My Titan-39 build

Post your build odyssey here.
Message
Author
billkatz
Posts: 249
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:30 pm
Location: San Rafael, CA

My Titan-39 build

#1 Post by billkatz »

I started on my next journey today by purchasing 4 sheets of appropriate plywood. Here it is loaded in the car.

Next steps:

1) Buy table saw.

On the last project I learned that even with care I didn't get the results I liked using my circular saws and various guides. At the end of the )-15TB I discovered a friend with an old table saw and suddenly my double-stacked braces were matched in size! However that table saw is old enough, and with a very small rip fence range, and far from home that I really want one of my own.

2) Align table saw

I read in another thread on this site about the in-lineindustries.com alignment tools. This looks like a good investment.
Attachments
4 sheets of BB in my Odyssey
4 sheets of BB in my Odyssey
Built:
1 Omni-15 Tall Boy
2 DR250s
2 Titan 39s

User avatar
PulseMan
Posts: 147
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:43 am
Location: South Africa

Re: My Titan-39 build

#2 Post by PulseMan »

Hi Billkatz

Yep it might cost you some effort and money to get the gear but you won't look back once it is all set up and the saw dust starts flying.
Good luck with your build and keep us posted with regards to your progress.

PulseMan
BUILT
6 OT12's DELTA PRO 12A STRAIGHT ARRAY
2 OT12's DELTA PRO 12A MELDED ARRAY
8 T48's 24" 3015LF LOADED
2 WEDGEHORN 10 MKIV's
1 SLA PRO FOR CENTRE FILL


Like us on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Pulse.Entertainment.SA‎

miked
Posts: 1209
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:18 am
Location: San Antonio, TX

Re: My Titan-39 build

#3 Post by miked »

I have found that you can "make do" without a lot of tools. But the one piece of gear that is essential for building cabs is a table saw. Even a small, portable type like they sell in the big box stores is going to give a much higher probability of accurate, repeatable cuts than using a circular saw. Especially for cutting things like the internal braces, where their shape is triangular, using a TS is so much easier. In the past, before being able to afford one myself, I'd lug the wood across town to a buddies' house, cut it all to size and then bring it back to my house for assembly at my leisure.

Some friendly cab-building advice for you:

1. Before you cut that first piece of wood, read the plans until you have the panel numbers memorized, then print the plans and put them in your workspace.
2. Ask lots of questions before and during the build. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here and their advice is free. Use it.
3. Don't rush! It's not safe and mistakes are expensive. There can be a tendency to get all excited when you're close to a major milestone in the build and that's when your attention can suffer.
4. Measure twice, then stare at it for a minute, then measure again. Perfect example. Yesterday I was measuring 11.5" from the edge. On the 3rd out of 4 workpieces, I read the ruler from the right instead of left and marked 10.5" instead of 11.5" and then I cut the panel. :cussing:
5. Don't be cheap with the PL; that cab needs to be airtight! PL is messy. It's messy for me and it's messy for the guys that build cabs for a living. Get used to it.
6. Buy a big box of disposable gloves (see #5). PL doesn't come off wood. Or fingers. Ever.
7. Eye and ear protection. You are issued one set of each with no do-overs allowed. Nuff said.

Good luck and post pics!

Grant Bunter
Posts: 6912
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:12 am
Location: Ilfracombe Queensland Australia
Contact:

Re: My Titan-39 build

#4 Post by Grant Bunter »

miked wrote:I have found that you can "make do" without a lot of tools. But the one piece of gear that is essential for building cabs is a table saw. Even a small, portable type like they sell in the big box stores is going to give a much higher probability of accurate, repeatable cuts than using a circular saw.
Sorry Mike,
I'm gonna call you on the table saw.
It is very possible to make repeatable cuts without a table saw, when all you have is a circular saw.
9 cabs (and quite a number of other projects) under my belt says it can be done.
So desirable, perhaps, essential, no.
Don't want people thinking or reading that in order to build these cabs you now have to have a table saw...
Built:
DR 250: x 2 melded array, 2x CD horn, March 2012 plans.
T39's: 4 x 20" KL3010LF , 2 x 28" 3012LF.
WH8: x 6 with melded array wired series/parallel.
Bunter's Audio and Lighting "like"s would be most appreciated...

