Cheap Wood Alternatives

[ameuba10]

So as a student, I am on a pretty tight budget. As I was wanderin through the local Lowe's earlier, I stumbled across 23/32 Pine RTD Sheathing Board. I know that MDF and Birch are very common, but for about half the price this board looked pretty good to me! I believe that RTD has something to do how the wood was made and I know sheathing is usually used in attics and flooring. It does have some weather treatment, which sounds like it can be useful. Is this a dumb idea?

http://www.lowes.com/pd_12244-99999-LBR12244_0__?storeId=10151&Ntt=12244&UserSearch=12244&productId=3176663&N=0&catalogId=10051&langId=-1

[donradick]

I've made several speakers out of ordinary plywood - I usually spend a bit more and buy oak or birch veneer faced ply. Some folks say ordinary ply can buzz, but I've never had a problem. The problem with cheap BC plywood is finishing - about all you can do is roll on a thick coat of truck bed liner.

[woodtradesman_audio]

I don't recommend it. That stuff warps like crazy and doesn't take a finish very well. Maybe a good choice for building prototypes.

[nick29498141]

I like air a lot, you can even breathe it! It's best for OB speakers, though...

;)

Where do you go to school?

NK

[ameuba10]

I go to a small private university in NC. I work maybe twice a week :rolleyes: so i try to save where i can...one of these days i will have a good job and i could afford megawoofers an gigawatt amps.

[killersoundz]

Personally id rather use particle board or osb over the sheathing plywood you're talking about. It will tend to be warped and blow out easy on router work.

[Steve F]

Steve,
Not Mars Hill, I guess.

[ameuba10]

Steve,
Not Mars Hill, I guess.

nope, ECPI in raleigh

[domwilson]

I've actually built speakers out of this stuff. Not good for large cabinets. Ok for smaller bookshelf speakers if you don't mind the extra work in sanding and filling voids.

[patrickm]

+1 on the warping in larger cabinets. plywood (like pressure treated lumber) isn't something that's always kept dry when stored/shipped, especially at home depot/lowes.

i've actually had good luck with the pine from their shelving aisle or the "grade 2" or whatever they call it -- not the super dense wood, but more than the crappy whitewood. it's a little more resonant than MDF or plywood, and while the raw cost is a little higher, when you factor in that you can get a nice finish with the same (or less) sanding than MDF, $5 in stain, and maybe $10 in poly clearcoat, it's competitive. also easy to work with. most of the speakers in my signature were done with the 3/4" pine from the HD shelving aisle (edge-glued panels that used to be nice and dense, they're a little thinner these days). the "mounties" project, which came out darker than the photo looks, was done with a total of $12 in lumber -- two 3/4" x 6" x 10 or 12 foot boards.

for a cheap, unique finish, also look into the textured "granite" paints. just spray a dark base coat underneath to help coverage.

[duanebro]

If you want to go really cheap, go to somewhere a new house is being built. Them go dumpster diving!

[ameuba10]

If you want to go really cheap, go to somewhere a new house is being built. Them go dumpster diving!

haha i love it! i guess this wood is a no go. oh well, ill just have to spring for some mdf or birch. thanks for the input everyone!

[charlielaub]

You might consider using IKEA Akurum (kitchen) wall cabinet frames. These are sturdy particleboard and come in a nice simulated birch finish. For $21 each you get a frame that measures 12"x30"x12" WxHxD (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90049403). You only need to add a front and back baffle to make a speaker box that looks much better than a plywood or 100% spray painted box and requires minimal effort. Get a rectangular piece of MDF cut at your local hardware store to fit inside the frame, prime and spray paint it (there is no "MDF end grain" to ruin the look) and you can have, for instance, a speaker with flat black baffles and a birch look on the sides, which is very attractive.

I am putting together a 2-way using this exact approach at the moment. The resulting internal volume (about 50 liters) is a good match for many 6"-8" woofers, or even a low Vas 10". IKEA is everywhere. The frames are stupidly inexpensive. Go for it!

-Charlie

[djg]

Find a pair of old speakers at a yard sale, and put new drivers in them.

