We have been building some cabs with automotive finishes. I thought I would share a couple of projects. One is a yellow AT for Elliott here on our forum and the other is a THT. Let me say first that I would almost prefer to work with metal for these finishes than wood. I used my Festool track saw to square each side before rounding over the corners. This provided straight sight lines and gave us a gide to where the wood was high and low. Then a filler coat of bondo....then sanding...then a glaze coat of bondo...then sanding...then a glaze coat...then sanding...then a feathering coat...then sanding...then primer, color, then sanding, then decals, then clear, then sanding, then more clear, then wet sanding, then buffing, then realizing that most of the material you put on the cab is now a fine powder coating everything in the shop. Another look reveals more blemishes so more sanding and buffing. It is worth it in the end because d@mn!
These are not flawless finishes by any means. My hat is off to all who can pull that off. Lots of prep and lots of patience. Two things that some days I find in short supply.
Automotive Finishes
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Steve Regier
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- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:45 pm
- Location: Piper City, IL 60959
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Jon Barnhardt
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- Location: Bismarck, ND - Licensed builder
- Contact:
Re: Automotive Finishes
very nice!
Re: Automotive Finishes
Very very nice. I love woodworking but I loathe sanding. I just don't have the patience. It's my loss really because I love the way your cab turned out. Maybe in 10 years i'll feel differently.
T39 24" 3012lf (1 built 1 in progress)
SLA Pro x 2
Yamaha S112V x 1
QSC RMX 2450
dbx Driverack PA
SLA Pro x 2
Yamaha S112V x 1
QSC RMX 2450
dbx Driverack PA
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Steve Regier
- Posts: 388
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:45 pm
- Location: Piper City, IL 60959
Re: Automotive Finishes
Thanks...the older I get the better I get at patience ... and sanding. Maybe in ten more years I'll really get the hang of it.Dan30 wrote:Very very nice. I love woodworking but I loathe sanding. I just don't have the patience. It's my loss really because I love the way your cab turned out. Maybe in 10 years i'll feel differently.
So let it be written ... So let it be done.
"BaronVonSteve"
"BaronVonSteve"
Re: Automotive Finishes
Nice! looks and sounds like a tonne of work 
What width is that AT?
What width is that AT?
2 TAT 16" loaded with JBL GTO 804 + V plate
Tannoy Precision 8D monitors, Tannoy System 800 monitors
Minidsp 2x4, Berry DCX2496, Lem 420 amplifier
To do:
17" Autotuba with JBL GTO 1002D 10"
Tannoy Precision 8D monitors, Tannoy System 800 monitors
Minidsp 2x4, Berry DCX2496, Lem 420 amplifier
To do:
17" Autotuba with JBL GTO 1002D 10"
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Steve Regier
- Posts: 388
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:45 pm
- Location: Piper City, IL 60959
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lincsoldbird
- Posts: 176
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:15 am
- Location: Lincs UK
Re: Automotive Finishes
What you need first is high build MDF or grain sealer this will get the wood to a metal smooth finish. Designed for wood not metal.
built 4 T30 24in BP102 now sold 2 DR280
2 speakerplans 1850, 2 MT102 ,2 X15, 1 G sub now sold
2 T60,s Built plus 4 DR280,s in the build
2 speakerplans 1850, 2 MT102 ,2 X15, 1 G sub now sold
2 T60,s Built plus 4 DR280,s in the build
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Frederic Gelinas
- Posts: 566
- Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:03 am
- Location: Saint-Pie, Quebec, Canada
Re: Automotive Finishes
Even with 2 coats of high build primer, you still need to sand, and sand again... but it helps.lincsoldbird wrote:What you need first is high build MDF or grain sealer this will get the wood to a metal smooth finish. Designed for wood not metal.
Frédéric Gélinas, HF Audio
Authorized Builder
HFAudio.ca
Free tone Generator
Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
Authorized Builder
HFAudio.ca
Free tone Generator
Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
Re: Automotive Finishes
That's one sexy THT! 
Good food, good people, good times.
4 - AT
1 - TT
1 - THT Slim
2 - SLA Pro 4x6 Alphalite
4 - AT
1 - TT
1 - THT Slim
2 - SLA Pro 4x6 Alphalite
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Steve Regier
- Posts: 388
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:45 pm
- Location: Piper City, IL 60959
Re: Automotive Finishes
Thanks, Radian.
Here it is in the client's living room.
Here it is in the client's living room.
- Attachments
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So let it be written ... So let it be done.
"BaronVonSteve"
"BaronVonSteve"
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lincsoldbird
- Posts: 176
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:15 am
- Location: Lincs UK
Re: Automotive Finishes
Great finish. What are the drivers in the other cabs?
built 4 T30 24in BP102 now sold 2 DR280
2 speakerplans 1850, 2 MT102 ,2 X15, 1 G sub now sold
2 T60,s Built plus 4 DR280,s in the build
2 speakerplans 1850, 2 MT102 ,2 X15, 1 G sub now sold
2 T60,s Built plus 4 DR280,s in the build
Re: Automotive Finishes
That is a beautiful setup there. I'm not exactly sure I would have went with an orange wall behind my tv though.
Great work!
Great work!
2 THTs, 2 TLAH, SLA curved, 1 8-AT, 1 AT JBL 1002D, 4 Otop12s, Jack 12, TT with Eminence 10", 2 SLAs, 1 T30 slim, 2 T30s (2-10" each), SLA Pros, TrT.
Re: Automotive Finishes
Wall was red and was not fond of it at all at first either, but with the flow and decor of the home and personality of the owners it really grew on you and fit. And while checking out and tuning THT performance it just disappeared while watching movies.