O15TB build in Perth, Western Australia

[pearcey]

Hi

I've posted a couple of queries on the forum; thought it was time to get on with the build. I'm building an O15TB for use with bass guitar/double bass. Living in Perth, Western Australia.

I've no real woodwork experience, just some tinkering around the house; nothing more complex than putting up shelves etc. I'm a doctor who does procedures in a hospital, so I'm used to working with my hands, and used to being reasonably precise. I've had help from my father-in-law; it really helps to have a second pair of hands.

I found an old jigsaw in the garage, and already had a drill. I bought a circular saw and some clamps from Bunnings. Hoop pine is the best plywood you can get here, but the nearest stockist was 45min away, not open on weekends, and was charging $120 a sheet. I ended up getting 12mm ply from Bunnings for $50 which has been fine. Electrical stuff is really expensive here, so I've bought all the drivers, electrical bits from Speaker Hardware in the US and got it sent over.

So far I've spent about 8 hours on the build. Not counting that, I've spent probably only a little less than it would have cost to get the speaker made by Harley and sent out, but I've enjoyed it so far and it's been good working with my father-in-law.

Here's my workshop; a space by the side of the house, and an old table with a middle extender bit, which makes it ideal for jigsawing. Note the surfboard and child's bike. I'm pleased I got the safety goggles in the picture:



Here's the front. I used a jigsaw for the windows:



And here's the 3 sides stuck together:



More to come...

[AntonZ]

That table looks strangely familiar. You have Ikea in Australia?

Looking good!

[pearcey]

Thank you. Yes we do have Ikea here; my wife was delighted when she found out when we first emigrated.

The table could be made for this application, really long, with an adjustable central hole. Shame it doesn't have a table saw attachment.

[AntonZ]

We have the same table (smaller version) in our kitchen.

Table saw and router built into Ikea kitchen table, now that would be a very nice Ikea Hack

[pearcey]

Couple more photos of the baffle going in. Slightly tricky to get it lined up right....



Never seem to have quite enough clamps...



It always seems a bit egotistical posting these pictures, but I found other peoples really helpful.

[5StringPocket]

It's taking shape nicely, keep us posted.

[pearcey]

Work's a bit slow!
Here's a couple more pictures:





15" section now completed. Mid baffle is proving tricky...

[bitSmasher]

What ply was it you bought from Bunnings?
The only stuff they had here was "CD non structural", and it looked a bit, err, usable, but I'd do so reluctantly.

[more4me]

Nice build there which drivers will you be using ?

[pearcey]

Hi

Thanks for the encouragement. I just used the only 12mm ply Bunnings had in stock; at that point it was a weekend, I had a bunch of time free and I just wanted to get on with it. I did take a while to find the best sheets. The top ones were really warped, and the ones I got were only slightly warped, but it's all braced pretty well and this doesn't show. It's been fine actually. The $120 hoop pine was warped too; that was for non-marine grade, and the backs were just as imperfect. Check out Austral pine I think it is for a stockist in your area - I just didn't think it was worth the extra (and just wanted to get on with things).

Bunnings can get in marine-grade ply, and other sorts of ply, too. This would presumably be better quality, but when I chose the sheets carefully both for lack of warp and for as few imperfections on the back as I could get it's been fine. I reckon it's probably as important to get a decent saw blade - I bought a 60-tooth for $40 which I then lost in the attic with the Christmas presents, and still can't find it. So I got a 40-tooth for $10 as I just couldn't bring myself to get another $40 one (and still hold out hope finding the original one).

I'm using Kappalites 15" and I'm using the mid and tweeter that came with the kit from Speaker hardware. Slightly naff using a kit, probably, but things are just more difficult to get hold of here and as I'm getting it all sent from the US anyway (which is miles cheaper - about half price) I might as well get it all at once. I still haven't found a really satisfactory grill stockist over here - I'll probably ask in the 'suppliers' forum after spending a bit more time on google.

I'm in Bali for 2 weeks on an enforced leave from Australia to get my visa. The quality of woodwork from the furniture sellers by the side of the street is amazing - they do it for a living etc. and have been all their lives, but nonetheless I can't help being impressed when I know the effort I'm putting in to getting mine accurate. They almost exclusively use hand tools too.

pearcey

[AntonZ]

I bought a 60-tooth for $40 which I then lost in the attic with the Christmas presents, and still can't find it. <snip> (and still hold out hope finding the original one).

Don't worry, you'll be fine next year, no doubt.


(sorry, couldn't resist)

[pearcey]

I don't like to encourage that sort of thing, but that is actually quite funny and clever. It's even a 60-tooth blade!

I'm having another look for it when I'm back from Bali.

[pearcey]

Did a bit more work. The mid baffle and cone are on:



Front not sanded yet obviously:





And then the internal bracing:



On the next picture you can see my father-in-law's head through the tweeter hole:







Doing a bit more work on the weekend...

[jswingchun]

It's funny, the thing looks massive in all the pics, then you see the last pic with your hand in the shot and get some perspective and it's not all that large. You don't see a lot of Omni (not Omni Top) build threads anymore, so it's been kinda fun looking at these pics.

[pearcey]

Finshed the woodwork part of it. Put the frame for the access panel on, and did some holes for hadware:





And here's the panel. Probably not quite as good a fit as I would have liked, but had to do a bit of sanding to get it in and it looks OK.



Now for filling/sanding/painting this weekend. I'm planning to do 1st coat in latex primer then Duratex-like coating.