Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

[DIYNut42]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

All this talk about Java reminds me of something... *takes sip of coffee* :D

I bet that finish will look great! I might have missed it if you mentioned it, but are you going to line the inside of the woofer enclosure or the open back mid area with any dampening materials? I think Paul mentioned in his write up that some simple egg crate foam inside the woofer cab would do some good.

[WernerM]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Great links thanks for that!!!:D

[rvsixer]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Satin topcoat is a great idea for the CC! I was about to just go to one of the big box stores and pick up Minwax, and then found this video comparing Minwax stain to GF Java on a "blotchy" wood (which birch is):
http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/vide...blotchy-woods/

And this pre-conditioner seems some of the best on the market:
http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/arti...rule-them-all/

The more I researched (including several posts here at PE), the more convinced I became to try this route first. CN pre-conditioner has been ordered, off to Woodcraft this week for Timbermate filler and GF Java get stain. We will see how it works out.

Here's a example of this finish schedule on birch ply:
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/21331
(I think this would look great, what do you think?)


The CC wrapped in black paper test was a success. I still knew the speaker was there, but not nearly as visually distracting as before :applause:.

[WernerM]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Yeah or a dark walnut would be nice too.

[DIYNut42]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Thanks for the kind comments everyone! And please post anything that comes to mind, less than twenty posts with over 1,000 hits = no clutter happening here ;).

Ahhh...the finish. At first I was thinking simple clear coat, but I watched TV last night with the bare mains and center in place just to make sure I had no glare/reflection/contrast issues. Those big light color boxes stood out the entire time (mains did not bother me so much, but the center was constantly "present").

I bought some flat black construction paper today, and have wrapped the center in it for a retest tonight. If the center channel visual issues go away, some type of dark finish is happening. Probably stain of some sort, I would hate to paint over wood. I am thinking something like General Finishes Java gel:
http://www.generalfinishes.com/retail-products/oil-base-wood-stains-sealers/oilbase-gel-stains

Any other ideas? I am a total newbie to finishing wood too.

If you want to go DARK dark without painting, you could always do a black wood stain. Something like Minwax's Ebony stain, and then a few coats of satin poly finish. I'm sure there are better product suggestions out there than Minwax. Just using it as a suggestion.

[rvsixer]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Thanks for the kind comments everyone! And please post anything that comes to mind, less than twenty posts with over 1,000 hits = no clutter happening here ;).

Ahhh...the finish. At first I was thinking simple clear coat, but I watched TV last night with the bare mains and center in place just to make sure I had no glare/reflection/contrast issues. Those big light color boxes stood out the entire time (mains did not bother me so much, but the center was constantly "present").

I bought some flat black construction paper today, and have wrapped the center in it for a retest tonight. If the center channel visual issues go away, some type of dark finish is happening. Probably stain of some sort, I would hate to paint over wood. I am thinking something like General Finishes Java gel:
http://www.generalfinishes.com/retail-products/oil-base-wood-stains-sealers/oilbase-gel-stains

Any other ideas? I am a total newbie to finishing wood too.

[DIYNut42]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

These are looking more awesome by the day! Have you decided on what finish you're going to try?

[craigk]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

very nice work.

[WernerM]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Subscribed! Looking good, from now to finish I will try to keep my comments to a minimum to limit clutter. :D

[rvsixer]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Gluing continues, SCARY ARSE NEWBIE ROUNDOVERS COMMENCE:

Glue up finished, first time newbie roundovers completed successfully. Several neighbors come by to check it out at this point, so the project must be starting to look like speakers .

[rvsixer]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

GLUING BEGINS:

I got as far as gluing the subs and center together today. I decided to use Titebond III after researching many posts here on the forum, which turned out to be an excellent choice. I never ran out of setup time, and the short clamp time of only 30 minutes allowed for making real progress (even with the minimal amount of clamps I have).

The center channel was designed to fit my current TV & stand, and to my surprise it fit quite well. As you can see from the pics, the inside of the CC got a little tight in there with the size restraints.

On to the mains this weekend...

[rvsixer]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

correction the dipole design...

Actually I think you are correct on both counts . Unless I have it wrong, the mids are open baffle and are in dipole operation. The tweets and bass are monopole.

On a project update note, all the driver holes/retainers are in place. Getting ready for glue on the 4th!

[WernerM]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

It is looking very nice thus far, I am interested in building these as my next project for reference speakers. I like the open baffle design, and feel that they should provide excellent imaging.

correction the dipole design...

[WernerM]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

It is looking very nice thus far, I am interested in building these as my next project for reference speakers. I like the open baffle design, and feel that they should provide excellent imaging.

[rvsixer]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

...the piece closest to the bit rides in a hole, and then the router swivels around it correct?

Correct. I can't really take credit for the idea, its basically how all the circle jigs out there work (though to make it work with the existing Triton jig, I did have to reverse the pivot point in relation to the set point).

I was actually amazed how accurate the cuts could be made (I have machining background from eons ago, but am new to wood working of any detail). Measure diameter of cutting bit, measure diameter of pivot pin and divide by two, subtract this sum from required radius, set and lock calipers to this value to adjust jig, and then cut. Easy and repeatable cuts within a few thousandths.