Cheap/Easy enclosures-

[FcukThis]

EDIT: Sorry.. Pics are kind of Huge.. didn't know how to resize them on the forum..

Just thought i'd share with you all;
Was inspired from a tutorial from audio site to create something of my own...
Actually.- my first working with wood.. and in that regard, first enclosure :]. Not bad for a 16 year old.


Tomorrow will be the official Listening day. Run that fekkin' beast from DLS a3 (temporary)


Go easy guys ':p

Raw materials.
-12" Diameter Concrete molding tubes - Home depot.
-Gorilla Glue
-Caulk *for reinforcement
-3/4" MDF
-Dedication, and Free time.
-Speaker Terminal Plates / Solder+Wire





My 'Blueprint'



Tight,





Didn't get a chance to go pic by pic during the install..
But just an idea -- Pretty much self explanatory
Gluing




Speaker terminal plates on opposite ends.


final product :







I'm not going to lie.. I did put a bit of work into these boxes. Amazingly enough, i didn't have to measure much out besides the volume and initial cuts.
Much of the box was done by eyeballing...Seeing how it was intended for a 'quick' temporary test box.

-I wasn't so fortunate with 30 minute procedures like the some of the skilled woodworkers on here. But--Overall it was pretty straight forward. And i'm proud of what i got :].
It's very solid.. i'm quite suprised. I could probably hop on my box and not have it show any signs of torment whatsoever.
Cost : 8$ tube + 6$ gorilla glue homedepot, 1$ screws, ~12$ 3/4 Mdf. (i forgot exact cost...).
Cheap and affordable.. I'm happy, and thats all that counts.

[Spades]

its a nifty idea...i would recommend "painting" the inside of the box with fiberglass resin though.

for one, because it will completely seal the box, spreading the internal pressure more evenly to ensure it doesnt blow out the glue seams. for two, it will prolly sound better and perhaps hit harder. the reason i say that is because those tubes are relatively thin, and because the material may not give the best tone.

just a thought.

[FcukThis]

hehe. Exactly what i thought too,
however.. thinking in relations to the structural integrity.. Cylinders are 2nd best in withstanding pressure, other than spheres. ie. oxygen tanks, submarines. pressure is spread across surface evenly in this regard as well. (i'm pretty sure?)

Strong enough for me-i sat in one of them.. they took it. Knock on them, and its like knocking on wood for me. very little resonance in fact. We'll just have to see tomorrow. keep it updated.

No idea if they'll like 8w7 @ 600 watts though.

[Nexus1155]

ok i very much applaud your effort, and all honesty it is a cool project. But you know you expended more effort on making that than a regular box along with maybe making is sound worse and being more bulky...

Not trying to flame, but if you like working with stuff like that you would love www.fiberglassforums.com where i hang out....it will show you how to build Grade A show quality stuff and if that was your first working with wood, that is a very good job....be lucky it comes that easy to you

[Spades]

well, im sure its structure isnt that bad, im just thinking some resin couldnt hurt. those subs are most likely going to hit hard, and while im sure concrete tubes are very strong and dense for their thickness, you are still dealing with about 1/2 an inch less material thickness than a standard box using MDF.

anyway, a coat of resin will only improve strenth and sound quality...i guess in my mind if i am building a custom enclosure, 12 bucks worth of resin and hardener for extra strenth and better sound is worth it to me.

[FcukThis]

haha. for sure :].
it's a no-brainer actually. just dont feel like grabbin some extra resin for a temp box such as this.
once that comes, i'll be building some sick enclosures for these :]

yeah.. no offense taken at all.
i didn't mention... these are temporary.. i just want to have them in my car while my install process for glassing goes on.
i'm still working on my door pods.. so its just something to keep me entertained.


Building a real box would've required more cuts/bracing/measuring.. all the more; way more time. no use for a temporary.
I Really really REALLY dont think its going to sound like crap. I got the concept from Diyma.. a few people created dummy enclosures using the same matierals. And they were amazed at how well it was. If such audiophiles approve of this method.. i'm sure i will too.... who knows. it works for me at least. and it makes sense :]

[FcukThis]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq2jTFm1OLY

[Spades]

ah. well, i think we all looked at them and there was a fair amount of work in them, so we all figured it was a long term set up.

on the subject though, more bracing around the pods to add strenth to the case, and a liquid fiberglass or epoxy resin coating the inside, perhaps dabbing polyfiber fleece into the liquid as it hardens....would make a box like that pretty close to perfect i would bet.

[sportin83]

seems like the tubes would be weak on the sides and flex under pressure.

[FcukThis]

I might switch to a jvc w15gti ... :]
or two diymas.

Still have to decide what's going to happen.

[Spades]

Originally Posted by sportin83

seems like the tubes would be weak on the sides and flex under pressure.

a cylinder is stronger than a box, air expansion is spread across the whole case, rather than a flat surface. those tubes are pretty strong, personally though, i would still strenthen it with fiberglass. they wont really flex, but they can expand, vibrate, and lack the density to make it a proper box.