What are your favorite speaker building tools?

[nikbrewer]

Well, It seams that everyone has thier own way of building boxes, ect. People also have thier favorite tools as well. What are your most used, most useful tools you ise for speaker building.

#1: CNC Router ( ok, thats not fair, so i wont count this)
#1 again: Porter Cable 2" x 14" belt sander: i could not live without this since i bought it. i have a 3 x 21 belt sander i never pick up now. this is light, can be used with one hand, great for doing inside radius. i use it on mdf, fiberglass, hardwood, ect. its good when you want smooth, buy no nessacarly flat, dut to its small surface area.
#2 Ryobi Laminate trimmer. I use this all the time, it doe my chamfers, round overs, ect. really light, really cheap, i have dropped it alot and it still works.

I have lot of other tools, tabel saw, 2.25 hp PC router, mitre saw, planer, drill press, ect, but these where 2 tools i think everyone shoudl own for this stuff, and better yet, each cost under 100$

[johnastockman]

A good table saw with a quality fence (sometimes not the stock one).
A router that can use 1/2" shank bits and a circle-cutting jig.
A nice cross-cut sled for my table saw.
Random orbit sander.
Good selection of quality router bits (love my spirals for cutting recesses).
Quality measuring tools, straight-edge, calipers, etc.
My radial-head drill press.

Of course, "quality" is subjective here, but I've been through my share of cheap tools/accessories. I also look to the veterans here for what they use and like...I'm interested in reliability, durability, and accuracy.

John A.

[nikbrewer]

a good fence on a table saw is a must. i have a delta t2 fence on my old pieced togtether craftsman tablesaw. Its a deck and body fro th 60's, with legs and wings from the 90's , and i think i am on my 3rd motor, but mad it cuts good.

I dont ever really do much large cutting at home as i do anything over 30"( my imit on my fence) at work. Of corse my gti wil only hold a certain size board, so all my projects have to stay under that size

[nick29498141]

Well, It seams that everyone has thier own way of building boxes, ect. People also have thier favorite tools as well. What are your most used, most useful tools you ise for speaker building.

#1: CNC Router ( ok, thats not fair, so i wont count this)
#1 again: Porter Cable 2" x 14" belt sander: i could not live without this since i bought it. i have a 3 x 21 belt sander i never pick up now. this is light, can be used with one hand, great for doing inside radius. i use it on mdf, fiberglass, hardwood, ect. its good when you want smooth, buy no nessacarly flat, dut to its small surface area.
#2 Ryobi Laminate trimmer. I use this all the time, it doe my chamfers, round overs, ect. really light, really cheap, i have dropped it alot and it still works.

I have lot of other tools, tabel saw, 2.25 hp PC router, mitre saw, planer, drill press, ect, but these where 2 tools i think everyone shoudl own for this stuff, and better yet, each cost under 100$


I'll take this a slightly different direction...

1. Imagination. Being able to visualize speakers, signals and schematics in my mind has been my biggest "tool" in the hobby.

2. Dedication. Being able to stick it out through the math, the disappointment and the hard times. If it was easy, ti wouldn't be worth it.

3. Yearning. Never being truly satisfied, that's what keeps me going forward. :cool:

NK

[brianwalter]

I pretty much agree with John A. About the only thing he missed was clamps, clamps, clamps, clamps and did I mention clamps? Honestly John's list is pretty much right on the mark, although I'm not sure you need a radial head drill press, a fixed head will work for most situations. I've owned belt sanders in the past and have never really found a use for them. My ROS removes material just about as fast and works much better for finish sanding. I might also suggest a sawboard and a circular saw if you need to break down full sheets of MDF.

Brian Walter

[Hackomatic]

I pretty much agree with John A. About the only thing he missed was clamps, clamps, clamps, clamps and did I mention clamps? Honestly John's list is pretty much right on the mark, although I'm not sure you need a radial head drill press, a fixed head will work for most situations. I've owned belt sanders in the past and have never really found a use for them. My ROS removes material just about as fast and works much better for finish sanding. I might also suggest a sawboard and a circular saw if you need to break down full sheets of MDF.

Brian Walter


Yes . . clamps, clamps, and more clamps. I should add GOOD clamps. I made the mistake of getting some ratcheting clamps from Harbor Freight that were CRAP. I usually do pretty good with some things from them, but the cheap clamps were good for one use. :mad:

I do agree as well with NK that imagination is a great tool. In fact, I had to "Imagine" I had the tool I needed when I was doing McGiver Maneuvers that last time I worked with wood.

Oh . . It wasn't a speaker either. It was for my other hobby . . :o

[Knowsknone]

Nice tap my, I like the detail on it..

