Grommets? How to pass wires thru wood

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=62168
Printed Date: May 04, 2024 at 3:02 AM

Topic: Grommets? How to pass wires thru wood

Posted By: Tegpilot
Subject: Grommets? How to pass wires thru wood
Date Posted: August 27, 2005 at 11:07 PM

hey guys, I am trying to put a good finish on my amp rack. Now I have holes just drilled on the wood and have the wires running right thru them, the wood is about 1/4 inch thick. I think it's ugly, what do ya'll use for a finished look? I found some rubber grommets but they are for sheet metal, not 1/4 inch thick. Is there some kind of plastic cylinder with a lip on top or something if you know what I mean. I can replace the wood peace to start with a fresh one without hole if there is some other way? here is a sort of diagram of my amp from the side. posted_image

Replies:

Posted By: sedate
Date Posted: August 27, 2005 at 11:33 PM

Hmm.

I've always found MDF to be startlingly easy to manipulate.... I just straight drill holes with an appropriate bit, then sand/dremel out the top of the hole, as you would round off a PVC port ...making it all even and everything.. pull the wire through... I mean... it doesn't look like.. factory fresh but I thinks my racks look nice.

On the other hand, your grommet idea is great. Try Lowes for grommets that might fit. I know the two Lowes near my house have a massive selection of specialty pieces like that.

A third idea: Put a piece of wood ... maybe 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick under your amps(but smaller than the amps, so the wood block just makes the amp stick up) then mount the amp with big screws to the amp rack under the block of wood. Then you can run your wires *under* your amps and hide them off that way. The amps sticking up can look kinda cool, depending on the rest of the install. I've seen a couple of cars done this way... I think lotsa install shops model their amplifiers like this as well.

Anywho, good luck to ya! Let us know what you end up doing eh?

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"I'm finished!" - Daniel Plainview

Posted By: auex
Date Posted: August 27, 2005 at 11:41 PM

When doing an amp rack I find it is much cleaner to raise the amp 1/2" and drill under the amp and run the wires up from under the amp.

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Posted By: Tegpilot
Date Posted: August 28, 2005 at 12:34 AM

Thanks guys, I kinda like the idea of raising it, but the way I built the rack, the plexi cover is only about 1/4 inch away from the front of the amp, so if I raised the amp enough to effectively get wires under it, the amp would touch the plexi, not cool ya know. I'll try lowes and see, tried the depot and they only had the ones for sheet metal. Any other Ideas out there.????????? Ya'll are come up with some awesome stuff, I know somebody has rigged something up! I'm kinda in the graphic mood tonight, here is my cylinder type idea, just don't know where to get something like this. I would really like something like this in rubber, or silver plastic.

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