The Front Panel is fitted and one of the Top Panels. All screwed glued and dowelled for extra strength.
Attachment 5149
Printable View
The Front Panel is fitted and one of the Top Panels. All screwed glued and dowelled for extra strength.
Attachment 5149
The internal shot shows some of the complicated design of the internal horn.Attachment 5150
Wow, they are coming on really well indeed :) Congratulations :cool:
Wish i could say the same for my own speaker project :doh: Looks like i need at least 3 more 8' x 4' & my back in good order first :rolleyes:
I'm starting to feel slightly excited about the prospect of seeing and hearing the final result.
If I was to build a second pair, it would be completed in half the time, thats for sure.
And thanks so much to everyone for the kind words
And a bit later in the afternoon, after dropping part of the frame for top half of the front horn, and breaking it in two.
Here it is attached not much worse for the impact with the concrete floorAttachment 5187
The inspector wants a few changes and the whole project speeded up a bit!!Attachment 5242
Looking good!
Starting to look like a Westminster now...outstanding :)
What a difference one coat of gloss can makeAttachment 5257
And a closeup of this beautiful timber
Looking really good. Do you have an estimate of the total cost of the build?
Rob(Puffin)Quote:
Originally Posted by Puffin
I think about $2000 tops possibly under this. I have the 15"HPD Gold Monitor Drivers from 1975 and the xovers have been recently upgraded to Solen Caps etc and I see Marco has used better quality caps again, which is a road I may travel down.
But if you add in QED Silver Anniversary Speaker Cable to upgrade and hard wire the internal wiring of the Cabinets. And the above Xover changes.....we may go over the $2000.
And it is so easy to justify the purchase of any new tools and equipment when the retail price of Westminster Royals are $42000 or whatever dollars here in Oz.
However when you build it yourself I think it is extremely likely that you can achieve a better result than the factory made version(extra bracing in the cabinets, MDF is better than ply, better glue, more screws, Blackwood is a better finish than Walnut, and so on)
The short answer is I haven't kept a record......$2000, $3000, or $4000 compared to $42000????
Attachment 5291.Any suggestions gratefully received, I don't want to go overboard with costs.
The Front Horns just need many coats of gloss and Blackwood trim, I should get a very nice finish.
I have to say that the process of constructing the ribs, and attaching the base strips and then forming the Blackwood Veneer on the Front Horns has been the most difficult and time consuming part of the build. However I am very satisfied with the result.
Attachment 5292Hope they sound as good as they look???
Lovely Dave, keep the updates coming!
Fantastic work.
I'd expect them to sound stunning.
What varnish/oil or wax have you used for the finish?
Anguished over this. And tossed around all sorts of ideas re the finish and finally decided. This is one of natures finest timbers. To bring out the warmth and beauty you can't beat many many coats of Gloss Water Based Polyurethane. Why water based? Well I am told by those that have more knowledge than I that water is best, it makes sense to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by chelsea
A couple of posts back Stuart you will see the difference just one coat made. I'm almost excited about the prospect of the finished look.(the more coats the more lustre and depth of grain and detail is created)
Thanks david.Quote:
Originally Posted by daveskis
Did you sand between coats?
Yes Im down to using 320 grit and will probably sand after every coat now except the last two.
I still have the outside panels(Panels A, for those of you that have printed the copies of the plans)that are yet to have the first coat applied.
1000 grit can still be quite rough depending on the finish you want ;) Don't think that as it wears it'll be finer, you'll stil have those bigger peaks of material that will stuff the overall finish ;)
Keep going to finer grit paper & unused stuff to get the best finish...
Love what you are attempting to do :)
Yes Mark you are correct. I think I said 320 grit but it's known as Super Fine which is 350 - 600.Quote:
Originally Posted by Reid Malenfant
I am using Auto Grade for the Absolute Clear Gloss Flawless Finish at or near the last coats.
Which seems a long way from about 120 grit sand down of the Veneer at the start to remove a slight water stain on one of the front baffles.
More bracing internally more gloss applied to the front of the cabinets and Panel A Attachment 5346
Beautiful plumage the westminster blue...
Attachment 5369 Panels A are attached, considerably adding to the weight. Dowels glue and screws used to increase strength.
You must have bloody big doors in your house? Unless your thinking of converting your garage into the music room?
They look stunning by the way.
Thanks, they will go in sideways, gee I don't need to add much more timber to cause that problem...........they will, I think??????Quote:
Originally Posted by Thing Fish
Lovely! now we need pics of them finished and a full report on how they sound!
Steve I am a little way off that yet. Still have the drivers to mount and rear panels. Top and bottom plates and castors so I can move them.Quote:
Originally Posted by aquapiranha
And I still have more coats of lacquer to go.....and and....... gee it could take a while.
Beautiful workmanship, David.
Well done, that finish has come up a treat.
My personal preference is for oiled wood, but that's as shiny as shiny gets! Impressive.
I have set myself a four week time limit to finish the project
Upside down and ready to add the baseAttachment 5437
Right side up again and beautiful Tasmanian Blackwood Veneer added to Top Panel Attachment 5439
Attachment 5440The Top Panel now trimmed with the router and sanded ready for many coats of gloss lacquer
David, they look superb, but you don't need me to tell you that at the the end of the day ;) I'm sure you are about to have a superb experience on top of the looks of your DIY enclosures!
You have taken your time & done the business, full praise to you fella, someone who has never built their own speakers could never realise the work that has gone into them!
Something tells me you'll have a big smile on your face pretty soon :eyebrows:
MarkQuote:
Originally Posted by Reid Malenfant
Thanks for the very kind comments.
Well hoping, but really have no idea how they will sound. Hope I am not disappointed after so much work.
I am having to borrow some equipment to fire them up because I sold my Pre amp and Power Amp on the weekend.
I'm looking for tube stuff now.
Attachment 5459Rear Baffles are painted and ready to attach
Attachment 546025mm square is attached to support the Rear Baffle
Nearly there fella :partytime: Wishing you all the best with this as your work looks exemplary ;)
Attachment 5461Close up of Front Horn detail
Fantastic! I bet you are itching to get the drivers in and put on that first track...
Fantastic David. I can't wait to (virtually) hear the results.
Yes I have made a mental note to self. Enclosures must be complete before fire up!!
Otherwise the risk is they will never be. After that first note passes through the air, the next project starts.
I think we all need to charter a plane..... and fast!
Attachment 5501The Blackwood Trim has a profile added.