Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

[tubetrek]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

Make sure you have those enclosure seams sanded and filled perfectly flat or you'll see the flaws through the veneer, and by then it's too late! BTW, it's called Copper Project for a reason...not Semi Gloss Black project....darn wives. :p You would have loved the copper...

What veneer did you choose? The Tape-Ease office is about 40 minutes from my front door so it always freaks them out when somebody walks in off the street wanting to buy a sheet.

Great corner gluing block! Good idea that many here will adopt.

Hey, I like that corner clamping method. I'm gonna have to steal that. :D

Thanks for the tips. I did sand all the seams and filled in any valleys, I'm hoping for the best.

As for the copper. I plan on making a dummy baffle and prepping it with the copper color and will have her re-evaluate her decision. And yes the Semi-Black Project doesn't roll off the tongue as good as "The Copper Project". May have to relegate the speakers to my study so I can have whatever color I want!

As for the corner block, I recall seeing it on some woodworking web site awhile back and loved that it didn't ruin the corner with a clamp.

Things learned during this phase of the build
1. Don't ask your wife for her opinion on aesthetics/color
2. Don't leave newly purchased veneer in a room directly in the path of the heating vent (can we say buckle)
3. Buy the table saw before you start your project
4. Do your sanding outside with a fan, not in a closed garage
5. A palm sander is more accurate than a belt sander for the fine details
6. Always wear a dust mask when sanding MDF!!!!
7. Keep the dog away when sanding (he was having a ball trying to eat the dust in the air)

Ted

[cwad8505]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

I believe Bill Schneider used this corner clamping technique on his ONS build.. BTW.. looking awesome! Chris

[captainobvious99]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

Things learned during this phase of the build
1. Don't ask your wife for her opinion on aesthetics/color
2. Don't leave newly purchased veneer in a room directly in the path of the heating vent (can we say buckle)
3. Buy the table saw before you start your project
4. Do your sanding outside with a fan, not in a closed garage
5. A palm sander is more accurate than a belt sander for the fine details
6. Always wear a dust mask when sanding MDF!!!!
7. Keep the dog away when sanding (he was having a ball trying to eat the dust in the air)

Ted

#6 for sure, always !
Also, another thing to keep in mind with your veneer...Let it acclimate to the temp of the environment before unboxing and unrolling it. Mine was delivered in temps around 20F. Unpacking and unrolling right away can end up giving your veneer cracks/splits so let it sit for a day in the house and then unbox.
Also keep in mind that if its sitting in direct sunlight, the color can change. So the top piece may be darker than whats sitting under it in the pile ;)

Oh, and #1 is a given :p
Better to ask for forgiveness than permission!

[tubetrek]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

Finished veneering the bottom and back.



the corners look great considering this is my first time!

Can't wait till I finish one whole speaker!!

Ted

[martyh]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

Sunday evening means 'New Picture Time'.....hint hint!

[tubetrek]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

Sunday evening means 'New Picture Time'.....hint hint!

Ask and you shall receive!!

Finished veneering the last side (front) of the speakers.


Pictures of the speakers with close up of the Semi-Gloss baffle and the Scrap baffle painted with automotive burnt-copper mettalic paint.





Will show the wife after staining/sealing the veneer to see what she says.

Which one do you like better?


Ted

[tubetrek]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

Some good news!

Right after posting photos, brought the wife into the garage and showed her the two options. Also telling her the veneer will be a bit more yellow than currently, and she said "I like the copper better!, I'm sorry, go ahead and change it!

Time to sand down the semi-gloss!!!:D

Do I prime plastic or just spray? (port)

Ted

and captainobvious99, gonna live by your code!! <<"Better to ask for forgiveness than permission!">>

[Paul K.]

Re: Hey, Marty, NEENER, NEENER!!! (OT)

Just couldn't resist needling Marty a bit. Note: Marty knows what I'm referring to and it has nothing to do with his Copper Project.
Paul

Sunday evening means 'New Picture Time'.....hint hint!

[captainobvious99]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

and captainobvious99, gonna live by your code!! <<"Better to ask for forgiveness than permission!">>

:p


Cabinets look great bud ! Very good job for a first timer, for sure. Its funny that your wife made the flip flop...sometimes it just takes actually seeing the two colors to get the ball rolling. When you said orange/copper, Im sure it raised an eyebrow. Glad to hear she's onboard ! :D

[Dave Hartwick]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

Nub,
I'm also working on a copper build. Here's a mod I did, maybe useless. I defer to the experts here.

