First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

[Kevin Wehrle]

Here is my first project ever. I was looking for something of nice quality for my office/lab.

They arrived


Unpacked and ready to start


Start of assembly


First one drying


Second one started with first one just drying

[Kevin Wehrle]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

Pretty large and heavy


crossover laid out


cabinets without baffels


Duratex coating I am doing however going to use a fine foam roller so the finish is smoother.


Isolation feet I plan on installing

[Kevin Wehrle]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

poly stuffing


Speaker wire I was going to use. I think it is too heavy for inside the speaker. Going with some basic stuff 14g stuff from PE instead


attaching baffles


As of the first sanding. I do not want to see any seams.


Another angle


It feels like I have much to do yet before I get to hear these. I will be starting the xover. I have a piece of 1/8 hobby board I am ripping to 3.5 x 6 and installing the xover onto that. I plan on actually drilling holes for each wire and doing all soldering on the back of the board. My dilemma now is how to make it removable.

Anyhow, just starting a fresh new hobby and loving it. Thanks for looking and comments are welcome and appreciated. If I am doing something that needs to be corrected please point it out.

[Carbon13]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

That is the cleanest workshop ever!!!

The speakers are looking pretty good too:p

How are you planning to finish them? Paint, veneer, other?

[Kevin Wehrle]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

Thanks I just finished the last standing work area this weekend. I have a sitting bench area that has all the other garbage for soldering and the like.

I am going to use duratex. I have never done wood working at all and so every time I do something with this stuff it is for the first time. I am realizing I need more tools. Glad my wife never has a problem with my tool fetish.

Table saw, drill press, chisels, jigs and many toys come to mind.

[Carbon13]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

Ah yes...tool fetish is hand in hand with this addiction...

Just be careful working with MDF, it's pretty nasty stuff to be breathing in. Wear a good mask.

There's a ton of threads on the forum about finishing MDF, so spend some time searching through them. To best hide your seams, most folks on the forum use bondo and swear by it. I've tried it a couple times and have found it uncooperative, but maybe I have a bad batch (lots of discussion on this topic as well). Now I'm using water putty to smooth things out and then applying veneer. There's also some great posts on finishing using rattle cans. Good luck and have fun - practice on scraps first :D

[Dewmiester]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

It feels like I have much to do yet before I get to hear these. I will be starting the xover. I have a piece of 1/8 hobby board I am ripping to 3.5 x 6 and installing the xover onto that. I plan on actually drilling holes for each wire and doing all soldering on the back of the board. My dilemma now is how to make it removable.

Anyhow, just starting a fresh new hobby and loving it. Thanks for looking and comments are welcome and appreciated. If I am doing something that needs to be corrected please point it out.

Velcro works pretty good for holding the crossover board in place.

[Kevin Wehrle]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

I was thinking velcro and then came up with 1/2 dowels which I will cut about 1" tall at most. I will drill a hole in them and mount them on the xover board. When done I will just glue the dowels in and if I have to remove the xover I can just unscrew from the dowels. Pictures to come on my plans as I get moving forward.

[rhodesj]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

Just to give a little feedback on finishing... Here's the finish I did on a speaker in white Duratex using the exact same foam roller.

That was three coats of Duratex straight out of the can.

For a smoother finish, I've read recommendations to thin the Duratex slightly with water, and/or to sand the first coats to be smoother. You might do some test coats on scrap if you're going to be very particular about the final finish.

[Chris Roemer]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

No need really to use standoffs (like on a PC motherboard) for an xo. Just a screw or two to hold them onto something is all you really need. the wires on the backside can be "pinched" w/out issue.

[Kevin Wehrle]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

Thank you very much for the information and I think that turned out excellent looking. I hope mine turns out as nice.

Here was the rough sketch in my head. I am going to finishing sanding then seal outside witht 25/75 glue/water mix and let that dry. I may do a couple and sand them depending on how the look and feel. I then will do a fine base coat of duratex and sand it and then a couple final coats all with the foam roller. I do not want anything like a piano finish but I do want something that looks nice and will stand up to moving between my office and garage this winter.

Just to give a little feedback on finishing... Here's the finish I did on a speaker in white Duratex using the exact same foam roller.
[ATTACH]50775[/ATTACH]
That was three coats of Duratex straight out of the can.

For a smoother finish, I've read recommendations to thin the Duratex slightly with water, and/or to sand the first coats to be smoother. You might do some test coats on scrap if you're going to be very particular about the final finish.

[rhodesj]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

For what it's worth, you don't have to seal or prime MDF when using Duratex; the first coat of Duratex will do that for you.

[Kevin Wehrle]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

Thanks I read that but was unsure so I figured a little time and effort really wes not a big deal. I made it father yesterday and have my crossovers all planned out. Will add some pics later today.

Here is what I am really wondering. What speakers of all these great DIY designs will sound great with Prog rock, my primary listening, and vinyl?

I choose these for no particular reason than the reviews and I wanted to try MTM. I love the concept. I see many other builds and it is hard to figure out what would be the best fit. Hopefully some of the designers will chime in so I can start planning my next set of speakers.

For what it's worth, you don't have to seal or prime MDF when using Duratex; the first coat of Duratex will do that for you.

[Carbon13]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

Depending on the quality of the source, Paul's Classix could be a good fit. I've got these on my todo list...eventually...

I also really want to build Jeff B.'s Continuums at some point. And I'm really curious to try some of the waveguide kits on Erich's site.

So many speakers...so little time...only 15 more years till retirement and full-time speaker building...

[morris]

Re: First speaker build Paul Carmody OS MTM Bookshelf

Really nice first project. However, you are missing out on the smell of fresh cut MDF, the dust and the brownish hair from it.

Here is my first project ever. I was looking for something of nice quality for my office/lab.

They arrived
[ATTACH=CONFIG]50752[/ATTACH]

Unpacked and ready to start
[ATTACH=CONFIG]50753[/ATTACH]

Start of assembly
[ATTACH=CONFIG]50754[/ATTACH]

First one drying
[ATTACH=CONFIG]50755[/ATTACH]

Second one started with first one just drying
[ATTACH=CONFIG]50756[/ATTACH]