BillFitzmaurice.info

I've been going back and forth all summer about whether or not I should build a sub. Didn't decide YES right away due to budget and the fact that I already have a 10 inch ported sub. Found this site while browsing the Parts Express techtalk forum. After reading around a bit and adding up the estimated cost, I decided I had to make one.

Due to size restraints (a.k.a. tiny ass dorm room), I decided to go with a Tuba 18. I guess I could have went with a different design long style and kept it under my bed.. but I already bought plans and ordered some parts. Plus that would have been a PITA to get up 4 flights of stairs.

I read through the plans as soon as I got them last night, and again today. Tomorrow I get to hunt around for suitable plywood, but won't actually get to make some sawdust until friday. O well. I was just too excited and had to start my build thread now haha.

The T18 is a fun build and goes pretty quick once you get past the initial steps.

I'll bet I know what you're going to power it with.

Good luck!

The T18 will give you a lot of clean bass.

Just curious, anyone know how heavy a T18 would be if made of mdf? I only have to move it up 4 flights of stairs twice a year.. wouldn't be too bad

Ugh. Not too bad if you're used to car audio subs I guess. After building some plywood subs, my first tapped horn I built with MDF is a lead weight. It's a good thing it rarely moves.

You can certainly do it if you want, but no one that uses Baltic Birch goes back to MDF.

So when I woke up this morning, I checked the weather and saw there was rain from noon til about 4 or 5. Since I have to do all my cutting in our driveway, my dad definitely won't let me do it in the garage, I decided I would just draw the lines. 1 o'clock rolls around, a bit cloudy, but no rain. I check the weather again, it's now a 10% chance for the rest of the day I start to bust out the power tools and make some sawdust, less than an hour later... it starts sprinkling and I have to rush everything back inside that pretty accurately describes how I feel about weather.com right now

I would have to agree with above MDF is heavy and other bad things hate that stuff not sure what its good for. Baltic birch is really nice to work with I must say

I have been working on a dual tub18 will need some handles for sure and it is a little heavy but from what I have heard from it so far with only a 20watt amp hooked to it not bad at all will see how it sounds with a bigger power supplied to it soon.
Need a way to make my pic smaller in size.

bcdaffin wrote:Just curious, anyone know how heavy a T18 would be if made of mdf? I only have to move it up 4 flights of stairs twice a year.. wouldn't be too bad

It might not be that bad weight wise, but cutting the stuff is nasty; the dust is bad news. Even outdoors I'd suggest a decent mask, not one of those cheap paper ones. Google "breathing mdf dust" for some eye opening info.

As I was putting the last side on my tuba today, I realized I hadn't taken a single picture yet... ooops So I took a few then, enjoy.

Yah, I think 180 lbs is enough! Good build so far. Let us know in the reviews how it sounds.

Looks good. How does it sound?

Not sure yet, The glue has only been curing for 12 or so hours. I'm going to wait a bit longer before I test it out. And then its go time But the real test run is this weekend when my parents are out of town

I LOVE IT I'd just like to take a minute to thank Bill, seriously, you rock man.

EDIT: shoulda trimmed the gasket tape around the access panel before posting a pic... o well, its trimmed now
another edit: theres a couple leaks around the access panel that I need to fix, damn

Awww! It's so cuuuttee! *squuueeaall*

Ahem. Right then. Good job bro.

Nice!

Get the mouth pointed into a corner or at least a wall and it will really come to life.