1. sharp blades/bits
2. steady hand
3. Above all Patience!

[plllls]

Router, router and more routers. I have 4. Scratch that 6, 2 air powered. Good for a gazillion things.

Including trimming your dogs nails, chasing the wife around the coffee table etc.

And definately a quality table saw. Preferably with a giant extension.

Paul

[natediggidy]

Sandpaper ;) Not my favorite, but indespensible none the less :p.

[Sooper]

Add to the list:

- HEARING PROTECTION!! What good are high quality speaks if ya only hear 300 - 3000hz?

- Throw eye protection in there too, I learned this lesson from a small speck of plywood that lodged under my eyelid when I was much younger and much dumber. Was a giant PITA to remove (by an optomotrist $$) and I was lucky.

- I also like using 90 degree corner clamps, they really help keep boxes very true.

- A vise ... I recently used a vise to flatten recessed edges of non circular speakers, then used my router to make rings that were 1/16" thick so that they could be flush mounted (purely aesthetic but well worth the effort at the end of the day).

- I don't have a fancy dust collection system but I do have a cheap 20x20 box fan and a 20x20 HVAC filter which seriously cuts down on the dreaded MDF flurries in my garage.

- Oh, and some Advil too lol!

[Wolf]

Let me see.......

I use a Table-Saw/Mitre-Saw for most of my cutting of panels/PVC ports.

I usually use a B&D jig-saw (Bosch-bits rule!) to cut close to the hole diameter, and finish with the 1/2" collet Router for rebates, roundovers, rear-scallops, etc. No- I do not have a circle jig, and go mostly free-hand. I take my time.

DREMEL! I have a circle-jig for this that can be used in a pinch, but it is a valuable tool! Many different things you can use it for.

Drill-press (and corded-drills), table-top in my case, for forstner, hole-saw, mounting holes, etc.

Biscuit-jointer for aligning panels during glue-up.

Clamps in a multitude.... along with poly-glue, Elmer's glue, etc.

Soldering iron, wire strip/crimp/slitters.

The usual compass, tape-measure, ruler, square, awl, rubber mallot, etc.

For spray-paint, the can-attachment to make it a trigger-sprayer is a priceless and inexpensive piece.

For xovers, trailer-hitch wire, pegboard, zipties, and maybe some glue. I use pliers to get a good grip and tighten the ties down. Typical 60/40 solder for me.
Later,
Wolf

[kevinp]

Speakerworkshop and calibrated mic

Jasper jig

[jonpike]

Yes . . clamps, clamps, and more clamps. I should add GOOD clamps. I made the mistake of getting some ratcheting clamps from Harbor Freight that were CRAP. I usually do pretty good with some things from them, but the cheap clamps were good for one use. :mad:

It was for my other hobby . . :o

Looks like this topic is getting a good workout.. On the clamps, were they the hand ratcheting ones from HF? I've never tried them, but the classic bar clamps with the screw adjust handles, though cheap, do seem to last. At least with my low duty cycle workload... None I've bought have failed yet. I bet the plastic ratcheting ones suck, but didn't want folks to steer away from the $3-6 ones that actually are OK. After all, we need a LOT of clamps!

Rest of the thread covers almost too much... ;)

Mine, a decent plunge/regular router (swappable bases, but the plunge is needed for lots of work) able to do 1/4 or 1/2" bits.

The basic 1/4" carbide spiral bit of the proper direction for use with.... the Jasper Jig.

A flush trim router bit, great worksaver for use in trimming oversize cut panels FLUSH with the rest of the box, as a building tecnique.

A 3/4" roundover bit, for worthy baffle roundovers. Possibly a 45 deg chamfer for driver hole ventilation, but you can get most of the improvement with the roundover.

A homemade "flattening panel", which is a piece of 3/4" MDF with a 4"x36" sanding belt cut in two strips attached with carpet tape. It's a flat sanding surface of 8"x18", for leveling large areas. Kind of like a manual sanding belt, but with a wide flat surface. Handy to true things up, and has many different usages... A 1-2" wide stick of MDF with some sandpaper glued on is a handy tool as well. That ultra thin, double sided, 3M "carpet tape" is again your friend...

I've also been a big user of the 20" window fan for sucking dust out/blowing it away. (open garage) And, using the 20"x20" furnace filter for dust reduction. It dosen't get it all, you still NEED to be using at least N95 dust masks or better, but it helps a lot with the amount to clean up later. You can get a 1 micron shop vac bag for most vacs, should be using that for MDF cleanup.

