First project

Midnite Mick
Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
edited June 2006 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
Well I have made up my mind. I am going to "attempt" to do a DIY speaker. I have no cabinet making experience, nor do I have any electronic experience....sooo it should be no problem then, right? I am new to higher end audio equipment (only started in January) but deep down I knew that it would lead to this as I am an overall hands on type of guy (have down a lot of home renovations, also I do custom fitting, and repair of golf clubs on the side). It is a natural progression for me. I am purchasing the MDF this evening.

My first project? No not a subwoofer. No not a two way bookshelf monitor. That would be too simple. It is a 3 way, 4 driver (TMWW) tower speaker. I looked at a couple that were available here in Canada and this one appealed to me the most. One reason is because I really like the Usher tweeter (hopefully it will sound similiar to when I heard it in the Ushers). It is the Exodus 2641. Here is the link http://www.diycable.com/main/product_info.php?cPath=24_92&products_id=571 I plan on building it with an external crossover, making it easier to tweek the end result. I haven't decided on the cosmetics yet though.

Anybody have any thoughts, advice, suggestions? (could even use a little encouragement). Thanks.

Mike
Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
Consonance cd120T
Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
Usher CP 6311

Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
Post edited by Midnite Mick on
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,732
    edited June 2006
    Woodworking tips...

    Unless you have a helper, buy atleast* 6 clamps with rubber tips... just dont get the quick clamps - they dont hold.

    The turning knob ones are harder to do on your own, but they work better in the end...

    This will keep your cabinet square and plumb. And make sure your cuts are the same length...NOTHING is going to hurt you more than have two large or small cuts - especially on the outside lengths (out of square?) -- and if you are using a LARGE piece of MDF as your starting piece, make sure you cut them about .5"+ bigger on all sides and make sure you have atleast ONE straight edge.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited June 2006
    Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:
    Woodworking tips...

    Unless you have a helper, buy atleast* 6 clamps with rubber tips... just dont get the quick clamps - they dont hold.

    The turning knob ones are harder to do on your own, but they work better in the end...

    This will keep your cabinet square and plumb. And make sure your cuts are the same length...NOTHING is going to hurt you more than have two large or small cuts - especially on the outside lengths (out of square?) -- and if you are using a LARGE piece of MDF as your starting piece, make sure you cut them about .5"+ bigger on all sides and make sure you have atleast ONE straight edge.


    Thanks for the tips on the clamps. Will do. As far as having different sizes, as long as you cut all the same pieces while keeping the same setting all should be the same. Wouldn't cutting everything a half inch bigger only make more work and lead to size problems of individual pieces in the end. Just my thoughts. Thank you.

    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,732
    edited June 2006
    When you are dealing with a 4x8 sheet of wood...

    If you cut it to the EXACT size, there is a HUGE chance you will mess up. In shop I will have 2 to 3 guys helping me run a piece of wood that size through the machine and it will STILL come out wrong. That blade only needs a slight shift to go off track...

    Trust me, if you cut 10" pieces to 11" and then cut them down to size...its much easier to deal with 11x15" pieces of wood than 4x8'...

    You always take away but never add back...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited June 2006
    okay, will do that as well. Thanks.

    edit: I guess if you make the cut half inch bigger, because there is a Huge chance that it won't be perfectly straight I the remaining edge is then useless as well. If this is the case you will then only have 2cuts per sheet if full width of sheet is needed. Would this be correct.

    It would probably be better then to cut a large chunk of material off of the sheet and it should stay straight because there is a larger amount of material on the table saw itself. Would get more use from the sheet. Would this be correct?

    Thanks again.

    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,732
    edited June 2006
    What I do...

    Say... you needed four 48" panels for the side... Thats 8 feet, but a full sheet is 1" bigger...

    So I would go ahead and cut with the manufactured edge against the fence and run it through, cut that in half (make sure that will work out) - then flip it and do it again... this way the small stuff can be cut into larger piece much easier. You can cut the smaller stuff with a miter guage set to 90 degrees if you dont have a radial arm saw...

    This will get you that 90 degree cut on one side, then you can go back to the fence or continue with the guage...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited June 2006
    Start smaller. Bookshelf speakers are not as easy to build as you think they are.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited June 2006
    Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:
    What I do...

    Say... you needed four 48" panels for the side... Thats 8 feet, but a full sheet is 1" bigger...

    So I would go ahead and cut with the manufactured edge against the fence and run it through, cut that in half (make sure that will work out) - then flip it and do it again... this way the small stuff can be cut into larger piece much easier. You can cut the smaller stuff with a miter guage set to 90 degrees if you dont have a radial arm saw...

    This will get you that 90 degree cut on one side, then you can go back to the fence or continue with the guage...

    Got it. Thanks Sid.

    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited June 2006
    Early B. wrote:
    Start smaller. Bookshelf speakers are not as easy to build as you think they are.

    I never thought any of this would be easy. If I did I probably would have done it sooner. I just give things a shot, as I have nothing to lose is my thinking (except maybe a finger or two).:D My initial statement saying that it would be too easy was sarcasm.

    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
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  • Refefer
    Refefer Posts: 1,280
    edited June 2006
    No tips from me, just a general wishing of goodluck!

    I've been very interested in the exodus series since I love the Adire drivers used. Those things are the most incredible subwoofer drivers I've ever seen. Tell us how the whole thing sounds when it's done ;)
    Lovin that music year after year.

    Main 2 Channel System

    Polk SDA-1B,
    Promitheus Audio TVC SE,
    Rotel RB-980BX,
    OPPO DV-970HD,
    Lite Audio DAC AH,
    IXOS XHA305 Interconnects

    Computer Rig

    Polk SDA CRS+,
    Creek Audio 5350 SE,
    Morrow Audio MA1 Interconnect,
    HRT Music Streamer II
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  • kingkip
    kingkip Posts: 401
    edited June 2006
    I don't even use a table saw anymore to cut panel stock. Sid is right, too hard to make decent cuts even with someone helping. I now use a circular saw, with a good blade, and a setup like this. I can make really straight cuts now, without help. Just take the time to measure accurately and set it up right.

    Good luck
    There are two ways to argue with women. Both of them are wrong.
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