The 1685 is really crammed against the lower shelf. To increase driver breathing, I routed 1/2" out of the shelf from the area adjacent to the woofer. That hole-like mark is actually burning. Router speed and handling is an art-form.
Dave H
Chambersburg, PA

[[email protected]]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

tell your wife, shes cool. wait till she sees the matching cc.:eek::D

[Dave Hartwick]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

Trek,
You should know that, as confirmed by Marty and Paul, some builders have reported bass tubbyness after ~1-2 months. Apparently this does not show up in a a majority of cases, so 1685 lot variation is suspected.

Marty kindly reported that a small stuffing adjustment fixes the problem, but to avoid stuffing error, I'm pre-breaking in the driver before final installation and stuffing.

I almost feel like I'm insulting Paul and Marty by reporting this, who have been nothing less than gracious and helpful in this build; But this strikes me as a significant build to build variation, thus my reportage to you.
Regards,
Dave Hartwick
Chambersburg,PA

[martyh]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

Trek,
You should know that, as confirmed by Marty and Paul, some builders have reported bass tubbyness after ~1-2 months. Apparently this does not show up in a a majority of cases, so 1685 lot variation is suspected.

Marty kindly reported that a small stuffing adjustment fixes the problem, but to avoid stuffing error, I'm pre-breaking in the driver before final installation and stuffing.

I almost feel like I'm insulting Paul and Marty by reporting this, who have been nothing less than gracious and helpful in this build; But this strikes me as a significant build to build variation, thus my reportage to you.
Regards,
Dave Hartwick
Chambersburg,PA

Dave makes a valid point here; some have reported an issue with the W5-1685 driver and a bloated feel to the response in the 40-70 Hz range after an extended amount of break-in time. Others haven't noticed it, or haven't bothered to mention it. My own experience is that in one of the two pair that I've built it was an issue. The original pair didn't experience the problem, but the second pair did. Since the build process on both pair was identical it seems reasonable to assume the problem resides in the drivers’ response.

'Correcting' the issue was as simple as removing about a half an ounce of stuffing from behind the driver, resolving the issue to the ear. I have not measured the changes on a before and after basis, but I trust my ear and am satisfied with the result.

Knowing Paul, I can confidently say that we take no offense in your observation and posting, instead we're more interested in giving support to what has become a surprisingly popular DIY project. Personally I'm gratified that we've created something that has been so well received and I'm delighted to have given something to a community that has given so much to me.

Keep building happy!




Oh and on a personal note, Paul...Last I checked the scoreboard:

Bucky 2
Buckeyes 1.

See you in the Final Four!

[Paul K.]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

No offense taken here and I agree completely with Marty's comments.

Yes, Marty, your Badgers came out on top 2 to 1 in their matchups with my Buckeyes, but the Buckeyes sure shut down Jordan Taylor and stomped the Badgers re-soundly a few days ago. As to our teams meeting up again in the Final Four, I hope that comes to pass.
Paul

Dave makes a valid point here; some have reported an issue with the W5-1685 driver and a bloated feel to the response in the 40-70 Hz range after an extended amount of break-in time. Others haven't noticed it, or haven't bothered to mention it. My own experience is that in one of the two pair that I've built it was an issue. The original pair didn't experience the problem, but the second pair did. Since the build process on both pair was identical it seems reasonable to assume the problem resides in the drivers’ response.

'Correcting' the issue was as simple as removing about a half an ounce of stuffing from behind the driver, resolving the issue to the ear. I have not measured the changes on a before and after basis, but I trust my ear and am satisfied with the result.

Knowing Paul, I can confidently say that we take no offense in your observation and posting, instead we're more interested in giving support to what has become a surprisingly popular DIY project. Personally I'm gratified that we've created something that has been so well received and I'm delighted to have given something to a community that has given so much to me.

Keep building happy!




Oh and on a personal note, Paul...Last I checked the scoreboard:

Bucky 2
Buckeyes 1.

See you in the Final Four!

[bendaniels]

Re: Nubie's Build - The Copper Project

FYI, there's a chance those posts are not sized to fit that plate.

Now my dilemma, I want binding posts near the bottom. I have purchased these:



unfortunately If I install them now and glue up the cabinets I will no longer have access to them from the inside and when I go to veneer the back it would be difficult to veneer around them.

1. Should I just install the binding posts up high where I can access them from the removable front baffle?
2. install them low for now and later cut them out and install this?



Yes, I am impatient and want to get these running to see how they sound before completing the finish!!

Been researching veneer techniques, boy is it all confusing! Any suggestions?

Thanks

Ted