Formica Products | laminate sheets
I used one of their brass laminates for an amplifier front panel (fitted into a wooden sleeve for a Rogers Cadet, 1960s look) and it was very realistic. If you can find a dealer who handles smaller quantities, it's worth exploring what they do.
I used one of their brass laminates for an amplifier front panel (fitted into a wooden sleeve for a Rogers Cadet, 1960s look) and it was very realistic. If you can find a dealer who handles smaller quantities, it's worth exploring what they do.
The Monolith was impervious to human technology. The man-ape Moonwatcher thought it was a rock though, even if in the novel it was translucent, and he was no fool.
Google does not quickly scare up any links. You have some?
I wonder about the availability of the size needed (and the cost).
dave
I wonder about the availability of the size needed (and the cost).
dave
Actar.com...foils & films..Maxiblack---etc,
---------------------------------------------------------------------Rick..........
---------------------------------------------------------------------Rick..........
Add a “k” to the URL.
MAXiBLACK coating - Highest absorptance with small thickness - Acktar black coatings
maximum 20 cm wide… that would mean seams.
dave
MAXiBLACK coating - Highest absorptance with small thickness - Acktar black coatings
maximum 20 cm wide… that would mean seams.
dave
The builder already has a pretty idea of type of material with which he’s comfortable, upon approval of samples, it’ll be designer’s choice of particular brand / finish.
There are solid colorcore plastic laminate products that would leave no tell-tell brown line of phenolic backer core on exposed edges, but I’m not sure of any with flat dull sheen or deep texture.
There are solid colorcore plastic laminate products that would leave no tell-tell brown line of phenolic backer core on exposed edges, but I’m not sure of any with flat dull sheen or deep texture.
Rather than stick too slavishly to the 2001 look, I hope someone explores the option of the extended roundovers shown in the plans.
Colin - no doubt there are more than a few ways to get the effect of a full bullnose, but always a lazy bugger I’d want to use a half-round architectural moulding. The largest diameter that our local supplier is tooled up for is 4” - almost a full inch smaller then the 148mm net depth on the plans as I read them.
Besides, in the original spirit of commemoration to Stephen and Arthur, I’d be inclined to the slab -probably an easier build, to boot.
Besides, in the original spirit of commemoration to Stephen and Arthur, I’d be inclined to the slab -probably an easier build, to boot.
Of course, no doubt lotsa ways to achieve the look. I might rabbet in some 3mm or so solid for a small radius, just to reduce risk of damage to the vertical edges. Things do get moved around a lot casa Dlugos, and these puppies will be awkward -not as bad as some, but why not attempt to be pro-active.
I think Peter Daniel achieved a wide diameter roundover in one of his speakers by bonding half a sonotube to the side of the cabinet. There was a pic on the Audiosector thread many years ago.
Vantablack paint is the commercial paintable version of this stuff.
There is quite a bit of controversy about the commercialization of it though. There are a few clones that are cheaper and more readily available. Vantablack - Wikipedia
Anyhow, it's blacker than black. True monolith, Disaster Area Hotblack Desiato Sundive Ship black.
Otherwise the best most practical solution from both an aesthetic and functional viewpoint would be to wrap the whole thing in two layers of fabric.
One layer of thin but dense black cloth, with a hole for the driver, and then on top a layer of standard black speaker grille cloth.
The bottom layer is to not have the cabinet cut and poke through the thin cover, and to keep it in place by friction.
Also it would provide a deeper black with none of the surface of the cab being directly visible through the thin cover.
And then the cover fabric, to give it that ultra matte, yet still sharply defined surface and edges, with no immediately apparent holes for drivers or ports
The fabric approach will also dispense with the need for, the concept and look spoiling, round over.
The two layers of fabric will have much the same effect on edge diffraction. In fact it will work better, from my experience with fabric clad speakers.
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DCM Time Window approach with the two layers, as well as a tall wide and shallow configuration. I think my Philco (Matsu) 6.5's have found a new home in these freebies.
Vantablack needs a special treatment, this is why I recommended Black 2.0 which is a normal yet very black paint and it is more widely available.
After mentioning this design in our latest newsletter, we've had several enquiries about the Hawking speaker and there is at least one build in progress. I'll update as soon as we receive reports or pics.