Cheap finish for my cheap subwoofer?

mazeroth · 19th July 2004, 08:56 PM

My basement setup is dark and I'm going to make a coffee table/subwoofer out of MDF and was wondering what you guys recommend to finish it with that's CHEAP and also looks DECENT. I'm thinking of making a dual 12" box with the woofers firing down, ported to get lower bass and then attach an MDF table around it.

Which reminds me, how far should the drivers be from the floor, which are carpeted. If you guys think it's wise I could mount it onto another piece of MDF so the bass fires onto something hard and not dampening like the carpet.

Honestly, I would be happy with cheap black spray paint because it's so dark down there, but the more I think about it I wouldn't mind spending a few more dollars, if possible, to make it look a little bit nicer and maybe help it hold up a bit. Don't know if you can spray paint black and then buy clear coat in a spray can or not.

This will be a very inexpensive project just for my basement rig, which is used mainly for video gaming and music for parties. I will be using leftover MDF and (2) 12" MTX subwoofers.

Thanks a million, guys!

wrenchone · 20th July 2004, 03:12 AM

You could search for the threads about using spray-on truck bed liner as a finish. It gives a bit of a pebbled look and is probably pretty durable as well.

thomas997 · 20th July 2004, 03:37 AM

Bed liner is nice, make sure you do a little practice with it first though..

Should be about 5 US a can, and should cover your sub depending on its size.. get 2 if its big.

kingdaddy · 20th July 2004, 03:41 AM

Drape a small lap blanket or cheap linen covering over it.

HiSPL · 20th July 2004, 04:03 AM

The spray on bedliner is durable after a good long drying time has passed (a week at least). Although you can handle it within a few minutes..... I would spray it with black primer first though, because the bedliner doesn't cover as much as you'd like it too. It goes alot further on something thats already black.....

mazeroth · 20th July 2004, 11:24 AM

Thanks for all the replies. That spray on bedliner sounds like a killer idea. Thanks!

wunhuanglo · 20th July 2004, 12:05 PM

The best, the easiest, the fastest.

http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage....ilter=laminate

mazeroth · 20th July 2004, 06:18 PM

The Parts Express veneer, how durable is it? It will be used for a coffee table as well down in the basement, and *may* get abused once in a while when I have a lot of guests over.

Thanks!

Overd0se · 20th July 2004, 10:49 PM

I used some flat black acrylic applied with a foam roller and it came out nice. The finish is fairly similar to the truck bed paint, just much less pebbled. I got it really cheap too. It was in a stack of paints that someone had ordered and didn't buy, so it was $5 for a gallon at Lowes.

I've never used that partexpress laminate, but most of the vinyl laminates I've seen were a similar cosistancy to contact paper. They didn't look too good or very durable. I wouldn't recommend the wood, but the textured black would probably be fine. Paint is probably better for your application though.

m1abrams · 20th July 2004, 11:51 PM

Just a tip with the Truck Bed Liner stuff that I learned the hard way. Do NOT use the can til empty. Once the can feels light, toss it. The last part of the can spatters and makes a huge mess!

Luckily I only had a small bit happen before I noticed and was able to actually brush it off and apply a new coat.

If you want an example of the finish. I just finished my speakers this way. Was real easy and cheap. I followed the directions of someone else on this forum that posted a small howto here. (search for the thread).

http://thetank.org/gallery/speakerproj/P7160005

http://thetank.org/gallery/speakerproj/P7160003

http://thetank.org/gallery/speakerproj/P7170009

I just rolled two coats of flat black, sanding with fine grit between coats. Then used the Dupicolor Truck Bed Liner, I built a little spray booth in my garage using cardboard boxes so I did not paint the whole garage. People have said that using the paint on a warm day in sunlight is not a good idea (drys really fast).

I sprayed from about 12" back in even level stokes. You want to keep the can level because if you point down much it will start to spatter. Do not use too much in anyone spot because then you will get a more glossy surface.

