Time to build a box: Material?

[PaulB]

OK, so I "dissasembled" my P5 gloatspeakers... time to start planning the new cabs. For you veteran DIYers, is there a significant difference between MDF/particleboard (what the originals were)? I was originally planning on solid oak, but frankly I don't know that these justify that kind of expense... after all they aren't JBLs

Also... any tips on fabricating grilles and stretch the cloth? Not much experience with that.

Thanks for any tips or links!

PaulB

[Zilch]

MDF is the material of choice.

Solid hardwood like the oak you suggest would have resonance issues.

http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/s...ead.php?t=7941

[jim campbell]

i had very good luck with a product called plum(b) creek board which was supposed to be much more dense than mdf.i dont know where or how to get this stuff but im sure a few phone calls would do it.the only drawback was the 10 cu ft cabs were incredibly heavy.i lined them with accoustic foam and braced them well and they are still in use twenty some years later

[Gary L]

Skip the idea of solid Oak for sure! Oak has Tanic Acid in it and is not good for interior spaces or speaker cones or foams.
If you use Oak plywood then deffinately seal the inside wood with either poly or a good shelac.

MDF is the material of choice these days but wear a dust mask when cutting it. I would shy away from particle board simply because we never know what glues were used to bind it or what effect it might have on the components if there is some strange chemicle.

Good idea when building with MDF to glue and screw and pre drill all holes with a countersink bit. Standard Yellow Carpenters glue works great but I hate Gorilla glue even if it does hold great!

Gary

[scott fitlin]

You could do what Widget did for me! 3/4 mdf, bonded to 3/4 Baltic Birch!

Heavy, and dense, like concrete, NO rattles, buzzes, or other extraneous cabinet distortions!

WILL definitely last a lifetime.

[MJC]

Like everyone else has said, mdf is the best choice. You can always cover the outside with wood veneer. I bought a 4x8 sheet of Ash veneer(1/32" thick) to cover my main L212s and sub1500 boxes and then stained them with Sherwin-Williams Black Stain concentrate.