1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

[badman]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

After I initially set a screw into mdf or softwood (e.g., white pine), I back it out and fill the hole with wood glue and replace the screw. When dry (and hard), the glue is like a nut on the screw threads and it reinforces the surrounding material. The screw can easily be backed out in the future as wood glue won't adhere to the metal screw (unlike other glues like expoxy).

If you're going to do this, make sure you use something better than bog-standard zinc screws- they WILL stick pretty well to wood glue. Nickel, SS, black oxide, waxed, all should be fine. If you work quickly, you can do the same trick with cyanoacrylate (super glue) but you have to zip the screw in and immediately back it out. Use a couple different screws as you go around doing all the holes, as they'll heat up and the glue can stick (or just use the woodglue as above)

[kevintomb]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

Looks Fantastic, Nice build!

One question, and do not take it as criticizing, but are you gonna have any rugs or anything in area in front of couch or acoustic panels on side walls or anything?

Just my preference, but I was able to compare the sound of my set up, sans carpet and with, when I had new carpeting installed in my room, and the difference was quite dramatic.

Removing my sound absorbing curtains, and no carpeting made it almost unlistenable in a way.


Way too much echo, and a lack of clarity and a much more diffuse non precise image and sound overall.

[bullittstang]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

Looking good, how do they sound? How do they do without/with the sub?

[little]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?



Finished product minus paint ready for the Superbowl party


Here is the final shot of my setup. Didn't get a chance to build the center channel stand but did build a nice pub table the morning of the game.

[little]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

Hehe, that was the first thought that crossed my mind, man I don't think I'll trust these with just the sticky pad.

[Psycoacoustics]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]63518[/ATTACH]

Never mind,,,, even better! Like I said before, Nice Job! Mark

[little]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

Ok good tip. I shall do that

[fbov]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]63518[/ATTACH]

ROFLMAO

But put a little fill under the wires, to eliminate the already-remote possibility of buzz.

[little]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

[Psycoacoustics]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

Some progress: [ATTACH=CONFIG]63510[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]63511[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]63512[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]63513[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]63514[/ATTACH]

I had to dump the harbor freight bits as they turned out to be absolute junk. After cutting out only one recess going in 1/8" increments the bit was already starting to burn and the bit started to jump around leaving a terrible edge. It was actually making the recess holes bigger than they were supposed to be so I had to fill in the tweeter holes and recut. I bought a Freud 1/4" straight bit and it was absolutely amazing the difference in the cut and smoothness. It cut like butter and the cut was perfect. Never skimping again on certain purchases. The wiring harness came out real good. I used some shrink tubing to identify the Woofer Leads as the jumper wire between the two woofers is the same color as it was a single strand looped into the harness. To be continued......

Speaking from experience, I hope you glued those wire tie pads and are not relying on the adhesive the pads came with alone. I've had those fail in the past.

Looks nice far! Keep going! Mark

[little]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

Some progress:




I had to dump the harbor freight bits as they turned out to be absolute junk. After cutting out only one recess going in 1/8" increments the bit was already starting to burn and the bit started to jump around leaving a terrible edge. It was actually making the recess holes bigger than they were supposed to be so I had to fill in the tweeter holes and recut. I bought a Freud 1/4" straight bit and it was absolutely amazing the difference in the cut and smoothness. It cut like butter and the cut was perfect. Never skimping again on certain purchases. The wiring harness came out real good. I used some shrink tubing to identify the Woofer Leads as the jumper wire between the two woofers is the same color as it was a single strand looped into the harness. To be continued......

[fbov]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

I had bits slip, due to too much extension. As soon as I bottomed the bit in the collar, they stopped slipping.

And yes, lots of little cuts, and filler for the mistakes. If things get too soft, Minwax has a product called Wood Hardener.

Keep at it, and POST PICTURES!

Frank

[little]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

Started to glue up a few panels, the top and bottom of both speakers to one side. I also started to route out the speaker holes in the baffles and of course had my first boo boo. Before I started I put in a brand new bit and tightened it down real good. Well I get about 6" around on the first woofer, cutting only a little over an 1/8" to start and something started to feel wrong. The router slowed and I smelled burning. Went a little further and stopped. The router bit had slipped down over a 1/4" and cut a deep groove. Arghhh! So I filled with wood filler in the deep areas. Hope it holds up ok. So after that happened I retightened and did 4 more speakers on the initial cut. When I got to the 5th one, the tweeter, the inner cuts were so bad that I'm done for good with these bits. Final cuts getting done with a good bit.

[little]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

I started cutting today. Straight edge guides working great. I have decides to abandon the harbor freight spiral bits I just bought as compared to a beat up ancient straight cutting bit, they get an F. I did multiple test cuts and and the cuts are awful. I'm gonna by a new good straight bit to do the actual cutting. The edge with the straight bit is so crisp.

[little]

Re: 1st time home theater speaker build: Tritrix TL Tallboys, Tips and tricks?

I am also thinking might just go back to the originally designed baffle of sandwhiching it between the two side panels and thus shortening the front baffle to create the 4" vent on the bottom and hoping I don't Crack the baffle where it gets thin by the driver cutouts.