Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Other Stuff => Cabinets-Speakers => Topic started by: sawdust on June 18, 2009, 01:15:56 pm

Title: Speaker cabinets made from plywood, anyone with pics?
Post by: sawdust on June 18, 2009, 01:15:56 pm

I am looking for some inspiration, I have to build a 2x12 and 2 head cabinets. I would like to see some examples made from plywood, if any one cares to share there pics. The cabinets will not have Tolex just finished with stain, or oil, or poly, very simply done.

Dave

Title: Re: Speaker cabinets made from plywood, anyone with pics?
Post by: Frankenamp on June 19, 2009, 12:33:08 pm

I'm currently doing a interesting cabinet with plywood. I'm on an antique (lookin') radio kick, and been figuring out what to try. The easiest wood to work with is going to be 1/2" (12mm) Baltic Birch, but I have some el-cheapo1/2" arauco (radiata pine) plywood that I am experimenting with. I'm doing a 1X12 that will be about 24" wide and 16" tall and 13" or 14" deep. the kicker is the corners. I'm making a radius using 5 gallon bucket lid as a convenient reference. (I want to bend the ply not break it!) If you want to do a 2X12, just make the cabinet taller- say 30-32" or so. Do not put your speakers side by side if you are interested in decent dispersion. 12's are beamy enough as it is, so horizontal placement is asking for trouble unless you cross-fire them. To make the corners, I am cutting kerfs on 1/2" centers (every half inch) from 7" to 17" bottom to top where I want the wood to bend. With a 45" wide baffle/side piece it gives me 7" straight sides and 11.5" +/- front, which, with a 1/4" spacer (shave the sides a touch) gives plenty of room for a 12" driver. I'm gonna wet the wood and hit it with a heat gun to make a little steam, and then gently bend it around a form and let it dry, then PL it to the top & bottom pieces (oversized). When the PL dries, I'll round over the edges with a 1/2 or 3/8 round over bit. I'm going to cut & rout some decorative slots in the front for the speaker opening, kinda like some of the vintage radios have... I haven't decided whether to go open or closed back yet, most vintage speakers will do ok in a two foot sealed box, since you wont need anything below 100Hz. If this works out, I'll try for a cathedral style box with an 8 or 10" ... leave a space in the bottom for the amp chassis and knobs... maybe a inset replacable strip for the knobs.

This isn't completed yet, I may have to utter a few oaths and get some bendy-board at one of the warehouses, but I hope knot. Mebbe Gabe will have an Idear or three- he's the master luthier with all the fancy-dancy tools... and he's probably forgotten more wood-lore than I'll ever larn!  :wink:

Comments & witticisims invited :smiley: