Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

[bkeane1259]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

Are you using the lacquer as an MDF sealant?

Mitered box. Poplar baffle. Maple Veneer. No MDF sealant needed.

I'm using lacquer for the finish and for sniffing.

[HiroPro]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

hahaha

You should try a whiff of some of Steve's epoxy man!

It's "cleaner" than your street grade/level lacquer!

hahaha

BTW great work Bryan and thanks a lot for sharing it as I'm sure it will help me in the near future.

[fastbike1]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

I really don't know how to answer this. You have apparently identified the problem, yet haven't solved it In thirty plus years of woodworking, I've never had the bearing of a trim bit scratch the wood.
Two things to consider: 1) You only need enough pressure to keep the bearing against the side. I have very little side pressure when I trim. If you feel like the router will run away without a lot of pressure then you're routing in the wrong direction. 2) Check your bearing for two things: a. make sure it rotates easily. Bearings can get gunked up. b. Make sure there are no dings or sharp points on the surface (rare but possible).
A video would just show a guy running a router down the length of an edge. I think you literally need to lighten up (your grip).
))

I'm too paranoid to use my router and honestly that's my reason. Even when I use masking tape, my heavy hand drives the bearing into the veneer and makes grooves. Then I have to spend more time sanding and swearing.

I'd love to see a video of the proper technique for flush-trimming veneer on a speaker cabinet. IMO, the saw is indeed easier. Well, at least for me it is.

[bkeane1259]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

A video would just show a guy running a router down the length of an edge. I think you literally need to lighten up (your grip).

I definitely need to tame the kung fu grip. My router bit bearings are not the problem...it's definitely me.

I have never actually tried the router for veneer trimming. I've not seen anywhere how to deal with say, an inch of veneer overhang. Do you just slice right into it at an angle and then go flush, along the panel and then backwards to knock any additional overhang off? Or....Do you start on the adjacent panel and then "turn" into the side with the overhang? I can envision little scraps of wood flying all over the place too. Using the saw is really neat and clean. With a router, tear-out seems like a possibility, especially if you have a lot of extra material. Do you usually notch up the router RPM's for veneer or am I thinking backwards?

I should have been more clear. Some of the above reasons in addition to my sub par router skills (read: heavy hand) are the reason I prefer the saw. It's not to say that I won't convert. I've never taken a wood shop class in my life (it shows, right)......but a video would be of tremendous value for somebody like me. I looked.......couldn't find anything on the interwebs....LOL.

[davepellegrene]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

I've got very little veneering experience but I have a lot of laminating experience. Products like Formica, Wilson Art and Nevamare. What I do when I have a lot of material to remove especially if it wraps around the bit is to make the first pass with a piece of scrap between the work piece and bearing. when you are removing a lot of material it pulls your bit into the work . Laminate is about a 1/16" thick so it works well as the buffer piece. Any damage happens to that piece . That then leaves a 1/16" edge left that trims off very easy. You can even run the pass backwards if you want.

Dave

[fastbike1]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

Veneer is so much thinner that I haven't found overhang to be an issue. In particular it doesn't pull the bit. I typically go straight in, then back up if I have to. I don't like going around corners, that's when there is more chance of tear out. Realistically, trimming the veneer with a router isn't any different than trimming baffle edges.

If you're concerned, I would just cut most of the excess with a pair of shop scissors. Note I always use raw veneer, but shop scissors will work on paperbacked as well.

Even with an inch of overhang, I don't get pieces flying around and I don't get tear out. FWIW, I always put on safety glasses whenever I work in the shop.

Bryan, FWIW, you did get a bit of tearout w/ the saw.

At the end of the day there are lots of ways to trim veneer so one should go with what is comfortable. For example, I don't like the veneer saw on a finished cabinet because you need to make multiple passes. Every pass is a chance to scratch the good surface.

[ROTECH]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

My $.02 is to use a utility knife with a new blade with the veneer to be cut laying flat onto a cutting board of scrap mdf. If you do it perfect, hardly any sanding needed. Even if you leave a decent amount on the first pass, use the knife like peeling an apple with your thumb as a guide. I tried the saw u have, and the veneer cutter yellow thing and had far better results with the trusty shop shank. And Bryan, I got fatter fingers than you man.

[djg]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

You guys are making this too hard. I did these with paper backed PSA cherry veneer from Joe's in about 2-3 hours total. I cut the veneer to rough size with scissors, applied the veneer per Joe's instructions, trimmed with a flush trim bit, using masking tape for a bit of a cushion and protection. I finish sanded the edges with a sanding block. Very easy and drama free.

The PSA has held for a few years now.

[bkeane1259]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

I cut the veneer to rough size with scissors, applied the veneer per Joe's instructions, trimmed with a flush trim bit, using masking tape for a bit of a cushion and protection.

Those look sweet....nice job. Just out of curiosity, did you get any splintering at all at the seams....even a little bit?

I got a little bit in mine....I can definitely live with it, but I'm a real perfectionist sometimes.

[bkeane1259]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

Being the impatient old bugger that I am, I decided to buff out the cabs this afternoon. I used Maguiar’s Ultimate Compound and my car buffer and that yielded a nice medium luster. The lacquer only darkened the cabinets a smidge, which is perfect since I was aiming for a blonde finish. The grain is a bit more pronounced and the finish is very smooth and pretty darned even all the way around.

Cabinets without flash:



With flash:



XOs – I’m sticking everything on one board, but orienting the two smaller coils differently.



Everything soldered up looks like this:



Test run:


Where they will be mounted tomorrow:

[henry218]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

looks great. like one of those professional monitors :D

[djg]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

Those look sweet....nice job. Just out of curiosity, did you get any splintering at all at the seams....even a little bit?

I got a little bit in mine....I can definitely live with it, but I'm a real perfectionist sometimes.

No splintering at all, and for the record, I'm no veneer guru, These were the first cabs I did a full veneer job on. Your boxes look very nice.

[bkeane1259]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

The last two DIY shows I attended I was up all night the night before the event putting finishing touches on builds. I’m quite proud this time around to announce that the Tritons are finito!!! …and two, count em….TWO whole days ahead of schedule….LOL.

Anyway…..Lined the rest of the interior panels with Sonic Barrier 1" Acoustic Foam, installed the wiring and Dayton binding posts and mounted the crossovers.



The CSS drivers include custom gaskets AND hardware – screws and fastons. How nice is that??



Mounted the drivers. I used hex head screws for the woofers and the CSS-supplied screws for the tweeter.

[bkeane1259]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

Warning-- Speaker Porn :D

[JasonP]

Re: Jeff B's CSS Triton High Resolution Monitor - build thread

Terrific construction job, looks damn fine. I think its only missing some copper on the front to exploit the caps on the woofers