difference between MDF and glass

never really heard a 'glass box compared to one built out of MDF.. how much difference?

Glass doesn't sound as good.  MOst people use FB to encorporate a box into the smallest area possible, or to make it look as cool as possiblw.  Thats why when i build a FB enclosure i make sure it has atleast 4 sides out of MDF, because im not a big fan of FG sounds.  Most people probally wouldn't know the diffrence, but i would.  Just a personal prefrence on my partGovenor of Jimcinati

93' GMC Safari XT

A glass box can conform to odd shapes inside a vehicle box and can mould into eleaborate shapes. It does flex and resonate though whereas MDF doesn't really unless you are using 1/2 inch or are pushing some serious SPL. There isn't any difference in terms of sound quality between the two, but there is a difference in terms of the enclsure's ability to affect the sound. If a box resonates and flexes during bass notes it changes the sound. A box made from 3/4 inch MDF and braced properly will generally sound better. Unless you can add sufficient mass and thickness to the walls of a glass box, those weaker areas will alter the box's sound characteristics while playing. A combination of glass and MDF works great when space is minimal and oddly shaped. sparky

Ahh gotcha. Reason Im asking is I want to make a box in the shape of a spare tire. Now I can cut MDF in a circle 25 times to make the thickness right.. or just make a front, middle, back out of MDF, and glass the rest.. Figured it would be cheaper and easier to just make a front, middle, and rear from MDF and glass the rest.

You can do it many ways. If you can get some wiggle board it is designed to bend in one direction and will work as the outer ring. I would recomend that you double it up and laminate or glue the two pieces together for strength as the board is usually only 3/8" thick. If you glass the whole thing afterwards it will strengthen the joints that much more.sparky

well it sounds like you have the right idea as to how u want to do ur enclosure.. and i would do it the same way u r.. make as much of it out of mdf as you can.. only FG what you have to ... the work will go alot quicker, its cheaper, and you don't have to worry about getting the FG thick enough..S.O.B custsoms.. South Omaha, Nebraska

The only part i would worry about using MDF with, is the top.  The rest will have enough support due to the well surround, so i wouldn't worry about using MDF there.  Govenor of Jimcinati

93' GMC Safari XT

cutout a circle of MDF for the bottom, get flexible plywood (I think is what he meant by wiggle board) wrap it around the inside, lay glass down around the edges of the bottom (connecting it to the MDF) then just start your sub. for extra strength you could double the inside, or just add a layer or two of glass to the inside.