Things I've learned I would like to share.

[mike james]

These tips worked for me, YMMV.

1) Read the plans several times before you make a cut!
2) Follow the plans step by step during the build!
3) Slow down - don't hurry. Enjoy the process!
4) I like cabinet screws better then drywall screws. The shafts are thinner allowing more room for play, being off center.
5) I prefer 18 gauge 1/4" crown staples to brads. They pull the wood joints together much tighter then brads.
6) Use atleast one coat of latex paint to prime the boxes before using the final coating!
7) I install the driver in Titans before I put the last side on. I cover it with a trash bag and painters tape. It is so much easier to get the driver in. I remove the bag and tape just before the access cover goes on.
Enjoy your speakers. Not many people can say they DIYed their own speakers of this caliber.
9) The most dangerous tool in my shop is this.

I got my 1st three fingers in a gob of hot glue while installing foam topper in OT 12's. Ya can't get away from it once it grabs . It was no fun peeling it off blistered fingers!


Thanks for reading.

[pwfirst]

Hi Mike, I am from Iowa too. I really like the driver mounting idea, I may give it a try when I build my next cabs ( I told my wife I was done building) . Thanks for the tips Phil

[Harley]

9) The most dangerous tool in my shop is this.

Too true. I got a very nasty burn on my hand recently and it wasn't an awful lot of glue that did it either. Being an old fart, it took ages for the wound to heal properly.

The thing about Hot-Melt is.....it's HOT!

[mike james]

Hi Phil, us Iowa guys got to stick together. The mounting the speaker trick worked great. Give it a try. I just wouldn't do it using an air stapler or brad nailer method for putting the final side on. Could shoot thru and hit the speaker...


Harley your sure right about HOT! Made this big boy run around the room like a little school girl. lol It was a bad one. I had my first three fingers stuck into a big glob of it. Peeling the glue off after it cooled was as bad as the burn. I did it on the first OT12 box. The others after I used a pencil to push the foam into the glue.

[Ron K]

Something about hot glue and 2 guys from Iowa sticking together just doesn't sound right.

[mike james]

You might be right Ron. I should have worded that differently.

[mlkras]

I have also been using hot melt for quite a while and although I don't get burned that often now I still do occasionally get the stuff on my hands or fingers. I started to keep a paint bucket half full of water next to where I was working so that if I got burned I could plunge my hand in the water to minimise the damage.

Other than that I guess that what goes on in Iowa stays in Iowa.