Using Cinder Blocks for enclosures

[Hybrid fourdoor]

I was thinking this would be a cool idea. Using Cinder blocks as the major structure to a speaker enclosure. Using a style similar to 'H' in the picture below. I found that with some ones I had from Loew's sitting around that the inside vloume with the center brace removed would be equal to about 0.23 Cu Ft. Cinder Blocks also seem to pass the knuckle rapping test very well. Just cap each end off with some MDF or something and seal up and finish the outside real well. And you got a good bookshelf size speaker enclosure thats very cheap and very easy to put together. I will probably try this idea soon....let you know how it turns out.

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

 

[kneadle]

I think this is a great idea. Indeed, keep us posted.

Michael Barnes at norh (and I'm sure others, as well) is producing marble enclosures. Supposedly, they're to die for.

Dave

 

[planet10]

If you can live with them, they are an easy way to concrete boxes.

There was an article in Audio Amateur were a fellow uses chimney lining blocks as the basis of an enclosure. These are a little more aesthetically pleasing.

dave

 

[kneadle]

I was thinking that if you stack a couple and modify them just a bit, you can have a nice TL design.

Dave

 

[Variac]

The internal volume will be very small, but otherwise should be great. The trans line idea could be brilliant. If the line needs to taper, remember the idea of inserting a tapered length of wood into the line to smoothly diminish the internal volume.
Might be the right size for those Jordan type drivers

 

[Tim F]

Don't know if it's too far off topic or not, but I read somewhere on the net of a project using the house chimney for the transmission line for a 10" sub-woofer guess you'd need to have the chimney well swept first!

 

[ultrachrome]

Chimney TL

Don't you think the woofer would clean it for you?

That is a brilliant idea. My fireplace is all but useless for heating the house.

If nothing else it would be a great place to hide a subwoofer, TL or not.

 

[planet10]

Re: Chimney TL

That is a brilliant idea. My fireplace is all but useless for heating the house.

If nothing else it would be a great place to hide a subwoofer, TL or not.

I'm sure this has been done... in the "small tube amp for ribbon" thread EC8010 is talking about doing exactly this. My biggest worry would be keeping the humidity. mould, and vermin out of the damping material if it was a TL.

dave

 

[kneadle]

I was considering the dampness/critter quotient even with the cinder blocks. A little plaster of paris should go a long way, don't you think? Or perhaps some of that newfangled high volume/low density insulation.

Dave

 

[Tim F]

Ultrachrome
To check chimney volume block fireplace end with board & seal with silicon, then using bucket of pre determined volume fill chimney from top when chimney full volume is known.
If you then go back to fireplace end & pull board free! Measure distance water shoots out & I believe you could then calculate head of water & hence 'line length'🙂

 

[ultrachrome]

Seriously, I would think sealing a baffle in the fireplace opening would be problematic. So I am thinking of just making an enclosure that just sets inside and leave the damper closed.

Back to cinderblock enclosures, how would you cut the middle out of the cinder block?

Those popular wall making blocks from home depot could give you a semi-beveled baffle.

 

[faustian bargin]

might be easier just to build a box out of concrete pavers...or look for blocks with only a single hole. chipping that piece out will probably be more headache than it's worth.

***edit: another option is to look for U-shaped lintel blocks; then seal off the legs of the U with another block, paver, tile, what-have-you.