miked
Posts: 1209
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:18 am
Location: San Antonio, TX

Re: My Titan-39 build

#5 Post by miked »

I've always said you CAN build these cabs with nothing but a circular saw and a jigsaw. That's a fact. It's also a fact that you can build an entire 1,000 square meter house with nothing but handsaw and a hammer. Possible; absolutely. But a LOT easier with certain tools. That's my opinion. That, and a token will get me on the bus. :loler: I am simply not that good with a circular saw. I know where my weaknesses are and I stay the heck away from them. :D

billkatz
Posts: 249
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:30 pm
Location: San Rafael, CA

Re: My Titan-39 build

#6 Post by billkatz »

Step 2 - I made the plunge. After scouring craigslist I finally took the plunge on a Jet TLAS-10 - which is essentially a copy of a Delta Unisaw. In fact mine came with a delta mobile base. Also included was a Delta dust collector and an Excalibur sliding table. Tomorrow it is going to get a good cleaning. And, yes, a full size cabinet saw (with the extension table, wings, and fence removed) does fit into a Honda Odyssey.
Built:
1 Omni-15 Tall Boy
2 DR250s
2 Titan 39s

billkatz
Posts: 249
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:30 pm
Location: San Rafael, CA

Re: My Titan-39 build

#7 Post by billkatz »

Here are some pictures...
Attachments
Yes, it does fit in a minivan!
Yes, it does fit in a minivan!
sliding table attachment (if only I had a bigger garage)
sliding table attachment (if only I had a bigger garage)
Table saw before disassembly
Table saw before disassembly
Built:
1 Omni-15 Tall Boy
2 DR250s
2 Titan 39s

User avatar
LelandCrooks
Posts: 7242
Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 9:36 am
Location: Midwest/Kansas/Speaker Nirvana
Contact:

Re: My Titan-39 build

#8 Post by LelandCrooks »

Nicely done. Nice saw. Going to pimp my products here. Get one of these.http://www.speakerhardware.com/micro-jig-grr-ripper.php

With a high quality fence and saw those teeny cuts become enticingly easy. And dangerous. These things are the next best thing to a sawstop.
If it's too loud, you're even older than me! Like me.
http://www.speakerhardware.com

billkatz
Posts: 249
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:30 pm
Location: San Rafael, CA

Re: My Titan-39 build

#9 Post by billkatz »

LelandCrooks wrote:Nicely done. Nice saw. Going to pimp my products here. Get one of these.http://www.speakerhardware.com/micro-jig-grr-ripper.php

With a high quality fence and saw those teeny cuts become enticingly easy. And dangerous. These things are the next best thing to a sawstop.
I was looking at the MicroJig website yesterday, mostly at their MJ-splitter as my saw came with neither a blade guard nor a riving knife.

I appreciate the advice here, as this looks more useful than a standard blade guard.
Built:
1 Omni-15 Tall Boy
2 DR250s
2 Titan 39s

billkatz
Posts: 249
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:30 pm
Location: San Rafael, CA

Re: My Titan-39 build

#10 Post by billkatz »

This took a lot longer than it should have, but I finally have a 240V outlet, to power my table saw. There was not a single empty breaker in my house, so I had to buy some twin breakers to free up space in the panel. But it's done. Perhaps I can make some real progress in the next month.
Attachments
My new 240V outlet
My new 240V outlet
Built:
1 Omni-15 Tall Boy
2 DR250s
2 Titan 39s

byacey
Posts: 947
Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:09 am
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Re: My Titan-39 build

#11 Post by byacey »

miked wrote: Some friendly cab-building advice for you:

1. Before you cut that first piece of wood, read the plans until you have the panel numbers memorized, then print the plans and put them in your workspace.