19th July 2004, 08:56 PM	#1
mazeroth diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Columbus, OH	Cheap finish for my cheap subwoofer? My basement setup is dark and I'm going to make a coffee table/subwoofer out of MDF and was wondering what you guys recommend to finish it with that's CHEAP and also looks DECENT. I'm thinking of making a dual 12" box with the woofers firing down, ported to get lower bass and then attach an MDF table around it. Which reminds me, how far should the drivers be from the floor, which are carpeted. If you guys think it's wise I could mount it onto another piece of MDF so the bass fires onto something hard and not dampening like the carpet. Honestly, I would be happy with cheap black spray paint because it's so dark down there, but the more I think about it I wouldn't mind spending a few more dollars, if possible, to make it look a little bit nicer and maybe help it hold up a bit. Don't know if you can spray paint black and then buy clear coat in a spray can or not. This will be a very inexpensive project just for my basement rig, which is used mainly for video gaming and music for parties. I will be using leftover MDF and (2) 12" MTX subwoofers. Thanks a million, guys!

20th July 2004, 04:03 AM	#5
HiSPL diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: College Station, TX	The spray on bedliner is durable after a good long drying time has passed (a week at least). Although you can handle it within a few minutes..... I would spray it with black primer first though, because the bedliner doesn't cover as much as you'd like it too. It goes alot further on something thats already black..... __________________ Hey, do you hear that?

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20th July 2004, 03:12 AM	#2
wrenchone diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Silicon Valley	You could search for the threads about using spray-on truck bed liner as a finish. It gives a bit of a pebbled look and is probably pretty durable as well.

20th July 2004, 03:37 AM	#3
thomas997 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Vancouver	Bed liner is nice, make sure you do a little practice with it first though.. Should be about 5 US a can, and should cover your sub depending on its size.. get 2 if its big.

20th July 2004, 03:41 AM	#4
kingdaddy diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fort Worth, Texas	Drape a small lap blanket or cheap linen covering over it.

20th July 2004, 11:24 AM	#6
mazeroth diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Columbus, OH	Thanks for all the replies. That spray on bedliner sounds like a killer idea. Thanks!

20th July 2004, 12:05 PM	#7
wunhuanglo diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New Orleans, LA	The best, the easiest, the fastest. http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage....ilter=laminate

20th July 2004, 06:18 PM	#8
mazeroth diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Columbus, OH	The Parts Express veneer, how durable is it? It will be used for a coffee table as well down in the basement, and may get abused once in a while when I have a lot of guests over. Thanks!

20th July 2004, 10:49 PM	#9
Overd0se diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: .	I used some flat black acrylic applied with a foam roller and it came out nice. The finish is fairly similar to the truck bed paint, just much less pebbled. I got it really cheap too. It was in a stack of paints that someone had ordered and didn't buy, so it was $5 for a gallon at Lowes. I've never used that partexpress laminate, but most of the vinyl laminates I've seen were a similar cosistancy to contact paper. They didn't look too good or very durable. I wouldn't recommend the wood, but the textured black would probably be fine. Paint is probably better for your application though.

20th July 2004, 11:51 PM	#10
m1abrams diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: NOVA	Just a tip with the Truck Bed Liner stuff that I learned the hard way. Do NOT use the can til empty. Once the can feels light, toss it. The last part of the can spatters and makes a huge mess! Luckily I only had a small bit happen before I noticed and was able to actually brush it off and apply a new coat. If you want an example of the finish. I just finished my speakers this way. Was real easy and cheap. I followed the directions of someone else on this forum that posted a small howto here. (search for the thread). http://thetank.org/gallery/speakerproj/P7160005 http://thetank.org/gallery/speakerproj/P7160003 http://thetank.org/gallery/speakerproj/P7170009 I just rolled two coats of flat black, sanding with fine grit between coats. Then used the Dupicolor Truck Bed Liner, I built a little spray booth in my garage using cardboard boxes so I did not paint the whole garage. People have said that using the paint on a warm day in sunlight is not a good idea (drys really fast). I sprayed from about 12" back in even level stokes. You want to keep the can level because if you point down much it will start to spatter. Do not use too much in anyone spot because then you will get a more glossy surface.

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