Being an open forum technically you are talking to everyone, Dave.
Maybe we should all chill - myself included.
We have to accept some people's interpretation of DIY is a little more Q&D than others. DDIY: Don't Do It Yourself, even.
You just have to gently guide people 🤔 and then let them find their own way to make their own, personal, c**k-ups! 😆
In my case I will do all the technical niceties, up-spec materials, recess drivers, round over the reverse of woofer cutouts, rebate joints, add bracing, even turn my own speaker terminals. However, when it comes to finishing much as I love the look of stained black ash, polished rosewood, piano black lacquer or burr walnut veneer I just don't have the patience. Light oak vinyl wrap it is!
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Agreed.
Been there, done that.
However a reusable and infinitely adjustable circle jig can be made in an hour or so from similar scrap. The underlying design of mine came from YouBend.
With a couple of refinements along the way it is now on its 4th speaker project, and has been used for making Suzuki clock assembly jigs too.
post #9 no need for a router - mattk's MTMMM Peerless 830656, Dayton ND20FB-4
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...cond-build-after-c-notes.407647/#post-7564010
Peerless 830656
Key Features
Dayton Audio ND20FB-4 - rear mount
https://www.parts-express.com/Dayto...oft-Dome-Neodymium-Tweeter-275-035?quantity=1
Kec's TC9FD18- Adason ND20fb
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...cond-build-after-c-notes.407647/#post-7564010
Peerless 830656
Key Features
- Premium sculpted stamped steel chassis
- Coated paper cone with rubber edge
- Smooth, extended response
Dayton Audio ND20FB-4 - rear mount
https://www.parts-express.com/Dayto...oft-Dome-Neodymium-Tweeter-275-035?quantity=1
Kec's TC9FD18- Adason ND20fb
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Dayton ND20FB-4 tweeter. Drill a hole rear mount. Of course check the baffle thickness.
Another idea is just to find if there are any maker spaces or other people nearby with either the skills or a CNC.
If everything is already prepared, they often do it for free or little money.
These days there are also online woodshops that not only cut everything for you, but in some cases also can do some additional things.
And otherwise it's just using other materials to finish a baffle.
Foam for example
If everything is already prepared, they often do it for free or little money.
These days there are also online woodshops that not only cut everything for you, but in some cases also can do some additional things.
And otherwise it's just using other materials to finish a baffle.
Foam for example
If you are seriously engaging into a hobby, you should consider buying some tools. The good thing about a hobby is, you can get away with quite cheap tools, if you only use them a few times a year. The bad thing is that it takes a professional to tell a cheap tool that is useable, from a too cheap tool that isn't, so ask one you know or find on you trust on Youtube.
I'm a pro in some crafts, but a hobbyist in others. So you find expensive tools in my work shop, but a lot of cheap ones in my hobby shop.
A router and a circle for it are really nothing to cry about. Some years (ages) ago even a jigsaw was an expensive tool and DIYS people made speaker cut out's with a hand drill and a file, hole by hole. If you buy a speaker kit and want to DIYS, concider to get a drill, jig saw and router, sell it on eBay later, if you don't like it.
Anyway, discussing the value of rebating a driver, because someone is too stuborn to use an electric hand tool, seems some kind of crazy to me.
I have no CNC and not 3-D printer, but I think they are great tools. Am I supposed to oppose to hate them?
I'm a pro in some crafts, but a hobbyist in others. So you find expensive tools in my work shop, but a lot of cheap ones in my hobby shop.
A router and a circle for it are really nothing to cry about. Some years (ages) ago even a jigsaw was an expensive tool and DIYS people made speaker cut out's with a hand drill and a file, hole by hole. If you buy a speaker kit and want to DIYS, concider to get a drill, jig saw and router, sell it on eBay later, if you don't like it.
Anyway, discussing the value of rebating a driver, because someone is too stuborn to use an electric hand tool, seems some kind of crazy to me.
I have no CNC and not 3-D printer, but I think they are great tools. Am I supposed to oppose to hate them?
