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10th November 2008, 20:47
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#1
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Saxperience Forum Bum
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Exeter - Devon
Posts: 3,179
Car(s): Nitrous'd Saxo VTS
'52 Plate (S33 VTS)
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Fibreglass Sub Box (HOW TO)
Okay so I finished the front component door builds and decided to go for it and build a 12" sealed bass box so that it doesnt weigh my car down too much, I think the box is approx 1.25 cu ft. Here's how its gone so far...
Used the boot liner to get the shape for the base plate.
Screwed and gripfilled another piece of 18mm MDF vertically to make up the RHS panel.
The back panel is at the same angle as the amps on the back of the rear seats, got the angle by using an adjustable angle measurer things that my dad had.
Test fitted the build so far in the boot.
Cut out an MDF ring same as the front door builds, Mounted the ring on 2" x 1" batten and screwed that through the box panels and screwed to the MDF ring. Also covered the joints of the ring to bass box with gripfill just to be sure!
Found a large piece of material kicking around which was nice and thick, so perfect for the first layer as it will absorb loads of resin. I stretched this well tight over the box and used a staple gun to keep it firmly in place, then cut off the excess apart from about 1" over hang.
This is what it looked like after the first coat of resin
Cut some 3" square pieces of fibreglass and mixed up more resin and applied them to the first layer.
Many layers later it pretty much looked the same but alot stronger.
Then it was filler time, used approx 800grams in total.
Lots of sanding, re applying filler and sanding again...
Decided after all the prep work not to spray the box in the end as im considering making a glass fibre parcel shelf and the bass box would be well visable so carpeting to keep it stealth!
Heres the final result, just need to figure out what to put on the left hand side! DONT want another sub box though! Anyone got any ideas? PS2, PC, Can of NOS etc...?
Last edited by Lippy; 21st November 2008 at 00:40.
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10th November 2008, 20:52
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#2
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Established Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Thanet, Kent
Posts: 1,529
Car(s): White MkII VTS
Black MkII VTS
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Getting on well mate, I wish I took photos when I did mine the other week. Gave it a fair few layers of fibreglass.
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10th November 2008, 20:53
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#3
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Saxperience Forum Bum
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Exeter - Devon
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Car(s): Nitrous'd Saxo VTS
'52 Plate (S33 VTS)
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How many layers did you apply and do you think you should have done more? Im thinking 6/7 should be enough but il test when its there...!
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10th November 2008, 21:19
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#4
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That should be enough. I gave it a couple of complete coats with heavy overlapping so I guess I had about 5-7 layers. I used probably about 3-4 m[squared] of fibreglass matting.
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10th November 2008, 21:21
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#5
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Saxperience Forum Bum
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Exeter - Devon
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Car(s): Nitrous'd Saxo VTS
'52 Plate (S33 VTS)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bluenotesmiley
That should be enough. I gave it a couple of complete coats with heavy overlapping so I guess I had about 5-7 layers. I used probably about 3-4 m[squared] of fibreglass matting.
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How much resin did you use all in all as im thinking on buying a litre!?
Do you think using 3-4 meters was enough and have you had any cracking
You got any piccys? or links?
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10th November 2008, 21:35
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#6
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Established Member
Join Date: May 2008
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Your enclosure looks slightly bigger then mine. It was pretty solid for mine, so much so I needed an angle grinder to trim it down. I couldn't see any light through the fibre glass as I not only did I use a fair amount of matting I was very generous with the resin too. 1 litre will be more then enough mate.
I can go and take an image of my finished enclosure in a bit.
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10th November 2008, 21:58
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#7
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Saxperience Forum Bum
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Exeter - Devon
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Car(s): Nitrous'd Saxo VTS
'52 Plate (S33 VTS)
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Yeah a piccy would be sweet! I have used approx 1/2 a litre already! lol, the box is as big as I could get it but in the corner leaving some boot space and the possability of another one in the future!
Did you use acoustic wadding on the inside of yours?
oh and how much filler did you use and where did you get it from?
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10th November 2008, 23:05
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#8
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I'll just a picture tomorrow as its been raining about 3 days solid here, I thought it had died down. But no
For mine I created the enclosure as you have done, then I cut wadding out to fit around the enclosure and then finished by stapling faux leather across it but I may take it off and add some filler as you can feel the fibre glass matting and resin along the edges of the box under the wadding and faux leather. Its not visible I would just like it as neat as possible.
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10th November 2008, 23:18
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#9
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Join Date: Sep 2008
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hmmm this is starting to look very simple?
can you also list materials used?
rough costs?
edit: also where did people learn this?
Last edited by Stickyjam; 10th November 2008 at 23:20.
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11th November 2008, 00:02
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#10
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Yeah its pretty easy, just takes a while.
18mm MDF for the base, back and side of box - £10
Thinner MDF for baffle - £5
Timber [2x4] baffle supports - £3
Old T-shirt - free
Resin, fibre glass matting, hardener - £20-30
Depending on finish
Filler, paint, carpet, faux leather, wadding would be needed
I think the actual guide is on the Premium members 'How-to' guides..
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11th November 2008, 00:46
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#11
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looking good mate think i might have to make up some more fiber-glass boxes soon and ebay them
__________________
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11th November 2008, 14:40
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#12
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Saxperience Forum Bum
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Exeter - Devon
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Car(s): Nitrous'd Saxo VTS
'52 Plate (S33 VTS)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stickyjam
hmmm this is starting to look very simple?
can you also list materials used?
rough costs?
edit: also where did people learn this?
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Always looks simple when you have illustrated piccys and dont see any of the work inbetween... its not that difficult though just as suggested time consuming...
