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Ryan A wrote:Just looking at the pictures, its hard to believe much weight would be saved. Must also take twice as long to build.

I appreciate the complexity and craftsmanship of it all, though.

4X the build and minimal weight.........sorry, I'm in a mood today....

What one has to keep in mind is the nature of this EXPERIMENT: to make an ultra light T39, even at the expense of effort and, well, expense. Hoffman could be extended to include speed and or difficulty, and cost.

NOW, to REALLY set off some of you: money and effort being lesser considerations, I'm wondering how rigid something could be fabricated along the lines of 2 sheets of 1/16" (3 plies; see my earlier link posted) sandwiched around something like corregated cardboard, or corrugated plastic, such as you sometimes see small yard signs for lawn care or elections. Plastic undoubtedly should have better longevity via no moisture problems, at the sacrifice of cost. COMMENCE FLAMES:

Speaking from much experience: There is a VERY noticeable and therefore big difference in weight and for those where weight is a primary consideration it is very worthwhile. For some of my customers who enjoy good sound but do not have the strength to handle normal cabinets it is THE consideration.

Again, for most users 1/2" is the way to go but there is enough weight savings to make it worthwhile for those that desire it.

ncgrove, it's looking good! Like I stated earlier you're overbuilding IMO but it's definitely a build to be proud of!

Once you've built a few of these the effort and time is close to the same as 1/2".

Building these in composites will save slightly more weight but you're well in the realm of diminishing returns.

Here's a little more of what I've been up to:

Thought of this when I saw your braces.....

Glider wing framing!

Finally got the last piece installed. Now the real work begins...

David Raehn wrote:Thought of this when I saw your braces.....
Glider wing framing!

That's the inspiration for most of my designs, as opposed to this, which is how most commercial cabs are made:

Holy Swiss Cheese, Batman!!!!

Yeah definitely couldn't have done all that without a drill press.

Now I have to get motivated to get out the can of bondo and the sander.

Bill Fitzmaurice wrote:

David Raehn wrote:Thought of this when I saw your braces.....
Glider wing framing!

That's the inspiration for most of my designs, as opposed to this, which is how most commercial cabs are made:

Edit: (I seem to have lost most of my post in the process of posting.)
So I hit up the town wide garage sales a couple towns over, and ran into an aeronautic mechanic, who happened to have a couple dozen 18"x84" pieces of corrugated honeycomb fiberglass floor boards from a decomissioned Airbus. Yada yada yada, half hour later I'm leaving with all of it in the Matrix.
I weighed a piece and computed that a 4x8 piece should weigh a hair over 20 lbs. One source puts 1/2" BB at 50 lbs a sheet. In the words of George Bailey "A man doesn't get himself in a situation like THIS every day!"
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hp ... e=56A934E7

It will be a shame to put the side on and hide all that wonderful craftsmanship. Too bad you can't use clear acrylic.

Light done right.

Thanks guys. I had to put the cabinet on hold this week to slap this guy together:
I think it turned out pretty nice. It was the wife's idea to use the green on the inside. I'm really liking it.

I do like the green colour, nice rack box.

(The original statement read: "Your wife has good taste, nice rack" but decided it didn't read well! 8O )