Need help making a box
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=40937
Printed Date: May 19, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Topic: Need help making a box
Posted By: markcars
Subject: Need help making a box
Date Posted: October 15, 2004 at 8:14 AM
I want to build a new box for my subwoofer because I am not happy with the one I built. Unfortunately, I don't live in a house with a backyard or a basement, and can't cut wood etc in my away-from-ground-floor apartment. Does anyone have any tips or advise on where I can go to cut wood, drill holes etc? If anyone knows any carpenter or a garage that does provide such help, that would be great. And yes, I don't mind paying a price for the service. Main point is I want the specs to be exactly like my design.
Replies:
Posted By: fatgotti
Date Posted: October 15, 2004 at 8:40 AM
Almost every Lowe's , Home Depot, local lumber yard will cut wood for you to your exact sizes just sit down and configure every single piece and size you will need if you catch them (Home Depot) in the middle of the day it is like $0.25 a cut but if you go in later in the evening when they are not as busy most of the younger guys will cut it for free. I usually go to Home Depot because they carry 3/4 inch thick MDF for $22 a sheet just remember to pre drill all of your holes or you will split the edges.. P.S. if you have to, assemble it right in the parking lot (if you own or can borrow a cordless drill.) ------------- Fatgotti Yeah my name is John and I am FAT!! YEAH BABY
Posted By: markcars
Date Posted: October 15, 2004 at 9:48 AM
Thanks for the info. NOw there is just one more thing I need and that is: how do I cut the round hole for the speaker. I think they won't do it at Home Depot. I have all the tools I need but my round cutter (Rotozip tool) is not cordless. Maybe I can use my power inverter. I think I will do it at the parking lot tomorrow then. I was worried about working outside. Last Saturday, I was putting fog-lamps in my vehicle and since the power wires were black and red and I was putting an inline fuseholder, two times a car(different cars) stopped about 20 feet near me and were looking at me as if I was building a bomb. The second time, I could hear the guy calling someone on radio and he waited there for about 20 minutes and then left. This is right in the middle of a residential block and cars never stop right in the middle unless to go to a house nearby. That is why I was worried to do any more car work outside.
Thanks again.
Posted By: fatgotti
Date Posted: October 15, 2004 at 11:03 AM
Every time I have ever worked in a parking lot or street someone stopped or looked at me funny but the love of the cars keeps me focused and unembarassed you have to think of all the other times in the parking lot with the crowds standing dismal looking at your work or the sound coming from your ride.. ANd your rotozip will work in a power inverter but take it real slow with your cuts and have alot of extra fuses on hand for your power inverter and your cig plug fuse panel. By no means do I suggest it but unfortanetly I have been down that road before.... If you live in an apartment they usually have outside plugs just go get a long extension cord I have one that too. "Remember its for the love of your system and keep a cuttin" Keep me posted!!!!! ------------- Fatgotti Yeah my name is John and I am FAT!! YEAH BABY
Posted By: boxmaker85
Date Posted: October 15, 2004 at 12:22 PM
LOL a bomb? Something tells me that's what they were probably wondering. I'm with you on the whole apt w/ no working area cept for the lot. Oh well. Some local install shops build enclosures sometimes. Check to see some of their past work and if you like it tell them what you want. That is if you don't mind the box being built for you. And that will probably be a chunk of money also. But just another option.
Posted By: Ketel22
Date Posted: October 15, 2004 at 12:26 PM
only problem ive encountered with home depot or lowes cutting your wood is the only guarentee it to like a 1/4 of an inch or something i believe
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Quad L Handyman services
Posted By: markcars
Date Posted: October 15, 2004 at 1:29 PM
I've noticed that too. last time I had them(home depot) cut something for building a machine-table, the piece was not a perfect rectangle but almost half an inch off! I will try my luck. If not then perhaps at around 11am tomorrow, when nobody is sleeping and hopefully people are out enjoying the cold weather, I will try to cut it all in my brothers' apartment since he just suggested me to do it there. I will have a lot of dust to vacuum though. Plus the air/pollution from the burning of the MDF also worries me. Maybe I will do it in my own apartment since I can leave the windows open and get out until the MDF vapor gets out of the room.
Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: October 15, 2004 at 5:48 PM
I know you're a real perfectionist, markcars...why not contract it out to a local cabinet maker? Give him the dimensions you need and he can zip it out for you, and it will meet your expectations. I'm in southeast PA and there are cabinet maker shops all over the place. If I didn't get so much enjoyment out of messing things up twice before I get them right...I would have my enclosures built by one of those guys. Round holes...(dreams)...
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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: jeffchilcott
Date Posted: October 15, 2004 at 8:47 PM
hey mark where are you located if anywhere near missouri or KS I can reccomend a few places to go
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2009 0-1000 Trunk WR 154.0DB 2009 1001+ Trunk WR
2007 USACI World Champion
2007 World Record
2006 USACI Finals 2nd Place
Posted By: markcars
Date Posted: October 16, 2004 at 10:47 AM
Stevdard, you're absolutely right. I think I will now go to find a cabinet maker. I know what dimentions I want. Actually I want two boxes, one ported and one non so that I can compare the two first hand and then keep one for good. (the box will be just like Focal-america sells them) perhaps I will end up buying directly from Focal-america but they only have dealers whom I should probably inquire with, however it might be a lot more expesive. Not sure yet. I want a "perfect match" box for my Focal 27WX sub. I am located in new york city, and don't know where to find a good trustworthy cabinet maker. The yellow pages might be a start. Thanks again.
Jeffchilcott, thanks for the recommendation but unfortunately I live very far from missouri or KS. thanks though.
Posted By: jeffchilcott
Date Posted: October 16, 2004 at 11:25 AM
you can always look on here, there is a listing of shops or people that would be more then willing to help you out
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2009 0-1000 Trunk WR 154.0DB 2009 1001+ Trunk WR
2007 USACI World Champion
2007 World Record
2006 USACI Finals 2nd Place
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: October 16, 2004 at 12:19 PM
Here is another heads up for you. The local high school. Pay a student for the cost of the materials and have him build it as a project for his marks. This is a great option that can be done very inexpensively.
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: markcars
Date Posted: October 17, 2004 at 7:35 AM
I called the nearest dealer (around 4 miles from where I live) and the guy said "we do not stock the Focal cabinets, but we can build one for you in 2 days". Also when I asked if the box is going to be built to the same exact specs as per the focal-america.com site, he said yes. Upon asking the price, he said "what kind of car do you have?". I then said "does it matter what car I have?" to which he replied "yes, I need to know what car you are driving to give you a price", which got me start to worry. I told him my car and asked him what the car has got to do with the price of the speaker. He said that it was because of the color of the carpet. Price? 200 and carpet 75, total= $275 and that does not even include taxes and handling he said. Perhaps I will give the specs to a highschool student for his project, but I dont know any high school student here. I got some important stuff to solve,but if I get free, by next week or the week after, the weather might get too cold. I'll have to find some good solution. Thanks for all the advise, it has definitely given me some good options.
Posted By: fatgotti
Date Posted: October 17, 2004 at 10:00 AM
I can understand the carpet thing but that still is kind high$$$ you could order a fiberglass box and have it painted the same color as your car fo not to much more than that their is a guy on ebay named the Weird 1 that does custom boxes for pretty cheap.. But I still say build it yourself if you can you will be alot happier with the results..
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Fatgotti Yeah my name is John and I am FAT!! YEAH BABY
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