Materials... 18mm MDF = Half sheet from B&Q £10
Use 18mm MDF for the collar, after all its the thing that supports the sub, the battens can be 2" x 1" £5? only need 1/2 meters
Gripfill or wood glue £3?
try to use something thicker than a T-Shirt for the first layer as if you use something thicker, cloth/fleece then il will absorb more resin than a T-Shirt which means less fibreglass matting needs to be done and so saves time!
Resin... I have used 1/2 litre already (£5) and brought another litre today
Matting (fibreglass strands) 2 packets £7
Filler £13.99 from Halfords this morning 900ml
Hi build primer £3/4
Primer £3/4
Spray (color) £4/5
Laquer £3/4
if your gonna try and make it look professional then Hi-build primer should be used after filler and normal primer after that, then spray a color and then laquer to protect the paint!
EDIT: I worked at pulse audio in Ipswich for a while and at another audio installation place in Exeter, thats where I learnt... and some self taught!
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11th November 2008, 14:43
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#13
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Saxperience Forum Bum
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Exeter - Devon
Posts: 3,179
Car(s): Nitrous'd Saxo VTS
'52 Plate (S33 VTS)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by liam_b
looking good mate think i might have to make up some more fiber-glass boxes soon and ebay them
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It would be worth doing if you were to make a box and then use it as a mold then get a company to make them for you! otherwise for the time it takes you wont really be making much money I dont think!?
<bluenotesmiley> did you not use filler to finish off with or sand the edges? id love to see a piccy if you can post one here!
Last edited by Lippy; 11th November 2008 at 14:46.
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11th November 2008, 16:03
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#14
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Established Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,390
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pulse audio? in ipswich,suffolk? never seen that shop where is it?
yeh i mean i dont mind spending hours doing something if i know taking my time will make it look good...
i was thinking sprayed black at the end, but you mention using something thicker could be a good idea ie a fleece? so thinking about it could just buy a primark fleece to use? i mean i wont be doing it till january when next student loans money comes in but im definitely up for doing it... will be for 2 sub's so im undecided whether to discrete either side of the boot or a double box something looking a bit more special...
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11th November 2008, 16:20
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#15
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Notts
Posts: 6,227
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lippy
It would be worth doing if you were to make a box and then use it as a mold then get a company to make them for you! otherwise for the time it takes you wont really be making much money I dont think!?
<bluenotesmiley> did you not use filler to finish off with or sand the edges? id love to see a piccy if you can post one here!
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as he siad again, one would come to the conclusion hes done it before..? people pay good money for these things and if your buying bulk meterials...
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12th November 2008, 13:57
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#16
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Saxperience Forum Bum
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Exeter - Devon
Posts: 3,179
Car(s): Nitrous'd Saxo VTS
'52 Plate (S33 VTS)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stickyjam
pulse audio? in ipswich,suffolk? never seen that shop where is it?
yeh i mean i dont mind spending hours doing something if i know taking my time will make it look good...
i was thinking sprayed black at the end, but you mention using something thicker could be a good idea ie a fleece? so thinking about it could just buy a primark fleece to use? i mean i wont be doing it till january when next student loans money comes in but im definitely up for doing it... will be for 2 sub's so im undecided whether to discrete either side of the boot or a double box something looking a bit more special...
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I worked at Pulse Audio years ago... about 6/7... prob closed down now but it was opposite rileys and next to a garage that was selling cars at the time!
The suggestion for something thicker is for the first layer so it absorbs loads of resin to make it strong, if you dont htink you can get the finish perfect to be sprayed when your at the end of the process than you could cover it in bass box carpet, that would hide alot of imperfections!
I used black carpet for my front door pods so that the were semi-stealth as they were on display!
You could cover them in whatever you want when your finished, im gonna spray myne the same color as the car I think
A double enclosure would be cool if all moulded into 1 box, ie subs on the outsides and a small piece at the back which joins the 2 boxes together.
WITH FIBREGLASS THE LIMITS ARE ENDLESS!
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12th November 2008, 14:07
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#17
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Saxperience Forum Bum
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Exeter - Devon
Posts: 3,179
Car(s): Nitrous'd Saxo VTS
'52 Plate (S33 VTS)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VTEC-Saxo
as he siad again, one would come to the conclusion hes done it before..? people pay good money for these things and if your buying bulk meterials...
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Buying bulk materials is great for saving costs on production but it doesnt take away the fact that you have to spend hours upon hours to apply layer after layer of resin and hardner, and all the prep work and finishing the product to a good standard.
Thats why a mould would be a better option, longer to make the mould but alot less time consuming and they will manufacture it for a good price if ordering in large quantities!
I have built a couple of fibreglass bits before, def. not a pro at it! lol
It has taken me approx 10 hours so far to build my box and im not finished so £200 for box divided by 18 hours = £11/hour!
Not worth getting out of bed for!
Il upload some more piccys later, just been applying layers or resin (last night) really
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17th November 2008, 01:18
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#18
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Saxperience Forum Bum
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Exeter - Devon
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Car(s): Nitrous'd Saxo VTS
'52 Plate (S33 VTS)
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Uploaded some more piccys at the top, nearly done!
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17th November 2008, 01:29
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#19
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Established Member
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Location: Thanet, Kent
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Black MkII VTS
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Looking very nice mate, i took a photo of mine the other nite but its too dark to make anything out. Weather has also been pretty crap here too so day pics are also poor.
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17th November 2008, 16:02
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#20
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Established Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,390
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lippy
A double enclosure would be cool if all moulded into 1 box, ie subs on the outsides and a small piece at the back which joins the 2 boxes together.
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not sure its opposite rileys anymore ive been to rileys enough but at night usually so not 100% on that!
yeh i was think of a moulded together job but like
(o)=(o)
kinda thing where the o's are the subs the brackets are the boxes and the equals is an area of recessedness big enough for the amp to sit in!
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