Lab12 T30's

[LEVLHED]

Yes steady as she goes...


BUT

a pic or two would be nice

[doncolga]

I cut the baffle hole just a teeny bit narrow, but both still passed the 30 Hz slap test. I didn't have my meter but I'm pretty sure they got quite a bit past 10 V. Lit my amp up about half way and definitely more than 1/4" movement on the Lab12. So, right now panels 1-5 are installed with nice squeeze out on all joints. Hopefully the braces will go smoothly. At 26" wide I'm placing two sets at about 8" spacing. Pics on the way too. I'm going to let the PL set a while and pick back up in a few hours. I'll be working on some flooring in the mean time. Woo-hoo!

[doncolga]

Here are some pictures.

[doncolga]

When I was drilling out the holes for the t-nuts, some chips popped out on the side that will have the driver. I'd like to smooth those out to avoid any leaks there...what would be best for that?

[Tom Smit]

I used a 5 minute gel epoxy which I smoothed as much as possible while still a gel. Later, I went back with a file to finish the smoothing.

At 24" wide you should have three braces between the panels, at least that is what I would do.

[bassmonster]

When I was drilling out the holes for the t-nuts, some chips popped out on the side that will have the driver. I'd like to smooth those out to avoid any leaks there...what would be best for that?

I had the same problem...I filled the gap with wood filler and sanded after it was fully dry. We'll see how that works out in the next couple of days when I finish my build. I don't expect any problems with a nice ribbon or two of speaker gasket material.

[doncolga]

I've gone with three braces per panel instead of two. Good grief...braces to me are the trickiest part of the build. I always have to measure mine out as my dimensions are never perfect when I cut the braces from the plans. That doesn't bother to be off a little bit, but it really slows things down, especially at three braces per panel. Today my first time using the brad nailer and it's been very cool. I'm still using screws for all panel joints, as I like how they pull tight, but I've used the brad nailer with the panel braces.

[Titanium Hand]

Good grief...braces to me are the trickiest part of the build

I'll second that Donny, a royal PITA. Not 2, but 3 braces just for some extra salt in the wound aargh. I understand the following of 'slims' now.

Looks to me like you're doing a great job.

[bassmonster]

Good grief...braces to me are the trickiest part of the build. I always have to measure mine out as my dimensions are never perfect when I cut the braces from the plans.

+1, it's the worst except for the driver baffle panel. It took me hours to do that panel correctly. For me the braces are hit and miss, they're kind of a rough uneven fit but nothing that PL can't fill in.

[doncolga]

Good grief...braces to me are the trickiest part of the build

I'll second that Donny, a royal PITA. Not 2, but 3 braces just for some extra salt in the wound aargh. I understand the following of 'slims' now.

Looks to me like you're doing a great job.

My first pair of T30's were 18" partly for the reason minimizing braces. Since I've got that "narrow" pair, I wanted to go wide with these, so I've added 8" width. The braces I did this evening ended up really good and I'm very happy with them, it's just very slow. I put screws in to rest the brace on and keep it level while I tap it in to a snug fit. Then I shot a few brads in and slathered on lots of PL to work into the joints. Then I pulled out the screws and filled all the holes, including brad nail holes and dabbed all with PL.

[doncolga]

Good grief...braces to me are the trickiest part of the build. I always have to measure mine out as my dimensions are never perfect when I cut the braces from the plans.

+1, it's the worst except for the driver baffle panel. It took me hours to do that panel correctly. For me the braces are hit and miss, they're kind of a rough uneven fit but nothing that PL can't fill in.

Yes I go really slow on the baffle. For these two, as with my previous builds, I mounted and screwed the driver in tight, and new for these plans (unless I just missed it before), testing for slap before joining the panels. I did that for both boxes last night and they seemed to be fine. Man...the LAB12 is a beast and the magnet seems ridiculously strong. I set it on my bench and a several tools immediate flew onto it...with lots of force.

[bassmonster]

Man...the LAB12 is a beast and the magnet seems ridiculously strong. I set it on my bench and a several tools immediate flew onto it...with lots of force.

The driver screws kept getting sucked into the magnet of the GTO804 while I was trying to fit them!

[rec]

Donny, I agree that the braces are the hardest part. Almost made me quite building subs........lol!
I think 2 braces is all you need for 24" wide cabs. I believe that is what is in the plans that I have. I have never had any problems.
Here is how I do the braces: I take the panel that I am getting ready to install and draw a center line parallel with how the braces install. Then I draw a line 4" parallel to both sides of that center line as that is the spacing referenced in the plans. Then I cut my braces and sort of dry fit every thing and draw a mark on the panel that I am getting ready to install at the leading edge of the brace.
Then I drill two holes where the brace installs on the previously marked line. I then screw and glue the braces to the panel.
At this point I dry fit again and get holes drilled into the bottom of the panel where it attaches to the side. When I am ready to
install I put a big bead of PL on the edges of the braces and the panel. Put it in place and then screw and clamp to hold until the PL dries. At that point you can take out the 4 screws that were holding the braces to the panel if you want to. This is the only way I have been able to install the braces and have consistent results. The nice thing about doing it like this is if things are not quite square when you are dry fitting just sand the braces that are attached to the panel until everything fits square. Consequently I dont seem to have much trouble making the baffles.

[doncolga]

Yikes...my panel six could be a little more square...panel seven fits but thank goodness for clamps, screws and PL. I think my braces pushed it out just a little too much near the top edge...seemed like that happened on my first two Tubas if I remember correctly.

My other "emergency" was I ran out of PL in the middle of a bead...thinking I had more...the dread...the horror...

Thankfully I'm five minutes from Lowes...they were out of small tubes so I got a big one and a big gun.

Run back home...the gun doesn't work...

Run back to Lowes for another gun...this one works...two panel 7's in place. Braces to follow shortly.

[doncolga]

Woohoo...looks like I've gotten the hang of braces! Installed twelve braces and four panels this evening with very minor adjustments on the braces! I'm through panel 8, so braces will go in for that, along with panels 9-13 tomorrow night. That's two big ones and three little ones and braces.

They're starting to look like Tubas! I'll post pictures just before sticking on the sides.