Ekta Grande project/AR-1 variation

[Coasttocoast]

Ready for primer, driver holes taped off, in the paint booth. Yea!!


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[JonasKarud]

Excellent!

For even better sonic results, try to mount the coils so that their
induction axes point in different directions.

[Coasttocoast]

Originally Posted by JonasKarud

Excellent!

For even better sonic results, try to mount the coils so that their
induction axes point in different directions.

JonasKarud, thanks for commenting. It was all I could do to get these in the way I did, due to space. I only had about 2 1/2" depth to work with and some of the coils are larger than that on their side. I was able to organize them, as in the pic, with 3 1/2" between them. Before I fixed them to the board I sent a pic to Troels and he said he thought the layout looked fine. I know it would have been a safer bet to organize in different directions as you said.

We will see soon, put the first 2 coats of primer on today;

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Let the sanding begin!

[Coasttocoast]

Nice to have a 3 day weekend. I was able to spray the last 2 coats of primer Saturday. Monday morning spent sanding it all over again and filling the small imperfections with some spot putty.

After lunch I wiped them down with a damp cloth and rolled them into the booth. I sprayed them first with a medium wet coat of DTM epoxy primer/sealer, then two medium wet coats of black base coat, then two medium wet coats of Chroma Clear.

Here is a pic of one final sanded and one with the spot putty.

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[Coasttocoast]

I pulled them out of the booth this afternoon and started the first round of color sanding. Sanding as little as possible with 1200 grit and pad to make the "orange peel" disappear. I was pretty proud of them at this point. With as much sanding and buffing ahead of me I almost talked myself into taking them home, they looked that good. But, sticking to plan, finish the color sanding, then 2 more coats of clear, then another round of color sanding, then the polishing.

Here is the first one almost complete with color sanding and the one on the right is right out of the booth;

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[Coasttocoast]

I used ASA Kable Silver Plated 12 Gauge Speaker Wire for the internal runs, zip tied to each brace to keep from banging around


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[Coasttocoast]

I made a recess in the bottom of each cabinet to house the crossover separate from the cabinet internal area for easy access.

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[Coasttocoast]

First set of drivers going in

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[Coasttocoast]

I was so excited!! Powered right up and sounded great, even in the large open shop. I was really shocked at the amount of base and cleaness of the treble in the worst type of environment. Source audio was my iPhone through the PAS 2 (all tubes4hifi upgrades), I still have to place the Acoustilux, install the rest of the screws and re-install my signature/logo on the right speaker


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[Coasttocoast]

This project started forming in my mind the end of December and now nearly complete and home the first of March. I can't believe how much sanding and polishing these took!

I used a 2 step process, all DuPont Choma products. Each cabinet has 4 coats of clear. Wet sanded with 1200 grit after the first 2, then back in the booth for the next 2. After the second set of 1200 grit wet sanding, then 2000 grit. Then the polishing. I used 3m's Perfect-It 3 step system. Each step uses a different compound with matching buffer wheel. I thought I would never finish!

FYI, each cabinet has about a third of a gallon of clear.

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