Day four! (Sept 13, 2012)
If I told you I had a full day again, and then followed that up with: Hey, I should have these done today".. would you slap me?
Cause you should
I kid, but I must admit, I thought I might be further along than I am. Not that I haven't made good progress as I see it. It's simply because I believe I'm superman. (we'll save that for a different thread k?)
Unfortunately for my considerable ego, I hit what I would consider a considerable snag. Not life altering you understand, though I did contemplate stopping immediately for the golden beverage that helps me forget. it merely slowed me down a bit.
What was the snag you ask? Why, it has to do with the top hats. As you know, I need two per cab, gotta have that, no exceptions, the earth simply can no longer rotate unless it comes to fruition. And though I received the adjustable top hats ordered just yesterday, I decided that this pair would accept only the steel variety. They begged for it and I capitulated.
So, with that directive handed down I finally cut the standard holes in the tops and bottoms, adhering strictly to the plans (as I did for the port ducts), went to test fit and wouldn't you know it.. trouble. The position of the holes was off forcing the throat assembly assembled on day three forward about an eighth inch...
Buggers! (see what I did there my over-the-pond-friends?)
Naturally, I thought there must have been a mis-calculation on 'someone elses' part (remember the superman complex?) so I double checked. Yes, I had 8 3/4" on center holes on the tops and bottoms and 3 1/2" on center from the front of the port ducts.
Say what? It ain't right? Nope.. Faced with certain death I reassessed and my options were indeed numerous (beer notwithstanding). I could shave the horn braces so that the mouth panels lined up once again, (no, didn't want to upset the geometry gods), I could cut new tops and bottoms (laziness prohibited activity) or I could shave the one hole that would not be seen in the port duct and call it good.
I chose number three. All it took was a rasp and an ass shake that embarrassed my dog and I am fine living with that decision. I just can't imagine that a 1/8 inch in that particular area would alter performance in any way. Plus only we know about it! (read: don't tell Bill - hehe)
Seems to me that the steel top hats at Speaker Hardware are perhaps larger than the plastic variety Bill recommends and therefore require a larger hole. Of note, I actually cut a dummy "bottom", marked the center (corner to corner cross locate) and THAT was about a 1/8 inch wrong in the
other direction. Given that, I can only come to the conclusion that, instead of 8 3/4" off of the front edge of the bottom (or top for two) one should actually use 8 7/8" for those particular top hats. (yes, it was the same for both boxes before I'm grilled)
The best part that is it was the only thing that didn't go according to plan (okay, unless you hold me to the "I'll be listening to these before supper" thought I had in my head - you nazis).
I did however, manage to whip through a great deal of assembly today that I'm rather proud of. By the way, did you hear me mention the horn supports? Well, I noticed that there are no measurements for the optional hole. As a quick tip, and for a 4" hole, I used 3" off the side that will be facing the rear of the cabinet, centered, and it came out with equal stuff on all sides but the one that attaches to the horn. I know, cryptic at best. Lets see if a pick can clear it up for some:
As the pic is oriented, I merely marked a center east to west, and do you see the edge(s) that are closest to the center of the image? (each one, doesn't matter) I then measured 3" in to that center.
If that makes little sense I apologize. It is late and I am toasting my progress
After the top hat fiasco I then began the throat assembly to top/bottom- and that went without a hitch (thanks again you god of a brad nailer!).
I then forged head-first into the throat reflectors attachment- also stellar!
Of course, rounding those edges wouldn't have been possible without my high-dollar custom bench belt sander. Don't know what I would do without it. It's another upgrade from the model I originally purchased. Unfortunately, the clamp wasn't part of the kit
Aside from that obviously advanced and rather enviable piece of engineering, I think this is a good time to take an opportunity to toot my own horn again (surely to bite me later, but hey- future forum fun!). I keep reading on or about these forums that one should not mess with PL before it's cured, and I must say, as an obvious rebel, that I had no problem with it at all! Yes, I am quite the handyman in my own mind (and swear by hand condoms) but I
purposely ran more than one finger on a seam to smooth after joining (as you would do with tub caulk) and, if I do say so myself, the results were nothing short of spectacular. IMO of course...
In fact, I found it mandatory for the throat deflectors.
Maybe it's just me, and sure, tomorrow I might find them as angry as Marlon Brando without a union contract but really, it worked just fine! By the way, as I have in days past, I still find scraping excess nearly beyond sex (after about an hour) but word to the wise is in order here... make sure your chisel is sharp! The bonus is that the skilled craftsman knows that using it then, carefully and accurately, actually reduces your future sanding efforts! (You chisel dudes know what I'm talking about)
Having said that- Got the sides on and here is where we are now-- my cabs are mere shells of themselves!!!
*whew* After a 8-9 hour day I believe my next step is installing the doohicky that holds the paper thingy that moves back and forth and does stuff and I'm sure you know how excited we are to learn exactly what that means!!
'Till the weekend...
.