[ameuba10]

You might consider using IKEA Akurum (kitchen) wall cabinet frames. These are sturdy particleboard and come in a nice simulated birch finish. For $21 each you get a frame that measures 12"x30"x12" WxHxD (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90049403). You only need to add a front and back baffle to make a speaker box that looks much better than a plywood or 100% spray painted box and requires minimal effort. Get a rectangular piece of MDF cut at your local hardware store to fit inside the frame, prime and spray paint it (there is no "MDF end grain" to ruin the look) and you can have, for instance, a speaker with flat black baffles and a birch look on the sides, which is very attractive.

I am putting together a 2-way using this exact approach at the moment. The resulting internal volume (about 50 liters) is a good match for many 6"-8" woofers, or even a low Vas 10". IKEA is everywhere. The frames are stupidly inexpensive. Go for it!

-Charlie

wow thats a great idea! think of all the saved time. definitly gonna keep that in mind!

[bobbarkto]

Just a little info...

The letters RTD refer to the panel being "Rated" for its intended use as sheathing in building construction. Most building codes require sheathing that is rated to meet certain strength and other properties.
The wood isn't treated. It's not rated for extrior use. Doesn't matter for a loudspeaker enclosure.

The surface is D-D, the worst grade for appearance. :( You'll spend an awful lot of time and too much money on material trying to get the surface nice no matter what finish you might use. The few dollars saved will be quickly consumed...

Sheathing tends to be the lowest in terms of surface quality and appearance.
If you have to save... there are other underlayment panels that are nicer in appearance and likely more stable.
You'll probably need to shop elsewhere to find them, Lowes isn't the best for variety. Try Home Depot or Menards or better yet, a regular lumber yard.
Charlies iKea idea is a good one. I'd snoop around in their bargain bin, too. Sometimes there's a few gems in there.

[nick29498141]

I go to a small private university in NC. I work maybe twice a week :rolleyes: so i try to save where i can...one of these days i will have a good job and i could afford megawoofers an gigawatt amps.

Very cool! I go to a small public university in PA. Major?

NK

[ameuba10]

I have an associates in eet right now, and im working on my bachelors

[rone]

haha i love it! i guess this wood is a no go. oh well, ill just have to spring for some mdf or birch. thanks for the input everyone!

Check and see if your local lumber yard can sell or give you coversheets - usually particle board or mdf, used to cover more valuable sheet stock.

Otherwise you can pick up old speakers at thrift shops or craigslist, and all you need supply is a new baffle and some bracing.

[nick29498141]

I have an associates in eet right now, and im working on my bachelors

Cool, very cool. I'm working on a BS in Professional Writing and a BA in Professional Philosophy (double major).

NK

[rone]

"It has been remarked that if one selects his own components, builds his own enclosure, and is convinced he has made a wise choice of design, then his own loudspeaker sounds better to him than does anyone else's loudspeaker. In this case, the frequency response of the loudspeaker seems to play only a minor part in forming a person's opinion."

L.L. Beranek, Acoustics (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1954), p.208.

That is the infamous and aptly named "i-did-it-itis" ;)

[2leftthumbs]

Both lowes and home depot will sometimes have a/c grade aruco plywood. The stuff I've bought has been pretty good and is both cheeper and nicer to work with than mdf.

[D, Rose]

I always wanted to try a Quaker Oats box for some book self speakers.:cool:

[whipdancer]

So as a student, I am on a pretty tight budget. As I was wanderin through the local Lowe's earlier, I stumbled across 23/32 Pine RTD Sheathing Board. I know that MDF and Birch are very common, but for about half the price this board looked pretty good to me! I believe that RTD has something to do how the wood was made and I know sheathing is usually used in attics and flooring. It does have some weather treatment, which sounds like it can be useful. Is this a dumb idea?

http://www.lowes.com/pd_12244-99999-LBR12244_0__?storeId=10151&Ntt=12244&UserSearch=12244&productId=3176663&N=0&catalogId=10051&langId=-1

Check craigslist for your area for someone giving away particle board or mdf (or even plywood).