Polycarbonate for speaker boxes?

[XtremeRevolution]

http://polycarbonate-pc-sheets.com/w...olid_Sheet.jpg

I can get this stuff for less than cheap (free) from a buddy who works at a place that builds wheelchair accessories for people that have more severe disabilities. There are piles of scrap of this stuff lying around that I could make at minimum mini TM monitors out of. Apparently this stuff stops bullets.

Is this stuff any good for making speakers out of? I imagine aquarium sealant could be used to glue them together.

[billfitzmaurice]

If it's free give it a shot. It's not easy to work with, though. The usual reason for trying this is to see the cone movement, but to do so you'd have to leave the cab unlined, so it wouldn't sound nearly as good as it looks.

[XtremeRevolution]

If it's free give it a shot. It's not easy to work with, though. The usual reason for trying this is to see the cone movement, but to do so you'd have to leave the cab unlined, so it wouldn't sound nearly as good as it looks.

Good point. Hadn't thought of the lining problem.

[Johnnycat]

Could you do an open baffle design with it?

[XtremeRevolution]

Could you do an open baffle design with it?

You probably could. Would be pretty interesting. This is a whole new world of acoustics for me, lol. Never a dull moment.

[billfitzmaurice]

Could you do an open baffle design with it?

That's probably where it would work best, and still only because he can get it for free.

[XtremeRevolution]

That's probably where it would work best, and still only because he can get it for free.

Right. If I wasn't getting it for free, I'd forget about it. The thickness is 3/8". I imagine for an open baffle, that should be enough?

Never built an open baffle speaker, except for that Pringles can I screwed a Dayton ND65 into the back of. Actually sounded pretty good.

[abcdang]

can't use aquarium sealant. what you want to use is weld on. it creates very strong bonds since it does weld the material together.

you can get the stuff at tapplastics.com

[kmibb]

Dan's BassLines used something like that open baffle.

[kmibb]

Also, it seems like it would be very difficult to make corners and joints look good. Aside from sealing, how would you make the cut corners look smooth and shiny again?

[killersoundz]

Right. If I wasn't getting it for free, I'd forget about it. The thickness is 3/8". I imagine for an open baffle, that should be enough?

Never built an open baffle speaker, except for that Pringles can I screwed a Dayton ND65 into the back of. Actually sounded pretty good.

3/8"....for micro speakers perhaps.....for anything bigger than a 'micro speaker'...you would want it to be thicker....laminate two together?

[natediggidy]

Also, it seems like it would be very difficult to make corners and joints look good. Aside from sealing, how would you make the cut corners look smooth and shiny again?

Alot of fine grade sandpaper and a flame.

[DjDisturbed]

Alot of fine grade sandpaper and a flame.

+1

It will shine right up with a small butane torch and a careful touch.

If you can get it for free it's worth trying. But you definitely will want to use weld for the corners. And any drilling you do make sure you use the sharpest bit you can find. Start with a small bit , work your way up and go slow. Polycarbonate is strong stuff and will take some serious abuse.
And if you decide you can't use it, package it up and I'll take few pieces off of your hands.