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Re: T48 stack
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 6:18 pm
by Strange Kevin
I've seen the Radiata pine at Homedepot here in Phoenix.
Although it's only in 3/4" as far as I've seen there.
Haven't Checked Lowes in a wile.
I usually get my BB at Peterman lumber. Bit of a drive for ya, but not out of the question.
After digging through their catalog last night I learned they carry Poplar as well. I May have to check that out soon.
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 7:09 pm
by fender3x
Not to completely hijack the thread, but I am wondering what folks are seeing in terms of cost. I think I may have just found a supplier for BB in my area, but they don't even post prices on their website. Maybe if you have to ask... Part of what got me wondering is that BB is, I think, mostly imported from Russia. I don't know if it's under embargo, but I am guessing that if supplies are limited or inventories low the price should go way up. Meanwhile the biggest source of radiata pine is South America, mostly Chile, I think. The Chilean Peso has been dropping relative to USD, so the price may actually be holding steady.
So this is driving my strategy on my Jack Lites: cut carefully on my 1/4 BB, and make anything that is 1/2" thickness from Radiata Pine
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2022 9:41 pm
by Bill Fitzmaurice
Baltic Birch comes from the Baltic states. One of them is Russia, so that has put a crimp in the supply chain.
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Thu May 04, 2023 12:09 am
by jakkle21
I have finally been able to make some progress on this. I had some proper 1/2 Baltic in storage at work to build a bench out of and I ended up using something else for that purpose and was able to repurpose that towards speakers.
I started making a pair, with the pa
Lab to make a second pair when I can.
With the wood I had on hand, I got the base, sides of both cut and diagramed, and panels 3, 4 and 5 cut for one of them, and I still have enough wood to do both panel 2s and the other 3, 4 and 5.
Hopefully I am able to get those all cut and glued in place next week.
I will post pictures as soon as I can optimize them.
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Fri May 05, 2023 9:22 pm
by overdoseonmekka
fender3x wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:22 pm
I have not had luck at big box stores for lumber. I understand that there are Lowe's that sell arauco (radiata pine plywood) in some places, but not where I live. For half inch I found a supplier with a specialty lumber yard. They don't have BB, but they have radiata pine at abut $70 a sheet. I have only found BB at a wholesaler who does not sell the general public. I got them to sell me a couple of sheets of 1/4" BB because I was there talking to them, and someone generous of spirit took pity on me. I am using them as carefully as I can, and treating them like gold.
Calling around I got a lot of false alarms that turned out to be "birch" without the "Baltic".... In other words, thin veneer on top and bottom. You have to look really carefully. I once got some that fooled me because the veneer was so close to the same color as the ply under it. Took some digging to find something acceptable.
I wish I saw this sooner. We're from the same place!
I get all my Baltic Birch from Wood Chip Marine Lumber in Ft Lauderdale, right by the airport. It's legit. They usually carry in house too. Last time I went though I had to place a special order bc they ran out and didn't have any for a while. Give them a try when you can.
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Sat May 13, 2023 11:04 pm
by jakkle21
I now have panels 1-4 ready to install, other than cutting the hole for the speaker itself and I have my PL-premium ready to go and should be starting assembly on Tuesday.
On the subject of speakers, I would rather they were bolted in rather than screwd, I was thinking of glueing lag bolts through the anchor part so that the speaker would go right onto them, then I could put locking nuts on top, but I'm open to suggestions if there is a better way. I was also considering threaded inserts, but I thought it would be a little easier to torque nuts into bolts vs, bolts into inserts.
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Sun May 14, 2023 1:11 am
by Seth
Threaded inserts or lag/studs are nice for some things. But, if you ever have one spin on you in a speaker cab (or any other application) that you don't have access to the back side, you'll wish you had just used screws.
I've been using
cap head screws With washers and lock washers with good results lately.
Just FYI, Bill used to have T-nuts in the plans and has modified all the plans to the use of screws and screw retention blocks. My guess is for reliability.
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Sun May 14, 2023 7:52 am
by Bill Fitzmaurice
Nuts and bolts loosen, screws don't, as the wood fibers work like lock washers on every thread.
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Sun May 14, 2023 8:14 am
by Bruce Weldy
I did my T39s with T-nuts 12 years ago.....but, everything after has been with Recexx screws or lag bolts (hex head). Way easier....
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Sun May 14, 2023 4:01 pm
by jakkle21
Thank you for all the input.
I really should stop second guessing what the plans say, but I do appreciate having good and solid reasons for why things are the way they are.
I have lots of experience using screws, so no worries there, I probably already have some good, heavy-duty ones of the right size, so that saves a trip to the hardware store and an additional step of mounting bolts or inserts.
I appreciate all of your knowledge, and that someone has usually tried what I'm thinking already.
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Sun May 14, 2023 5:00 pm
by Bill Fitzmaurice
I used to use T-nuts, for the usual reason: that's what everyone used. After having more than a few strip out or spin out I gave up on them.
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Sun May 14, 2023 7:18 pm
by Bruce Weldy
jakkle21 wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2023 4:01 pm
Thank you for all the input.
I really should stop second guessing what the plans say, but I do appreciate having good and solid reasons for why things are the way they are.
I have lots of experience using screws, so no worries there, I probably already have some good, heavy-duty ones of the right size, so that saves a trip to the hardware store and an additional step of mounting bolts or inserts.
I appreciate all of your knowledge, and that someone has usually tried what I'm thinking already.
I think it's well worth buying 1/4" lag screws if for no other reason, you can put a socket on 'em and not take a chance of a screwdriver slipping and poking a hole in the cone.
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Sun May 14, 2023 8:36 pm
by Bill Fitzmaurice
1/4" lags is overkill. What works very well is metal roofing screws, which come in many lengths and have a 1/4" hex head.
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Sun May 14, 2023 11:06 pm
by Seth
jakkle21 wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2023 4:01 pm
I really should stop second guessing what the plans say, but...
Ya know... don't. Bill usually has really well thought out reasons for stuff. But, the plans would be a few hundred pages if he went into all the details of why the plans are written the way they are. And still, that doesn't mean you or someone else couldn't come up with something that hasn't been considered before.
Ultimately, I think it's great that you brought up your intentions prior to implementing them. Gives you the opportunity to hear why it is the way it is and make your construction decisions, one way or the other, with all the information.
I applaud your second guessing
Honestly, no disrespect to Bill, I second guess everything too. I guess, in my own mind I'm smarter than everyone, even though there's so much evidence to the contrary. LOL, gotta love ego.
Re: T48 stack
Posted: Mon May 15, 2023 5:21 am
by Keryn O'Shea
Bruce Weldy wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2023 7:18 pm
chance of a screwdriver slipping and poking a hole in the cone.
Great tip.. are you speaking from experience Bruce?