BillFitzmaurice.info

I've received most of the parts for my SLA builds. I'm building two straight SLAs and one curved SLA, all three using the six woofer instructions. I've spent the last couple weeks getting my work room cleaned up, organized, and ready for a project. I also built two new panel jigs for my table saw with 3/4" MDF and it's working better than my 3/4" Arauco Ply did. I just recently added a Harbor Freight Dust Collector and small air cleaner, but they have made a considerable difference in air quality.

So tonight I began by cutting my old panel jigs and the scraps from when I made them, 3/4" Arauco Ply, into the three baffles for the speakers. Since there was a bit of bow in them I've clamped them between two 2x6s to hopefully help straighten them out. They'll straighten out pretty easily when they get fastened to the cab, but I think it's better to try and have them flat when it's time to attach them.



Clamped



Tomorrow I will cut the rest of the pieces from 1/2" Arauco Ply.

Awesome. Looking forward to seeing your builds progress!

When you did your center SLA, was the 33" wide and 7" tall adequate for you? I have it at about 34" x 7 1/2" until I know for sure that I don't need it any larger. I cut the straight SLA baffles to the listed dimensions. I wasn't able to find black pan head screws locally yet, I will try True Value and there's a Do It Best that I'll check out. Hopefully they will have something. The guy at Lowes said I should just spray paint the screws but I don't really want to do that.

Pfffft, you don't want to be messing around painting screws!! I reckon, use what ever 6 x 1/2 screws you can find now and order the pan heads you like from McMaster for the tweeters..

My Curved SLA baffle came out at 7.5" high by 29.75" (ish) wide when curved.... So 33 inches flat sounds about right. Ish.

I know you really want to crack on with it but I'd wait until the woofers arrive to be 100% sure.

I can mail you explicit measurements if you really want to go. I'd have to measure properly for you.

Hit me up if you want.

Thanks for the offer, but they'll be here Monday so it's all good. Will #8 screws fit okay? Since I forgot to order terminals and Radioshack, apparently, no longer sells them I'll have to put in another order to PE and they have #8 1/2" long screws. They #6 3/4" screws but I'm don't want the tips to poke through the baffle. Suggestions?

If you order from here now:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/119/2990/=lpgzg6

You'll probably have them before you need them!

I put an order in, I'll be curious to see what shipping costs, but a quick search says it's typically reasonable. I ordered the threaded inserts and hex head bolts, too. I didn't get too much work on the build itself today, but I did get the panels cut. I cut the 4' x 8' sheet on center and then cut that piece into thirds. The end result was 3 pieces about 24" x 32". That made them small enough to get into the house and in my work room. Then I put them across the table saw to square the sides and cut them to the appropriate dimensions for the sides and back. I got the ends cut, too.

I did learn that Radioshack is clearing out their 5-way binding post speaker terminals. On a whim I went to a different location than the other day and they had two in stock. They checked the inventory of the other stores nearby (2 other stores, each with 2 units) so I went to them, too. So I've got 6 terminals that cost $1.97 each, not bad. I only need three now, but I figured for whatever my next build will be I've got the terminals for it already.

I attached the sides, ends, and back for the two straight SLAs. I found it easiest to attach the ends to the back and then put the sides on.

This is one of three pieces which is 1/6 of a plywood sheet, about 24" x 32". It got cut into thirds to make the sides and back.



This is the back with the sides screwed on. I already pieced one together. I used the same method as building the THT, clamp everything, put screws in to get everything lined up, then take the pieces apart and apply Premium PL and re-attach everything.




After all four sides are glued it just sits to dry.

Looking good! Like seeing different build threads besides the usual Titan and Omni's. Keep the pics coming.

On Tuesday I got started cutting out some circles.



I got the woofer holes cut out on one baffle. I cut a test circle out for the tweeters and I played around with chamfering and routering a recess for the woofers.



I can't decide on how I want to mount the drivers. I like the idea of the clean look of the drivers being rear mounted and it would be easier for wire them once they're on the baffle. But I'm not sure about how much to chamfer the the opening without the mounting screw poking through. I think I'm going to do from mounts because it seems easier, though.

I made some good progress today. I have all three baffles cut out and the curved SLA baffle is glued into pairs and is drying.

Speaker Baffle #2 drawn up and ready to be cut




I must say, the Jasper Jig is amazing at cutting the circles. I couldn't be more satisfied with how well it turned out. I do need to get an actual elbow for my router's vacuum port because the duct tape just isn't working out too well. It works for a little but the suction from the shop vac ends up pinching the bend and then the saw dust is everywhere.




It looks like I forgot to take a picture of the finished cut baffle, I'll have to take one and post it when I get a chance.

For the curved SLA baffle I decided to cut the six sections first because I'm really bad at doing bevel cuts and cutting on the proper side. So I made sure I had all six pieces cut before I took the time to cut the circles.




Then they just needed to be glued together.






The next step will be to glue the pairs together and build the box for the curved SLA.

Looks like a very tidy build so far. Keep up the good work.

Hadn't thought of gluing the curved SLA baffles in pairs like that. Nice idea!!

How did you put yours together? Did the instructions have a different method? I just saw the clamps pictured on each piece being held together.

anikun07 wrote:How did you put yours together? Did the instructions have a different method? I just saw the clamps pictured on each piece being held together.

I made a jig. Here is my build thread.