questions for my first DIY project, tempest sub (1 Viewer)

[Brian Pokosh]

I'm sure I'll have quite a few questions as I get started on this project, a tempest sub in an Adire Alignment box. Right now I'm still purchasing tools, though I have the driver and amp in hand. I bought a router and bits several weeks ago, but no table saw. Since I haven't bought the MDF yet, is it advisable to just have Lowes cut all of my cuts? I was going to have them do three of the cuts so I could bring it home in my car, but now I'm thinking about having them cut everything. Right now I have only a circular saw and a 96" edge guide with clamps.

 

[KyleGS]

Hey- Brian

Sometimes Lowe's / Home Depot will get the cuts very close. MANY times they will not. Here is what my broke %#&&$%@ did. Go get you a cheap jig saw or circular saw. From here you can set (clamp) you a level or thick "ruler" on the mdf. I have a 48" ruler; from here you can run a decent'ly straight fence.

You may want more exact cuts than this. But I have been very happy and it has not cost me much AT ALL.

From Lowes's a $38.99 jig saw and $10 non-pluge craftsman router (garage sale) did this: (with round-over bit)


BTW- some for auto --some for home




0.66cf sealed SOLO-baric C10 (auto)

0.75 cf sealed Inf Perfect 10.1 (auto)

122L sealed Tempest (85% stuffed) (HT)

67L sealed Tempest (100% stuffed) (both)

1.35 sealed IDMAX (auto- miss very much)

1.2 cf sealed Soundstream Rubicon 12" (auto)

1.35cf ported IDQ @ 33 hz (auto)

100L sealed Tempest (85% stuffed) (best for HT IMO)

After three projects I really mastered what I was doing. Practice was my best advice.

My point is that you don't need $1000+ tools to really master a DIY sub.

Hope this helps and g'luck

 

[GrahamT]

Since you already have the circular saw and straight edge I would say get the big cuts done at Lowes and then do the precise cuts with your saw. Even if they are out 1/8" it can be a pain to recut the wood. Good luck with the project. Just make sure the box and driver are airtight.

 

[Brian Pokosh]

So have them do a few cuts but several inches over, so that I can recut the edge? I watched them cut a sheet of MDF today and it seems hard to believe I'd be able to do a better job with just the circular saw and guide. Has anyone had them do all of the cuts and had good results?

 

[GrahamT]

Yeah I had them do all the cuts for my tempest and it turned out fine this time but sometimes they are off.

 

[Brian Pokosh]

I'm ordering the rest of the parts I need from partsexpress now - does anyone know the part number of the correct port for the adire alignment? And polyfill, I've been reading past posts and can't determine if I should use it or not. Any advice on that?

 

[Owen Bartley]

If you're building a sealed sub, grab a few bags of polyfill from WalMart. If ported, you don't need to stuff it really.