veneered mine, but after seeing yours wish i would've just painted it haha.

zarrdoss

thanks man! I have not had a good experience with veneers but might try again someday This is the paint I used.

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here is a pic without dust sparkles



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Cthulhu11

it looks very good first diy home sub or what?

zarrdoss

No I have done others, one I put a healthy coat of rubberized bed-liner and it turned out good. This is the first in a long time. Thanks again!

Conradicles

I love subs that make SDA's look small !!!!!!!!!!

Great job and after you listen for some time, let us know how that amp performs with that sub.

Sounds crazy but I was thinking about building the exact same sub some time ago and you beat me to the task. Again, nice man nice.

Sherardp

Just checking back in on this thread. WOW that sub came out great. How does it sound bro? Any chance you'll build a twin for dual 18's? I imagine that bad boy slams.

zarrdoss

Thanks guys, I have another one of these on the way by accident. I had one on back order from PE and they pushed it back over a month so I found one from Solen In Canada and ordered it. Before I could cancel the one from PE it came in and they shipped it, it came in first and the one from Solen is still on its way, but real low on money now so it will have to wait if I do build another. This one is so overkill its not funny though. I sounds great after I listened for a while and it broke in a little, it is definitely one you can fell.

mhmacw

i love that finish! excellent job from a rattle can man. it looks pro shot to me. nice job!

greyford1979

Looks great!!!! Bet it sounds great as well. Job well done for sure!

20hz

zarrdoss wrote: »

thanks man! I have not had a good experience with veneers but might try again someday This is the paint I used.



I am to cheap to try venner I painted my last sub satin black , I used the parts express SA240 sub amp (like yours) I bought a dayton quatro 15" .
I put this in a sealed 7.3 cubic foot box . That size box only needs 150 watts with that driver max .
I think that plate amp only needs .5 volt to get full power out .
I have the amp at 1/4 gain and it shakes the earth , thats a great amp .
Mine makes a humm when the stereo is off , did yours do that ??
I read its common , what helps is NOT grounding AC plug for the amp.
Weird but it helps .
What I ended up doing is hooking it up to my panamax and it gets shut off completely w/that .