I guess it is what you are raised with. I have had trouble over the decades selling the idea of using a router just about anything to some of the other craftsmen out there. Just last night a friend of mine in Chicago asked if I wanted his router for free. Um no not really. I have two or three of my own. i dare say that in some cases you can get away with using a Dremel router, but of course there are limitations. A trim router may well work in thicker material if it is taking smaller bites at a time. BTW, that is one of the staples of routing. Do not take big bites. That ends up poorly in all aspects. With a circle jig, you can actually do the rebate first and then cut the through next. This gives a stable support to the router as you are rounding out the circular shape.
OTOH I can't imagine programming a CNC or like machine. Would be really intimidating to me.
OTOH I can't imagine programming a CNC or like machine. Would be really intimidating to me.
In some way I can understand you, anything rotating can mean danger to humanity. To me the most frigthening tool is a hand planer. Two razor sharp knifes turning at 28.000rpm. Next is the circular saw, then the router I must admit.
I often see professionals using a router on a loose work piece. The best way to ruin the object or hurt your self. It has to do with work culture, which is a very different animal in different places. I refuse to work if the right tool is not available. Just to protect any property and human health. I know this is an unpopular subject.
I often see professionals using a router on a loose work piece. The best way to ruin the object or hurt your self. It has to do with work culture, which is a very different animal in different places. I refuse to work if the right tool is not available. Just to protect any property and human health. I know this is an unpopular subject.
This man went to a cabinet maker.
Elsinore Speaker Project- Australia
https://www.stereonet.com/forums/topic/247439-elsinore-speaker-project/
post#1
" Anyway it wasn't that difficult and i had the boards and routing done at a local kitchen cabinet manufacturer although you do need two sets of hands from time to time - "
![20180602_102351[18490].jpg](https://soundmediagroupau.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/monthly_2018_06/1345882117_20180602_10235118490.thumb.jpg.f7e98d651769579c5ae6b2ca44a16177.jpg "20180602_102351[18490].jpg")
Elsinore Speaker Project- Australia
https://www.stereonet.com/forums/topic/247439-elsinore-speaker-project/
post#1
" Anyway it wasn't that difficult and i had the boards and routing done at a local kitchen cabinet manufacturer although you do need two sets of hands from time to time - "
Things only become very dangerous if you put a lot of (reaction) force to it.
So just take small cuts at a time if you find it hard to control.
If you're taking very deep cuts and doing that very fast (like these professional workers), yes things can get hairy very quickly.
I have a Perles plunge router that I put on the lowest RPM when I have to mill something like MDF.
It goes in like butter, and moves not much more different than pencil. (just a bit bigger)
I am not exaggerating this at all.
Doing (very) hardwood planks is a totally different story.
It's even worse with real hardwood with all kinds of dents, holes, weird grain, knots etc
Everything turns into an hard to control angry stallion that doesn't wanna go.
So again, if that is very intimidating, just design the speakers on such a way that the front baffle is made from MDF, or a part of the front baffle is MDF (like a sandwich construction).
Or use other softer materials for the front baffle like pine, walnut etc
Those are all a breeze to do with a router no problem.
There is basically no danger of kick back with these soft woods.
Even if you go the wrong direction, this is very manageable.
Your hands are also far away from the routing bit anyway, so there isn't much that can go wrong.
Although with a jig or template that is not really a thing to begin with.
So just take small cuts at a time if you find it hard to control.
If you're taking very deep cuts and doing that very fast (like these professional workers), yes things can get hairy very quickly.
I have a Perles plunge router that I put on the lowest RPM when I have to mill something like MDF.
It goes in like butter, and moves not much more different than pencil. (just a bit bigger)
I am not exaggerating this at all.
Doing (very) hardwood planks is a totally different story.
It's even worse with real hardwood with all kinds of dents, holes, weird grain, knots etc
Everything turns into an hard to control angry stallion that doesn't wanna go.
So again, if that is very intimidating, just design the speakers on such a way that the front baffle is made from MDF, or a part of the front baffle is MDF (like a sandwich construction).
Or use other softer materials for the front baffle like pine, walnut etc
Those are all a breeze to do with a router no problem.
There is basically no danger of kick back with these soft woods.
Even if you go the wrong direction, this is very manageable.
Your hands are also far away from the routing bit anyway, so there isn't much that can go wrong.
Although with a jig or template that is not really a thing to begin with.
