Trump Tower build

[PassingInterest]

Thanks, Kevin!

Don Radick was kind enough to share his design info. I just slanted the cab and I made very minor adjustments to some dimensions to accommodate the style, but I ran things through Box Notes to make sure I kept the internal volume the same and port tuning the same (I adjusted the rear-firing slot port dimensions a little).

Along the way, I visualized the cabinet, then visualized an exploded view of the cabinet parts - just in my mind. From that point, it was a matter of beginning the project and I saw the sides as the key to the entire build and that became my starting point. Finding the starting point is often the biggest challenge for projects, for me anyway. Maybe for others, as well. Once I know where to begin, the rest just falls into place and I have most, if not all of it worked out in my mind before I begin. I'm not sure if that helps anyone. It's just how I do it.

[donradick]

seriously enjoying the step by step teaching. I need to try some of the angled builds myself.!

[badman]

The Step-by-Steps are time consuming to document but invaluable resources for the community. Cool project, looking forward to following along. Nice pics, detailed writeup from a solid woodworker, what's not to love?

[Squidspeak]

The Step-by-Steps are time consuming to document but invaluable resources for the community. Cool project, looking forward to following along. Nice pics, detailed writeup from a solid woodworker, what's not to love?

Whats not to love? The name I think I may name my next project the unhinged psychotic bully child liar hypocrite flip/flopping
towers with HUGE, GREAT, AWESOME sound. Facts who needs them I will make my own. I'm in awe of the cabinet work and
the design as always from Passing Int. The name turns my stomach Sorry unable to control my fingers, nice work.

[PassingInterest]

Did I say I was only building two pair? Make that THREE! I've been asked to make one more pair while I am at it. donradick You are quickly becoming a sensation with your tower design.

Rock on, Garth!

Rock on, Wayne!

[donradick]

Did I say I was only building two pair? Make that THREE! I've been asked to make one more pair while I am at it. donradick You are quickly becoming a sensation with your tower design.

Rock on, Wayne!

Wow! Where did y'all get the drivers? The original flash sale on "A" sold out very fast.

Since there is more than a "one off", I'll lean my version back 10 degrees and run some measurements, and
tweak the crossover if needed.
There is going to be some very happy peeps with these

I DO need to set expectations again, though.
They are SPL limited if not high-passed (no frat party), and may have problems with EDM and T-Rex sounds.
For "mainline" music and HTR though, they are effortless, thundering, and clear.

[PassingInterest]

Wow! Where did y'all get the drivers? The original flash sale on "A" sold out very fast.

I picked up a couple of cases at the unmentionable site and you're right, they sold out fast! I happened to see them available again at the same place for the same price and picked up another two cases, because I was so impressed with your Towers of Terror and they sold out fast again. Since you asked just now, I checked and that same place has 14 cases at the same price again.

Since there is more than a "one off", I'll lean my version back 10 degrees and run some measurements, and tweak the crossover if needed.

It would be great to see the comparisons! And thanks for going above and beyond for this effort! Feel free to post your results in this thread, if you'd like.

There is going to be some very happy peeps with these

I have no doubt!

I DO need to set expectations again, though.
They are SPL limited if not high-passed (no frat party), and may have problems with EDM and T-Rex sounds.
For "mainline" music and HTR though, they are effortless, thundering, and clear.

Yes, thanks for reminding us all that while they sound great and have plenty of bass power for most audio uses, they can be over-driven if pushed hard with bass-heavy material, in which case they should be crossed over to a subwoofer.

[donradick]

Oh WOW, SO tempting, but to paraphrase OJ Simpson "I got me 2 (cherry) towers right here"

[Evan Steeves]

Nice build! As an amateur woodworker, I really appreciate you taking the time you take to document your approach to the project. Keep it up!

[PassingInterest]

I cut a template to route all the front baffles. The woofers will be surface mounted, so I only need the through holes routed. The tweeters will be flush mounted, which requires a through hole and a recess. For the tweeters, I made only the 1/8" pilot hole in the template, for marking the tweeter location. Protect your eyes, ears and lungs when cutting MDF. That stuff is nasty.



Here is an easy way to quickly and accurately set your table saw blade to any angle, whether your table surface or garage floor is level or not. Use a square to assure your blade is at 0 degrees, then "zero" your digital angle gauge. Make sure yours has a magnet built into the bottom and it will stick to your blade. Once you have zeroed your digital gauge, it will remember your zero position for at least as long as the battery lasts, so you don't have to re-zero it every time.



This makes it quick and easy to accurately set your blade to the angle you want.

[PassingInterest]

I use a roller stand on the in-feed side and a workbench on the out-feed side when cutting 4x8 or in this case 5x5 sheet goods. I also wear gloves when cutting large sheets to keep splinters out of my hands. Splinters are not usually a problem for me once the pieces are cut, because I don't need to grip the smaller pieces as hard to move them.



When the blade is tipped at an angle, the saw's own built in measurement settings are no longer accurate. So I elevate a ruler to the same height as the workpiece to set the length from the fence. Since I am using a crosscut sled and don't want any binding, due to the sled plus the fence, you can set a stop block on the fence...



...Then slide the stop block down the fence, so that it will no longer contact the workpiece once the workpiece contacts the blade. Once it is set, you don't have to move the stop block again for the rest of the cuts.

[PassingInterest]

I shrunk the slot port a bit, to make things easier for myself. But, I was careful to keep the box tuning the same - 40 Hz. Once I got the bracing layout on one side panel, I transferred the marks from one to another, so I didn't need to re-measure each time. Align the two front edges and make your marks, then align the two rear edges and mark again. Then use a ruler to draw the lines across the panel. Each cabinet needs the braces marked on only one side panel, not both.



I am using cutoffs to placate my Inner Cheapskate.



Again, set a stop block for multiple cuts.



The workpiece was not thick enough to contact the guide bearing, so I set the fence for the cut.

[donradick]

Thanks for all the woodworking tips!

A couple of thoughts and questions -

Are you using 3/4 ply for the baffle?
I glued up 2 sheets of 1/2 inch BB for my baffles, then relieved a bit on the inside so the woofers could breath.
You may not need to do that for a 3/4 inch baffle.

Good move on the braces!
Did I count right - is it 5 braces? if so, very cool.

[PassingInterest]

Don - I am also using 1/2" Baltic Birch for the front baffles (x 2 layers). In fact, the entire cabinet is Baltic Birch, except for the accent pieces, which will be added later. Thanks for reminding me and others to open up the back side of the woofer through-holes, by beveling the holes. I swear I might have forgotten that part if you hadn't reminded me. Too much of a hurry these days! And I am using 6 braces per cabinet.

[PassingInterest]

At 6 braces per cabinet x 6 cabinets, I will need a pile of these! At least I get to use up a bunch of cutoffs.




Backs, Bottoms, Port Pieces, Sides and Braces. The braces still need to be trimmed to size, though they are close already. I had enough clamps to glue 6 braces at a time. I let them bake in the sun on my tailgate while I cut more brace pieces for the next batch. I did nothing but make braces all day today. The things we do for Killer Audio!