1/2'' MDF to make small sub enclosures?

Hey guys, before you start yellin, i know i know i know, that I should really be using 3/4". But, My buddy had 2-4x12 sheets of MDF he was gonna scrap, so I took them. I was wondering if it would be safe to use this, to make small sub enclosures? I have some pretty mean subs, so i'm sure the answer is no, but if i can save some money, it'd be great. I was thinking about making 3= .5 cu.ft. sub boxes. One for each of my subs. I have MA Audio, 100D6 series subs. Let me know asap. Thanks.

stack them and then make box.

If i read the post right.....

Glue the two together, and clamp them down. Once dry  you'll have a 1 inch  4x 12 sheet of MDF

I would think the two 1/2 inch would be lil stiffer.  What are you running anyways? if its a couple of 8's 1/2in will do you fine.

i used less than a 4x8 sheet of mdf for my 1.3cu foot x2 box for my 12's

Heres another option. Build your box out of your free 1/2" and brace it really well with good wood everywhere you can get it, silicon all of the seams inside, then use resin in the box ( make sure you use rubber gloves). A few coats of resin will strengthen the box, help on dampening, and give you a lighter box than using 2 1/2"sheets glued together.

With all of the bracing and resin and woofer displacement, calculate your air space with an extra .1 or .2 cf or so.

Good Luck

Heres another option. Build your box out of your free 1/2" and brace it really well with good wood glue everywhere you can get it, silicon all of the seams inside, then use resin in the box ( make sure you use rubber gloves). A few coats of resin will strengthen the box, help on dampening, and give you a lighter box than using 2 1/2"sheets glued together.

With all of the bracing and resin and woofer displacement, calculate your air space with an extra .1 or .2 cf or so.

Good Luck

I'm pretty sure what he is talking about is fiberglass resin.  It's the same thing just the name is split up.  You can easily find it at just about any store that sells automotive.  I know that walmart and fleetfarm also have it.  It's usually about 25 a gallon but you can buy it in smaller quantities.  They carry stuff made by bondo. 

I don't know why I didn't think of that.  I've done that to wimpy boxes before to.  It can work out pretty slick but the resin can be a real mess if you are not careful.  Do like tuneman said and use rubber gloves and also use dropcloth to cover your working area and anything else you don't want to have permanet drops of resin.

NaughtyLMnky wrote:

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I'd just do like Maxst said and stack the two 1/2 inch sheets for a 1 inch thickness.  I've committed some overkill before and stacked 3/4 inch mdf for some fifteens before.  It turned out really tight.  Otherwise if you don't want to go that route just use lots of bracing and glue.  Either way it will be a little bit more work, but for the free mdf its worth it.  Free usually sounds pretty good either way you do it.

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This reminds me of something funny I saw the other day.  A friend's teenaged son was showing me his first stereo install.  It all looked pretty good until he got to the trunk.  He had used 1/2" *particleboard* for the sub enclosure.  Now I know that even MDF is technically "particleboard", since it's extremely small pieces of wood held together with glue, but this stuff was honest-to-god particleboard, the kind with the big splintery chunks all pressed together with a little bit of glue.

I didn't want to give him a hard time, since it was his first-ever effort, and he was very proud of it, but I think if he still has that box the next time I see him, I may build a proper box with him as a project.

Scott Gardner