Sheesh... I'm writing a book again... :rolleyes:

[philiparcario]

random orbital sander and foam sand pads that are 6 inch they are hook and loop and are 1 inch bigger then my sander. 5 inch. they are 180 360 540 1000 2000 4000 grit and a wool bonnet. can you say smooth. I can make the finish on pe's boxes feel rough in comparsion to the finish on my scanspeak sub. 1 more thing a good ac variac. can you say speed control.

[Hackomatic]

Looks like this topic is getting a good workout.. On the clamps, were they the hand ratcheting ones from HF? I've never tried them, but the classic bar clamps with the screw adjust handles, though cheap, do seem to last. At least with my low duty cycle workload... None I've bought have failed yet. I bet the plastic ratcheting ones suck, but didn't want folks to steer away from the $3-6 ones that actually are OK. After all, we need a LOT of clamps!


I'm afraid it was the racheting bar clamps, Jon.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46809

Failed on the screw adjust end. Snapped like a dry twig . . :(

Maybe I've have too much forearm strength!:p My Stanley and Kobalt's have held up to all kinds of abuse, though . .

[bobblickle]

a good fence on a table saw is a must. i have a delta t2 fence on my old pieced togtether craftsman tablesaw. Its a deck and body fro th 60's, with legs and wings from the 90's , and i think i am on my 3rd motor, but mad it cuts good.

I dont ever really do much large cutting at home as i do anything over 30"( my imit on my fence) at work. Of corse my gti wil only hold a certain size board, so all my projects have to stay under that size

Well true on the width, but I fit a stack of about 15 boards 3/4 x 20" x 8ft long in my VW Golf and got the hatch shut. Sounds like we have yet more common ground Nik.

bb

[olddude50]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96509

Rapidly becoming one of my favorites. Don't know how accurate the numbers actually are, but it has a screw down feature that locks in the measurements and can be used to transfer the dimension from one piece to another. I use it for transfer of dimensions of drivers to the Jasper Jig, measurements of the dimensions of pieces to set up cuts and so forth. Well worth its modest price.

[nikbrewer]

I am amazed what i can fit in the gti. I have fit 4-5 sheets of mdf ( cut up). the car sure was sitting low in the rear though

[toddshore]

Tablesaw
Router w/circle jig
Ortibal Sander
Clamps (bunches of bar clamps from Harbor Freight with screw handles)
(also strap clamps)

I can also recommend a clamping straight edge and a circular saw for cutting down full sheets into something that can safely be fed across the table saw.

[matthewkolson]

Random Orbital Sander is my top of the list.... should've bought it years ago...

brad nailer ... this is easily in the top 5 tools to have.... wow, what a difference this tool makes...


Whiteside router bits, my ryobi 1/2" rabbeting bit,

Soundeasy w/ jigs and mic

custom paint by an autobody shop... much easier than veneering :)

thats my list for now.... nice thread :)

-Matthew K. Olson DMD

[nikbrewer]

Not sure if anyone has ever used one, but the senco headless nailgun is great for the right application. The shoot 23 ga tiny needle like nails with no heads, so they barely leave a hole ( thin kneedle prick size hole.) i sed one to nail throu my rabbits and dados on a small box i built yesterday. no splitting thr mdf near the edge, barely any holes to fill. Granted, nails are 1" long max, and a not alot of holding power, but a great specialty tool if you have the need

[johnastockman]

I pretty much agree with John A. About the only thing he missed was clamps, clamps, clamps, clamps and did I mention clamps? Honestly John's list is pretty much right on the mark, although I'm not sure you need a radial head drill press, a fixed head will work for most situations. I've owned belt sanders in the past and have never really found a use for them. My ROS removes material just about as fast and works much better for finish sanding. I might also suggest a sawboard and a circular saw if you need to break down full sheets of MDF.

Brian Walter

Yes Brian, CLAMPS! Totally forgot about the clamps. I've amassed a rack full of 'em over the years, some from internet and catalog sales, some from Harbor Freight. Garret Wade and Lee Valley have the occassional sale...I got a package deal of 12 18" German bar clamps for an extemely low price a couple years back, so I watch for deals like that every so often. A radial-head drill press is definitely more than most need...I had a fixed-head for years; just fine for speaker-building. But I saw the floor-standing radial-head Harbor Freight had a few years ago...solid, well built and very accurate (one of the few power tools I've seen from them that wasn't poor quality). I use it for other things; rebuilding/repairing motorcycles it's a great asset. I've had mine for over 8 years and it has been reliable and I don't have to fiddle with it...once set-up, it stays that way.

John A.

[Adrian]

I like my router and my saw guide. My saw guide has allowed me to make the straightest cuts I ever have made and the router does the rest.

Adrian