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I can assure you that only the idea of it is intimidating. I grew up in a carpenter joiner household and am used to using all sorts of traditional hand tools as well as power tools. I currently have a full set of hand power tools as well and hand powered tools with planes, chisels and some dedicated stuff for working with drawings and wood and keep down to 2000 grit paper on rolls
These days I detest touching them, regardless of how adept I am and how proud I am off work to date. To me, they are the equivalent of a stone adze. This is about disruption, too. I believe that more and more of these hand and power tools will soon be missing from the retail shelves and only show up in antiques and seconds
Why? Most industries had their specialists, and some of these guys can barely fit their heads through the door frames. One will usually be spoken down to by one of these characters. The special thing to remember is that these fellas are getting older and probably won't be missed by customers
Why? A new generation has reached early adulthood. These guys learn what they need to get the job done using networked resources like YouTube and actively teach each other different skill sets and work by even building new tools from ground up and find support on crowdfunding from their peers
Like my grandparents on Facebook, we will have more fun and make better things by getting update with them
The early days of CNC and 3D printing were challenging. Now it is as simple as making a drawing and sending it to print (these new types of machines are basically running on print engines)
Someone should start a thread on home CNC if they need some initial handholding. My daughter is in year 5 in primary school, she has no trouble with this if helped a bit in some places so you should be ok
The scoffers to modern tech will go the way of the dinosaur in the coming years. Those of us who feel limited by what traditional tools are capable off will be the first to adapt and adept. Using your mind and fine motor skills on the button of a tool or the mouse is no comparison. Bottom line is that anyone can be trained to use hand and power tools, but not everyone will have the aptitude to keep their heads above water when working in an imaginary 3D environment, and that is the greater skill set to master. If anyone disputes this, check the high schools, class numbers in woodworking and STEM
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Some people are talented.
Derek Walton- Handbuillt Ariel
https://web.archive.org/web/20071029171654/http://iol.ie/~waltonaudio/ariel1.html
Derek Walton- Handbuillt Ariel
https://web.archive.org/web/20071029171654/http://iol.ie/~waltonaudio/ariel1.html
This is a very dark chapter you just opened up. How can millions of people, that only accept one book and despise any objective knowledge as blasphemy, live in a future world, where anything is getting more complicated? I mean: live in peace.
That population is also ageing, and the youngsters aren't in a rush to replenish those ranks, and instead talking to each other and doing each other. My personal observation is that the fruits of those labours test well in school and are adding to the STEM ranks. I have heard kids fishing on the pier actually discussing Arduino!
if we are talking about production, then I strongly agree with new methods. In fact, up to a point I would very much like have a machine do some of this work. Cutting large panels is, to me, a real PITA. Same with some of the joinery. But I do also enjoy the use of a fine hand plane. Probably not very well understood these days. That is ok. I can see art in both, but I also like the idea of something not being perfected by a machine. In fact, I don't strive to leave out minor marks or knots in wood. New thinking seems to make things look perfect, as in factory finished. This is different than what I am interested in. In short, so what?
That I will dispute, it is perfected by the person with the mouse on the screen, the mouse is the handplane which is not very well understood. What the maching makes is a copy of what the person makes
I personally think that the best skill to learn (and ideally master), is the skill of adaptability.
What's relevant today, will be different tomorrow.
What's relevant today, will be different tomorrow.
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My router doesn't have speed control. This small speed controller has made it way less dangerous to use. I was lucky the times it jumped out of my hand before!
When I was using it once in the balcony my daughter was getting back from school and from half a block away she said to herself "so much noise, that cannot be my dad"... and she was wrong. I guess the buildings around make the sound worse.
I used this router when I was learning how to build a CNC. I quickly learned how messy MDF dust is. I didn't really know how bad it was (this is not MDF, just a few holes for a table).
BTW, back to the thread question, in my case having to build cases didn't put me off learning about building speakers.
But the amount of time and money I've put into getting a CNCs in an apartment makes me question my life choices sometimes 🙂 There is a nice spindle and a second hand CNC that I haven't had the time to setup.
I didn't do it just for the speakers. Some people have talked about programming in this thread. I think when you are a programmer and turn some challenges into programming challenges you make things easier for yourself.
Attachments
If you build a set of speakers and use a CNC for it, your hobby is CNC'ing. From an production point of view, I'm finished with a hand router before you even calibrated the CNC.