Considering building some speaker cabinets

[Gaz]

I have 3 sheets of 18mm Russian birch ply, 39x84cm plus 5 offcuts 25x39cm left over from a project.
I also have a pair of unused Kef Cresta 10s with slightly tatty cabinets.
Now I'm thinking to myself that I could build some cabinets to stick the Kef speakers and crossovers into, and I'm thinking of making them bigger than the originals just to use the wood up.
I know absolutely nothing about speaker design other than I need a box with two holes in the front for the speakers and one in the back for the cable connection thingy. I also fancy making them either sealed enclosure or front ported so they can go against a back wall if needed.
What could possibly go wrong?

[walpurgis]

What could possibly go wrong?

Where would you like me to start?

[Macca]

Making them bigger with a sealed cab will give more bass extension down to lower frequency, but at a lower level. But it should work.

Making them bigger and keeping the port is more complicated. Probably best to avoid attempting that.

[struth]

yeah, lots alas; thats not to say it wont work either but it will be in the lap of the Gods unless you have info of someone changing the size/porting of the originals.
Probably best sticking to the approximate size and port of the old one if you want to be sure.

[Macca]

yeah, lots alas; thats not to say it wont work either but it will be in the lap of the Gods unless you have info of someone changing the size/porting of the originals.
Probably best sticking to the approximate size and port of the old one if you want to be sure.

Keeping the same crossovers doesn't give much room for maneuverer, was my thinking.

[walpurgis]

This is the crossover. For a two way speaker it is reasonably complex.

[fatmarley]

I'd build them with the same baffle dimensions and internal volume. Drivers need to be in the same position on the baffle and port needs to be the same (although it's fine to experiment with the port length). You can change the port position if you want. Keep any stuffing well away from port and bass driver. Have fun!

[Gaz]

I can always add a port after I suppose?

[fatmarley]

I can always add a port after I suppose?

Unless the existing port is tuned to a very low frequency, you'll get no bass with a sealed box. Wont do any harm to try though.

[Macca]

You could keep the same internal dimensions and the port but make the new cab walls really thick with all the wood you've got. That would be interesting to see how it worked out.