TAD and horns, where to get horns?

Daveis · 31st August 2006, 01:16 AM

Can someone point me towards an all TAD horn speaker design? And even more important, how to fabricate or buy the horns for less than a king's ransom?

Could one buy a Klipsh horn speaker simply to canibalize the horns out of it?

Is someone making horns for say less than $500?

carpenter · 31st August 2006, 02:15 AM

Are you talking about high frequency horns? If so, make a mold from plaster, then use paper mache for the horn. Gorgeous sound. You can find the horn diminsion calculator at the "single driver website"

http://melhuish.org/audio/horndesign.html

John

noodle_snacks · 31st August 2006, 02:20 AM

Making a horn out of paper mache, what is the best way to mount the driver to the horn itself? Incorporate some mdf into the end perhaps?

Daveis · 31st August 2006, 02:40 AM

Some pics of mating a homemade horn to the driver would be helpful.

carpenter · 31st August 2006, 06:32 AM

Use your imagination...

I just gave you the gift of a lifetime. I nearly wept the first time I heard my paper-mache horn. Of course, real men don't cry.

John

hint: don't allow the weight of the driver to rest against the paper-mache. noodle-snacks in on the right track -- use plywood, not mdf to support a 30lb driver.

noodle_snacks · 31st August 2006, 07:41 AM

though by no means nessicary, it'd be also possible to use fibreglass etc if you wanted wouldnt it?

Pano · 31st August 2006, 10:30 AM

Wasn't there a thread here a few months ago about TAD horn clones? The clones looked better than the real thing.

Paper-mache horns? Clever! Did you do the big ones?
I've often thought about it, never done it.

GM · 31st August 2006, 12:56 PM

Greets!

Fiberglass horns 'ring' due to how hard the resin cures to, so must either be thick or externally damped, whereas paper mache is inherently well damped with an Fs well below a mid/HF horn's passband. Much less toxic, cheaper, and easier clean-up to boot!

GM

Daveis · 31st August 2006, 01:39 PM

carpenter,

How thick do you get the paper mache?

carpenter · 31st August 2006, 02:19 PM

The walls are 3/32" thick -- about 8 layers of newspaper. Use 1/3 wallpaper paste, 1/3 white glue (Elmers), and 1/3 water for the bonding agent. Around the mouth's rim, I apply thin layers of plaster between layers. If you get bored and stop, allow the casting to dry completely. When dry, seal it with water-proof primer before continuing with the further application of paper-mache. Your horn will warp otherwise. I use a two inch paint brush to apply the glue. Dampen your paper before laying it on the mold. Also, keep the glue mixture off the mold side of the horn. It dries white and isn't very attractive. Use plenty of Vasoline as a mold release agent -- Key word: Plenty.

John

31st August 2006, 01:16 AM	#1
Daveis diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Des Moines, IA	TAD and horns, where to get horns? Can someone point me towards an all TAD horn speaker design? And even more important, how to fabricate or buy the horns for less than a king's ransom? Could one buy a Klipsh horn speaker simply to canibalize the horns out of it? Is someone making horns for say less than $500?

31st August 2006, 02:15 AM	#2
carpenter Paper mache horn fabricator diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Oregon City, Oregon	Are you talking about high frequency horns? If so, make a mold from plaster, then use paper mache for the horn. Gorgeous sound. You can find the horn diminsion calculator at the "single driver website" http://melhuish.org/audio/horndesign.html John __________________ I enjoy audio so much that I constructed a web site. I share my ideas at: www.inlowsound.com

31st August 2006, 06:32 AM	#5
carpenter Paper mache horn fabricator diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Oregon City, Oregon	Use your imagination... I just gave you the gift of a lifetime. I nearly wept the first time I heard my paper-mache horn. Of course, real men don't cry. John hint: don't allow the weight of the driver to rest against the paper-mache. noodle-snacks in on the right track -- use plywood, not mdf to support a 30lb driver. __________________ I enjoy audio so much that I constructed a web site. I share my ideas at: www.inlowsound.com

31st August 2006, 10:30 AM	#7
Pano diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: North Carolina Blog Entries: 4	Wasn't there a thread here a few months ago about TAD horn clones? The clones looked better than the real thing. Paper-mache horns? Clever! Did you do the big ones? I've often thought about it, never done it. __________________ Take the Speaker Voltage Test!

31st August 2006, 12:56 PM	#8
GM diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chamblee, Ga.	Greets! Fiberglass horns 'ring' due to how hard the resin cures to, so must either be thick or externally damped, whereas paper mache is inherently well damped with an Fs well below a mid/HF horn's passband. Much less toxic, cheaper, and easier clean-up to boot! GM __________________ Loud is Beautiful if it's Clean! As always though, the usual disclaimers apply to this post's contents.


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

31st August 2006, 02:20 AM	#3
noodle_snacks diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hobart, Tasmania	Making a horn out of paper mache, what is the best way to mount the driver to the horn itself? Incorporate some mdf into the end perhaps?

31st August 2006, 02:40 AM	#4
Daveis diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Des Moines, IA	Some pics of mating a homemade horn to the driver would be helpful.

31st August 2006, 07:41 AM	#6
noodle_snacks diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hobart, Tasmania	though by no means nessicary, it'd be also possible to use fibreglass etc if you wanted wouldnt it?

31st August 2006, 01:39 PM	#9
Daveis diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Des Moines, IA	carpenter, How thick do you get the paper mache?

31st August 2006, 02:19 PM	#10
carpenter Paper mache horn fabricator diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Oregon City, Oregon	Best sounding 36" diameter horn I've ever heard! The walls are 3/32" thick -- about 8 layers of newspaper. Use 1/3 wallpaper paste, 1/3 white glue (Elmers), and 1/3 water for the bonding agent. Around the mouth's rim, I apply thin layers of plaster between layers. If you get bored and stop, allow the casting to dry completely. When dry, seal it with water-proof primer before continuing with the further application of paper-mache. Your horn will warp otherwise. I use a two inch paint brush to apply the glue. Dampen your paper before laying it on the mold. Also, keep the glue mixture off the mold side of the horn. It dries white and isn't very attractive. Use plenty of Vasoline as a mold release agent -- Key word: Plenty. John __________________ I enjoy audio so much that I constructed a web site. I share my ideas at: www.inlowsound.com

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