Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

[WernerM]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Subscribed! Looking good, from now to finish I will try to keep my comments to a minimum to limit clutter. :D

[craigk]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

very nice work.

[DIYNut42]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

These are looking more awesome by the day! Have you decided on what finish you're going to try?

[rvsixer]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Thanks for the kind comments everyone! And please post anything that comes to mind, less than twenty posts with over 1,000 hits = no clutter happening here ;).

Ahhh...the finish. At first I was thinking simple clear coat, but I watched TV last night with the bare mains and center in place just to make sure I had no glare/reflection/contrast issues. Those big light color boxes stood out the entire time (mains did not bother me so much, but the center was constantly "present").

I bought some flat black construction paper today, and have wrapped the center in it for a retest tonight. If the center channel visual issues go away, some type of dark finish is happening. Probably stain of some sort, I would hate to paint over wood. I am thinking something like General Finishes Java gel:
http://www.generalfinishes.com/retail-products/oil-base-wood-stains-sealers/oilbase-gel-stains

Any other ideas? I am a total newbie to finishing wood too.

[DIYNut42]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Thanks for the kind comments everyone! And please post anything that comes to mind, less than twenty posts with over 1,000 hits = no clutter happening here ;).

Ahhh...the finish. At first I was thinking simple clear coat, but I watched TV last night with the bare mains and center in place just to make sure I had no glare/reflection/contrast issues. Those big light color boxes stood out the entire time (mains did not bother me so much, but the center was constantly "present").

I bought some flat black construction paper today, and have wrapped the center in it for a retest tonight. If the center channel visual issues go away, some type of dark finish is happening. Probably stain of some sort, I would hate to paint over wood. I am thinking something like General Finishes Java gel:
http://www.generalfinishes.com/retail-products/oil-base-wood-stains-sealers/oilbase-gel-stains

Any other ideas? I am a total newbie to finishing wood too.

If you want to go DARK dark without painting, you could always do a black wood stain. Something like Minwax's Ebony stain, and then a few coats of satin poly finish. I'm sure there are better product suggestions out there than Minwax. Just using it as a suggestion.

[WernerM]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Yeah or a dark walnut would be nice too.

[rvsixer]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Satin topcoat is a great idea for the CC! I was about to just go to one of the big box stores and pick up Minwax, and then found this video comparing Minwax stain to GF Java on a "blotchy" wood (which birch is):

http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/coloring-blotchy-woods/

And this pre-conditioner seems some of the best on the market:

http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/articles/blotch-control-to-rule-them-all/

The more I researched (including several posts here at PE), the more convinced I became to try this route first. CN pre-conditioner has been ordered, off to Woodcraft this week for Timbermate filler and GF Java get stain. We will see how it works out.

Here's a example of this finish schedule on birch ply:

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/21331

(I think this would look great, what do you think?)


The CC wrapped in black paper test was a success. I still knew the speaker was there, but not nearly as visually distracting as before :applause:.

[WernerM]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Great links thanks for that!!!:D

[DIYNut42]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

All this talk about Java reminds me of something... *takes sip of coffee* :D

I bet that finish will look great! I might have missed it if you mentioned it, but are you going to line the inside of the woofer enclosure or the open back mid area with any dampening materials? I think Paul mentioned in his write up that some simple egg crate foam inside the woofer cab would do some good.

[rvsixer]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

I might have missed it if you mentioned it, but are you going to line the inside of the woofer enclosure or the open back mid area with any dampening materials? I think Paul mentioned in his write up that some simple egg crate foam inside the woofer cab would do some good.

I am enjoying Java right now (what happened to all the cool coffee drinking emoticons anyway...?).

No damping on the mids, I am fairly certain you want them as open as possible. I am going to try Walmart memory foam bed topper for the woofer box.

[rvsixer]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

PORT LENGTH?

Need some help with port length for the main woofer box. Paul C has one of the tunings at 23Hz with an 8" port length. However, when I run the numbers, I come up with 10.4" (using Paul's measured RS225-8 parameters) .

Physical box volume: 41.2L
Driver/Vent volume: ~3L
Calculation box volume: 38.2L
Port: Precision Port 2" (adjustable from 4"-11")

I get 23Hz tuning at 10.4" port length. This differs quite a bit from 8", but 10.4" is close to the alignment in Curt C's article on small vented box alignments ( http://speakerdesignworks.com/Sealed_v_Vented.html ).

[Cosmic Charlie]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

You should do a test on a scrap piece of the birch ply. Birch does not take stain evenly. I've heard you can use a solution of dewaxed shellac and isopropal alcohol to make it take stain evenly. Make sure to sand the machining ripples out first. Nice looking project! Keep us posted.

[fastbike1]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

Good advice, but he's already talked about using pre-stain conditioner.

You should do a test on a scrap piece of the birch ply. Birch does not take stain evenly. I've heard you can use a solution of dewaxed shellac and isopropal alcohol to make it take stain evenly. Make sure to sand the machining ripples out first. Nice looking project! Keep us posted.

[DIYNut42]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

PORT LENGTH?

Need some help with port length for the main woofer box. Paul C has one of the tunings at 23Hz with an 8" port length. However, when I run the numbers, I come up with 10.4" (using Paul's measured RS225-8 parameters) .

Physical box volume: 41.2L
Driver/Vent volume: ~3L
Calculation box volume: 38.2L
Port: Precision Port 2" (adjustable from 4"-11")

I get 23Hz tuning at 10.4" port length. This differs quite a bit from 8", but 10.4" is close to the alignment in Curt C's article on small vented box alignments ( http://speakerdesignworks.com/Sealed_v_Vented.html ).

I see where you're coming from, but I would contact Paul C about that. I'd be willing to bet there is a method to his madness there. He's always willing to help out if you have any questions about his designs.

[rvsixer]

Re: Sunflower HT/Music LCR Build

I see where you're coming from, but I would contact Paul C about that. I'd be willing to bet there is a method to his madness there. He's always willing to help out if you have any questions about his designs.

Probably a good idea, i just hate to bug him with more tech support questions ;).