T-39's ready to go to work!

[DJDAVE]

Seems like it took forever to get these done (which they're still not, cosmetically), but I really did go about this very casually. I do have the tilt back handles on, but haven't cut out the fabric yet. Adding the curved front was an after thought. I made these square per the plans, and added the extended sides, top and bottoms afterwards which took a lot longer than I thought it would. The grills are as cheap as you can get... Lowes expanded metal 1 sheet is 27 x 96 for under $10.00 (per Bill) and did both subs which are 23" wide and using the 3012lf. Although this isn't the most rigid metal, I think I'm going to reinforce it with another sheet behind it.
Currently, I'm using felt behind the grill (really cheap) and I don't believe this should cause any problems in the sound, but I can always easily change this out for speaker cloth.



Like I had mentioned in a previous backyard review, these sound incredible and I had so much more room to turn these up. These will definitely compete with the big names out there.
I really can't wait to crank up these bad boys!!!

Thanks again Bill.

[Scott Brochu]

The fronts are sexy.

What kind of cloth and did it come in black or did you paint the cloth along with grills?

[DJDAVE]

Thank Scott. I just used standard black felt found at any fabric store or Walmart, but I haven't tested them with the felt on them yet. I painted the grills first, dabbed the back with a sponge and glue, then layed the felt on. I did practice with some scraps first and found that a very fine coating of spray paint on top of the finished grill will give it and even deeper, richer glossy black, but I haven't done it to these yet.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Thank Scott. I just used standard black felt found at any fabric store or Walmart, but I haven't tested them with the felt on them yet. .

Felt might offer too much resistance to use it on a grille.

[Zack Brock]

Those are dang sexy!

Can you post a close up picture of this steel mesh + felt grille you made?

[SeisTres]

VERY nice!

LOL, mine wouldn't even have "deck and patio" paint on them if it wasn't because the wood doesn't do go against the weather.

[Spoon]

Those look GREAT DJDAVE! If the felt doesn't work out try using black pet screen (from Lowes) behind your steel mesh.

[DJDAVE]

Can you post a close up picture of this steel mesh + felt grille you made?

I'm hoping to maybe get these out soon to do an A-B comparison of one with the grill on, and one with it off to see how much of a difference there will be, if any. I do think Bills right that there may be too much resistance using felt. I can see it now, the grills pulsating in and out with the beat of the music and then just tearing off the speaker all together.

If the felt doesn't work out try using black pet screen (from Lowes) behind your steel mesh.

Thats a great idea also. I'm thinking plan-B will be in full gear very soon.

[Scott Brochu]

Thank Scott. I just used standard black felt found at any fabric store or Walmart, but I haven't tested them with the felt on them yet. I painted the grills first, dabbed the back with a sponge and glue, then layed the felt on. I did practice with some scraps first and found that a very fine coating of spray paint on top of the finished grill will give it and even deeper, richer glossy black, but I haven't done it to these yet.

Thanks for the up close photo.
Does the paint on the grill feel like it would flake off after a few uses? Or do you think it is going to hold up to road ware.

[DJDAVE]

Does the paint on the grill feel like it would flake off after a few uses? Or do you think it is going to hold up to road ware.

To be honest, I think the grills would get damaged before the paint would scrape off, especially for bands moving equipiment in and out of clubs and bars all the time. As a dj moving my own stuff, I tend to be a little more careful, but with a couple of extra coats of rustoleum, you'll should be fine, but it will not flake off.
I just want to mention this again, that the grill really isn't that rigid and I will probably be reinforcing it in back just for precautionary measures (I do have a brace right above the mouth), but even with my craziest parties, no one has ever even touched my subs, so I'm not too worried.