Lab12 T30's

[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.

I made extremely good progress tonight, but I ran out of BB. I had two pieces of 30x30 and didn't realize there were cuts right in the middle of them, so I'd rather not try to patch them up. All I have left is the bottom of one and back and bottom of another, so I would have run out even if the pieces I had left were fine. I'd hoped to have these done for a dance this weekend.

Here's my question...should I finish up those three big panels with what I can get very quickly at my local Lowe's or wait until I can get the real stuff (which is about an hour drive and likely won't happen until later)? Lowe's has 1/2 inch plywood that looks pretty good but it's four ply. The plans call for at least five ply. (They looked at me like my head was on fire when I asked for Arauco...they didn't have it here). What I've been using looks like 9 ply BB. What do you all think? Since I wasn't sure I've just decided to stop for now, but my feeling is it would be best to be patient and wait to do it right with the right material. This has been a good job so far and I'd hate to half-ass it so close to the end. Comments would be appreciated.

[Titanium Hand]

Definitely take the two hour round trip for the BB Donny. You said it yourself, why come all this way with 5 star quality only to drop the ball and pick up a lemon.
Allow yourself a perfect sleep, knowing you finished the cab the way you set out to.

I ran out of ply during my build too so I feel your Pain Donny! Good luck

[doncolga]

Definitely take the two hour round trip for the BB Donny. You said it yourself, why come all this way with 5 star quality only to drop the ball and pick up a lemon.
Allow yourself a perfect sleep, knowing you finished the cab the way you set out to.

I ran out of ply during my build too so I feel your Pain Donny! Good luck

Yeah...I was thinking I've been playing 20+ years with no or completely misconfigured, misplaced subs, so another week or two to move from 2 to 4 T30's will not hurt me. This weekend's job is the only one I have until early March, so it'd be silly to rush for this one gig. My two T30's should handle this job just fine...I just wanted to bring even more rig on this one.

[Gregory East]

4 ply? I don't know why but there's a reason plywood is odd numbers of plies and it has something to do with the stability. I learned that in woodwork class when I was 11 so ymmv.

[doncolga]

4 ply? I don't know why but there's a reason plywood is odd numbers of plies and it has something to do with the stability. I learned that in woodwork class when I was 11 so ymmv.

Yes it's definitely four ply. I'll double check though.

This is frustrating cause it was so close to happening...everything was moving really nice.
My supplier has a truck that comes to Statesboro, so I've contacted them to see when it's coming and the possibility of one sheet of BB hopping on for the ride.

[Titanium Hand]

My supplier has a truck that comes to Statesboro, so I've contacted them to see when it's coming and the possibility of one sheet of BB hopping on for the ride.

Here's to hoping! I'm gunning for ya Donny

[doncolga]

My supplier has a truck that comes to Statesboro, so I've contacted them to see when it's coming and the possibility of one sheet of BB hopping on for the ride.

Here's to hoping! I'm gunning for ya Donny

They won't deliver that for me, so when I'm able I'll be getting one 5x5 to finish up the pair. Hopefully that may be this week.

[doncolga]

I picked up my 9 ply, 5x5 BB today. Their prices are up...$38 per sheet.

Anyway, now I can have a full BB pair of 26 incher T30's. The build will start back up this Sunday, very slowly now since my next job is not until March. Woohoo! Nice to go slow!

Tomorrow night's Valentine's duty will be held down by my existing 18 inch T30 pair, which are awesome on their own. I've been in this venue a few times before with these, so hopefully I'll get the chance to improve boundary loading this time. Previously I've just hit the dance floor.

[doncolga]

Finally...finally I've started back on the 26" T30 pair and made good progress after straightening up the shop this evening. Wow...how nice is a cutting table and a table for each Tuba! Tomorrow the last panels and braces should go in and hopefully the rear chamber reducers and flanges. That will leave Thursday to get the sides on and Friday for sanding, painting and loading the drivers.

[shawn_g]

A clean shop always makes a big difference for me, it doesn't usually stay that way very long though.

Have any recent pics of your progress that you can post?

[doncolga]

A clean shop always makes a big difference for me, it doesn't usually stay that way very long though.

Have any recent pics of your progress that you can post?

Don't know why I was thinking 27". These are 26". Working on the last little bit.

[shawn_g]

Looking good!

[ontime1269]

Looking good!!! Do they feel pretty heavy? How much do you estimate they will weigh when completed?

[doncolga]

Looking good!!! Do they feel pretty heavy? How much do you estimate they will weigh when completed?

They're pretty heavy now. They're 8" wider and have alot more bracing in them than my 18" T30s, and of course these will have the much heavier Lab12 driver in them. I think they'll be approaching 90 lbs when they're all done.

Tomorrow I should finish the chamber reducers, install the jack plates and and get the sides on. That will leave just the flanges for Saturday, then hopefully sand, paint and load the the driver on Sunday. I'd love to use them this Saturday, but I just don't see that happening. Next weekend should be their debut, and that will be for my little girl's birthday party, who is turning 2. I'll have all four T30's and OT12 pair out for that as we're planning to be outdoors with music and a fair number of guests who will hopefully dance some.

Honestly...I'm a little nervous about installing the drivers. I trial fitted both baffles and they both fit and screwed in and passed the slap test, but I'm just paranoid that somehow something will be off. I'm going to drill the holes in the frame a little bigger to give me some more wiggle room if I need it.

[doncolga]

The chamber reducers are in as well as the the "little" panels. Jack plates next, then the sides, then the flanges and cover. Woohoo! Man if I just had 24 extra hours...