Tritrix Build Thread!

[mtmpenn]

I'm not breaking any new ground here, but who doesn't like to see a build thread? Please feel free to point out what I do wrong and/or give suggestions for things to do differently. I would appreciate the feedback. I am still very new to speaker building/woodwork/etc.

I built some of the original vifa recession buster speakers last summer using cabinets from Nik Brewer. It was fun (except painting sucks). My plan is to add some tools with each build and try to do a little more on my own.
The tritrix kit seemed like the natural step in my speaker building progression. It is cheap and comes with a flat pack. I also get to assemble the crossover and will try to veneer them.

New tools for this build include veneer supplies and clamps (cheap from plumbers surplus):



Then I got everything set out:



I don't have a router, but I wanted to try and give the drivers some room to breathe so I used a rasp to open things up. Not pretty, and maybe I should have taken more out... hopefully better then nothing:



And the clamping begins!



Then I got hungry and took time out for a hearty breakfast:



Then there was more clamping. I am loving the corner clamps I bought:



One down, the second about the be finished. I put some kitty litter in the empty spaces at the bottom. Some people have described their tritrix as tippy. I thought maybe a little extra weight at the bottome would help. Now that it is done, I'm not sure that it addes enough weight to actually matter...



That's it for day one. I will say that if you are like me and you need to buy tools it doesn't seem like speaker building could possibly save money. My wife may not even let me keep these (her words, when she saw what I spent the day doing: "Those are BIG"). BUT, the tools are here to stay and buying stuff isn't nearly this much fun!

[djg]

After forty or fifty speakers the tool costs are insignificant. Nice pictures, keep them coming.

[MrkCrwly]

I love builds. My only suggestion would be that orange juice would enhance a hearty breakfast. Keep us updated.

[nikbrewer]

your wife complaines? I built a cnc in my garage to build speakers. We actually can fit her car in the 3 car garage now.

I probally have 1k in router bits. Feel rfee to use me as an example of how much wore it can get. a few clamps is nothing

[kornphlake]

Your wife will only complain about your tools until you use them to build something for her. I built a very simple bookshelf a couple years ago and pretty much got a free pass to buy whatever tools I want from now on because she might some day have another idea of something she wants me to build for her, like the dog house she wanted me to build 2 weeks ago, all I had to buy was lumber for that job.

[mtmpenn]

Totally agree about the OJ, but I had to save that for marinade (diy'd some fish tacos later in the day).

Nik, I like your style. Given that we live in a 920 sq ft 2 bedroom house, I can't imagine what my wife would say if I tried to setup a CNC (in the living room???)

[the kid]

Joey Butts does his work on the balcony of a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment. AND he's about the size & fit of the Hulk! I think his turn out nice. My problem is that I could buy all the equipment in the world and still look amateur.

[nikbrewer]

well, our old house was 1250 sq feet. but had a garage, which only housed tools, and sawdust over 12" deep in some places under the cnc.

compleately true about building them stuff. Once they see you can make them something too, they complaine a lot less about the tools

[evilskillit]

Joey Butts does his work on the balcony of a 1 or 2 bedroom apartment. AND he's about the size & fit of the Hulk! I think his turn out nice. My problem is that I could buy all the equipment in the world and still look amateur.

Thats damn funny. Is he the one I recall saying was banned from using saws and routers in his apartment or am I thinking of somebody else? I always wondered how I would survive if I lived in an apartment complex as I build all my own stuff and do all my own mechanic work. I guess the answer is poorly, with an eventual eviction I suppose.

[PWR RYD]

compleately true about building them stuff. Once they see you can make them something too, they complaine a lot less about the tools

+1

It's amazing how much appreciation I get from simply building a window flower box or the like

[fastbike1]

Try playground snad instead. Easy to buy a bag from Lowe's or HD. You can put it in large zip locks of kitchen garbage bags to make things less messy.

I put some kitty litter in the empty spaces at the bottom. Some people have described their tritrix as tippy. I thought maybe a little extra weight at the bottome would help. Now that it is done, I'm not sure that it addes enough weight to actually matter...

[the kid]

Evil,

I think he can use all tools. When I was there, he demo'ed his setup at volumes way above OSHA regulations. I think he is on the 2nd floor, but has the complex storage unit under him. So, there is some freedom in that direction of noise.

[joeybutts]

D, why you gotta lie? I have a woodshop....



Paint booth.....




Fiberglass work......


Oh wait..... those are all the same!

yeah, I'm sure my neighbors love the comedic show seeing a guy try and cut a 4x8 sheet of 3/4" MDF on a table saw in a 5.5ft x 11ft balcony.

I've acquired some new tools since theKID has been here so I had to move some things around. I now have a Delta Miter Saw in my bathroom/hallway closet, Jet Table Saw and Roush Stage 3 fascia in my kitchen pantry, all those tools on that shelving, shopvac there on the side, and a router table somewhere around here.

My gf loves it.

[joeybutts]

Thats damn funny. Is he the one I recall saying was banned from using saws and routers in his apartment or am I thinking of somebody else? I always wondered how I would survive if I lived in an apartment complex as I build all my own stuff and do all my own mechanic work. I guess the answer is poorly, with an eventual eviction I suppose.

Nah, I haven't been banned.......yet.

A lot of the old folk come by asking what I'm building and are really interested in seeing what I'm doing. Or they are just investigating. Surprisingly no one has complained about the metric tons of MDF sawdust or toxic fiberglassing/paint fumes emanating from my place.

D, wait till I start the new substage. 10 times more ridiculous. That guy next door to me MUST be deaf. MWHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA.....

[the kid]

Too cool Joe...Too cool!

[evilskillit]

I've run across some pretty interesting stuff regarding where people will build. I do specifically remember one guy mentioning that his complex had banned him from using his router and table saw in his apartment. Heh.

I ran across another guy's site. I'll see if I book marked it. He traveled for months at a time but was basically addicted to building speakers. He had pictures of hotel rooms filled with MDF dust where he'd challenge himself to build a speaker using only a hand saw, or circular saw he could buy cheap at the local tool shop. The lengths some people will go.

[joeybutts]

I ran across another guy's site. I'll see if I book marked it. He traveled for months at a time but was basically addicted to building speakers. He had pictures of hotel rooms filled with MDF dust where he'd challenge himself to build a speaker using only a hand saw, or circular saw he could buy cheap at the local tool shop. The lengths some people will go.

PLEASE find this.

K /hijack

[jettore]

Hey MTMPenn,
Your build is looking good.

If you need a specific tool you can hit me up to see if I have one. I'm slowly building up a selection of tools too. I do have a router, but not a plunge yet and a limited selection of bits that is growing with each build. I also have a portable table saw so if you need some cuts, let me know. Just need to get the wife to go out shopping with the car so I can setup shop.

I'm near 6th and Bainbridge, so I think we are close. Were you in Grad Ho?

[evilskillit]

This one is for you Joey, the whole site is great but here is a link to a DIY speaker built in a hotel room.

http://www.mfk-projects.com/built_in_taiwan_hotel.htm

He's got several builds like that, but this one is the best, mdf dust all over the hotel room.

PLEASE find this.

K /hijack

[joeybutts]

This one is for you Joey, the whole site is great but here is a link to a DIY speaker built in a hotel room.

http://www.mfk-projects.com/built_in_taiwan_hotel.htm

He's got several builds like that, but this one is the best, mdf dust all over the hotel room.

SO AWESOME. Thanks for that!