Hole cutting for subs....

brettw22

I have a dremel that i was going to use to cut a circular hole for my sub, but the thing apparently is a POS that doesn't have any desire to cut more than 1/8" every 3-5 minutes, so that's not gonna happen (yes, I'm using the right bit).

Is a jigsaw the best thing to do this or are there better tools to cut a very round hole?

ben62670

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=365-250

brettw22

Interesting, but I'm wanting to go and get something tonight so I can get this part of the project done and finished.........

EDIT: Looks like the router is probably the best way to go with this. I'm sure they've got something at HD to cut circles with........thanks for that.......i don't do the whole woodworking thing usually so i didn't even think of a router.

ben62670

You can try to cut close with a jig saw, and then use a drum sander to clean the edges. You can get small drum sanders at lowes or home depot for about $10. It fits in any drill.
Ben

dolfan87

Brett- The router and circle jig is the best way to cut the wood, however if you are careful and go slowly, a jigsaw will work just fine.

lpreston

The less teeth on the blade, the better. Go slow and nobody will know what you cut it with (especially with the sub mounted).

Deadof_knight

But a router with a jig is professional looking at its highest...

exalted512

since everyone sees the hole that you cut under the sub...

use a jig saw.
-Cody

brettw22

Wow......HD doesn't have the circular tool for routers, so I got a rotozip. I went around that thing in about 2 minutes and it was perfect.

All in all, not a terrible $80 (tool, plus $20 circle attachment)..........

hoosier21

brettw22 wrote:

Wow......HD doesn't have the circular tool for routers, so I got a rotozip. I went around that thing in about 2 minutes and it was perfect.

All in all, not a terrible $80 (tool, plus $20 circle attachment)..........

100 for a one time thing, a cheapo jigsaw what have taken care of you

but now you can sell the used roto to me

MacLeod

Ive never used anything but a jigsaw for hole cutting. Hell Ive built all my boxes with nothing but a jigsaw.

God Id give anything for a table saw......and a place to use it.

Joelsbass

MacLeod wrote:

God Id give anything for a table saw......and a place to use it.

I know what ya mean... can't wait to live somewhere with a garage so i can get some of those 'MAN TOOLS' i always drool over at stores... Table Saws, circular saws, lathes, full sized tool boxes and the likes...

oh for a garage and a $10,000 shopping spree

exalted512

MacLeod wrote:

Hell Ive built all my boxes with nothing but a jigsaw.

and some of them only have 4 sides!!! Hes a talented **** with a jigsaw;)
-Cody

MTXMAN

exalted512 wrote:

and some of them only have 4 sides!!! Hes a talented **** with a jigsaw;)
-Cody

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lpreston

exalted512 wrote:

and some of them only have 4 sides!!! Hes a talented **** with a jigsaw;)
-Cody

This I gotta see..:D

Deadof_knight

Ive used only a jig saw and things are always a lill off the holes always have a coned entry , Corners arent perefect and have since moved on too better fitment with better tools. This wont be the only time he uses this tool He will use this dremel thing over and over there are so many different uses its a great tool.

We all start somewhere and end up somewhere else by learning from our ways....

MacLeod

exalted512 wrote:

and some of them only have 4 sides!!! Hes a talented **** with a jigsaw;)
-Cody

Dont you have an install to finish?

brettw22

oops.....

Joelsbass

MacLeod wrote:

Dont you have an install to finish?

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Priceless!

sntnsupermen131

MacLeod wrote:

Dont you have an install to finish?

Dont you have one to START?
-Cody

MacLeod

LOL!

Im actually heading out to the car right now to do some "scouting" to see how much of a problem Im going to have.

Man this car is built really tight and there aint a whole lot of room to squeeze wiring thru. Should be a chore.

exalted512

Good luck finding a spot to get your power wire through the firewall

Hope you have a good set of drill bits
-Cody

Red230SX

I've used nothing better for hole cutting in thick MDF than my Ryobi 18 Volt "Roto Tool" it's pretty much a clone of the RotoZip, came in my Ryobi 6-Pack setup and uses high speed steel side cutting bits (sort of like two fluted end mills) and will plunge into 3/4" MDF and cut it like nobody's buisness. It also has a cicle attatchment so you drill a small pilot hole in the center, adjust for the diameter of the hole and in a minute you have a perfectly round hole.

Deadof_knight

The rotozip and ryobis have remade the market in alot of areas nice tolls they are ...

ledhed

MacLeod wrote:

God Id give anything for a table saw......and a place to use it.

I'm sure we could work something out. Use of our garage/workshop for an award-winning install;) Only 45 minutes away after all

MacLeod

exalted512 wrote:

Good luck finding a spot to get your power wire through the firewall

Hope you have a good set of drill bits
-Cody

You aint kidding!!!

The door panels dont seem like theyre going to be a problem. The tweeter will be a pain in the **** but shouldnt be anything major.

But running the power wire is going to be the biggest ****!! I can see anywhere I could run it thru!! God Im not looking forward to that at all.

I almost think I might farm that job out. Run down to Radio Clinic and see what theyll charge me to run the power wire back to the trunk.

I did figure out where Im going to put my subs and amp rack tho. Gonna stick it in the front of the trunk with the sub firing into the car thru the seats and then make the amp board completely hide the sub box with the amps, processor and dist block (yes Ill be using a dist block) all mounted to it.

I also think I found a good LLC. This one from David Navone. http://davidnavone.com/adaptor_products.htm Its the NE-7V

Claims to turn an OEM head unit's output signal to a better one than that of an aftermarket HU! $20, wouldnt be losing much if I tried it and it didnt work.

exalted512

I thought you didnt use dave navone equipment?

Hopefully those doors arent like my g/f's civic, otherwise, if youre planning on putting the 6.5s in the door, youre going to need something to cut metal. For you and youre apartment situation, I recommend the $15 grinder from Harbor Freight. Worked wonders on my truck when I was making the hole for my 8's
-Cody

MacLeod

Yeah, Im still steamed about the crap he pulled about a year ago but if he's got stuff that works, I might as well buy from him.

Have any idea how much a JL CleanSweep is? That is the ideal thing I need. Uses DSP to flatten the signal, then bumps it up with an 8 volt RMS line driver AND has signal sensing turn on and will provide a turn on lead for my amps.

So the 6.5's wont work in the Civic??? I hope they fit in the Accord. If I cut metal, that bumps me up a class......thats not good!

brettw22

I don't know what the guy did at the tweeter, but 6.5s go into an accord...........but they do push the factory speaker cover out a little bit causing some rattling..........more so on my passenger door, but irritating nonetheless

MacLeod

Thats irritating.

Guess Ill have to figure something out on that too.

exalted512

Well, the stock speaker was a 6.5, but the way it was setup the basket was on the outside of the door panel and the only thing that went through the metal was the magnet.

CleanSweep are just shy of $300 I think...Shouldve went with the 360.2 instead of the H701...you wouldnt be worrying about using the stock HU
-Cody