cutting mdf board

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=105513
Printed Date: June 09, 2024 at 7:44 AM

Topic: cutting mdf board

Posted By: draggin waggin
Subject: cutting mdf board
Date Posted: June 16, 2008 at 11:15 PM

I'm making a wedge enclosure for two 12's. It's actually a trapezoid shape so I can mount my amps and cap on the back (don't worry I already have an HO alternator, the cap is purely for looks).

The question is how do I cut the board at an angle so I can seal it to the base board?

-------------
yeah........

Replies:

Posted By: dragon51
Date Posted: June 17, 2008 at 12:29 AM

Use a skill saw and lock your angle you want.

Yep sure can mount your amps to the back of the box, but it just as easy to make a amp rack out of the extra mdf and you can make it look a lot nicer since you can run all the wires behind the amp board for a cleaner look.

Posted By: draggin waggin
Date Posted: June 17, 2008 at 1:31 AM

thanks that sounds good. Could I do the same thing with a jigsaw?

As for the amp rack, I was gonna make the trapezoid box but have a separating piece in the middle to close off the sub section and I could run the wires through the empty amp section

        -----------
subs /     [ wires\ amps
      /______]_______\

crappy illustration but you get the picture

-------------
yeah........

Posted By: draggin waggin
Date Posted: June 17, 2008 at 1:35 AM

--------------------
       /          |        \
subs /   polyfil | wires    \   amps
     /____________|___________\

perhaps this looks better

-------------
yeah........

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: June 17, 2008 at 6:19 AM

You can do the same with a jigsaw. But unless you are a jigsaw Ninja, I really wouldn't recommend using a jigsaw to build a box. A table saw or at least a skill saw would be MUCH better.

Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: June 17, 2008 at 8:48 AM

i am an idiot wrote:

You can do the same with a jigsaw. But unless you are a jigsaw Ninja, I really wouldn't recommend using a jigsaw to build a box. A table saw or at least a skill saw would be MUCH better.

Jigsaw Ninja? posted_image

-------------
It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: June 17, 2008 at 8:53 AM

Should I have said Jigsaw Jedi?

Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: June 17, 2008 at 9:17 AM

The Force is strong with this one...

-------------
It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

Posted By: bullseye753
Date Posted: June 17, 2008 at 11:46 AM

i just got done building a box and had to use a jig saw to attempt a corner fillet b/c i didnt have a miter saw just laying around.. did NOT work.. especially if it needs to be flush with the rest of the box.. like they said - unless youre a jigsaw master i would rent a compound miter saw.. or if you could use a circular saw somehow..

-------------

Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: June 17, 2008 at 8:47 PM

Here's an angle calculator that I often refer to when cutting wedge shapes. It will give you the angle of each cut. Best way is to set the angle on a table saw, but you can get real close by marking the cut angle using a protractor and setting up the piece solidly so that you can run a circular saw blade through it.

The best way to achieve a secure joint is to add an additional strip of MDF on the inside of the angled cut end. This will add greatly to the glued area. Make the angled cut on the strip by first assembling (before glueing) the angled cut to the flat piece. Copy the angle of the inside (there's a tool for copying angles, or you can improvise) and slice the angle off the bracing strip. Glue it all up when you've found it to fit.

posted_image

-------------
Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.

Posted By: draggin waggin
Date Posted: June 17, 2008 at 9:17 PM

Thanks yall

-------------
yeah........