4. Measure twice, then stare at it for a minute, then measure again. Perfect example. Yesterday I was measuring 11.5" from the edge. On the 3rd out of 4 workpieces, I read the ruler from the right instead of left and marked 10.5" instead of 11.5" and then I cut the panel.
Take it a step further and draw out the cuts on the wood before you start cutting. This helps avoid measuring mistakes.

Write the panel number on each piece so when it comes time for assembly, you're not scratching your head.
Built
T48s
WH8s
SX212

billkatz
Posts: 249
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:30 pm
Location: San Rafael, CA

Re: My Titan-39 build

#12 Post by billkatz »

I've got my cutlist ready, and printed out on 11x17 paper, and tonight I aligned the saw blade, < .002" front to back. It was actually pretty easy, loosened 3 of the 4 bolts holding the top to the saw. I also checked the fence, and it is < .002" also. Next step is to slice the sheets. I'm going to cut all of strips that make parts the width of the cabinet first, with one fence setting, and then the 4 sides with the depth of the cabinet setting.

BTW - the Diablo blade that Bill and Leland recommended makes silky smooth cuts, even on the paper-thin veneer ply that I used on my last cab before I successfully tracked down my Baltic Birch.
Attachments
align_saw.jpg
Built:
1 Omni-15 Tall Boy
2 DR250s
2 Titan 39s

User avatar
LelandCrooks
Posts: 7242
Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 9:36 am
Location: Midwest/Kansas/Speaker Nirvana
Contact:

Re: My Titan-39 build

#13 Post by LelandCrooks »

Don'tcha love that alignment jig? I check my fences about once a month.
If it's too loud, you're even older than me! Like me.
http://www.speakerhardware.com

billkatz
Posts: 249
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:30 pm
Location: San Rafael, CA

Re: My Titan-39 build

#14 Post by billkatz »

It was finally time to get some cutting done this weekend. My son helped me move the big sheets onto the saw, and I reduced 3 - 4x8 sheets of BB to panels. Then I drew out the guidelines on the first side of the first cabinet. That went pretty smoothly. With a few calculations I figured out how to get the two back braces (which necessarily have the same angle) to get cut at the same time. I've got just a few more panels to cut from the 4th sheet of plywood (another access cover, driver anchor, and the throat braces come to mind). As I was cutting braces I saw a couple things that would work better than the way I laid out my cutlist.

As advised I labelled each panel as I cut it, cross referencing the plans and my cutlist.

I really like the sliding table that came with my saw, although only after I cut the braces did it occur to me how I might rig a stop that would make the multiple pieces come out identical...

Next challenge is to acquire a router (for the hand holds) and brad nailer.
Attachments
The side with the panel lines drawn in.
The side with the panel lines drawn in.
The day's output
The day's output
My first braces - panel 3/5
My first braces - panel 3/5
panels 1 - 10 for two cabinets
panels 1 - 10 for two cabinets
Built:
1 Omni-15 Tall Boy
2 DR250s
2 Titan 39s

miked
Posts: 1209
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:18 am
Location: San Antonio, TX

Re: My Titan-39 build

#15 Post by miked »

Nice job, Bill! Isn't it amazing how long it takes to lay out your cuts, cut all the panels and braces, etc?

One piece of advice. The baffle (panel 2, I believe) has different angles on the top and bottom edges. Make sure you have the panel sitting proper-side-up on the saw before cutting the angles. Printing out a side view of the cab in Sketchup was invaluable for me. That way, I had a visual reference of how the panel would be oriented in the cab, and knew what side of the panel to cut which angle on. Hope that makes sense. Also, I actually labled my baffles with an arrow pointing up towards the top of the cab and wrote "Top of cab" next to the arrow on all the baffles.

You can see the Sketchup side view printed out, taped to the red coolers in this pic.
Image

Post Reply