Kreios - Curved Subwoofer Build

[Silversmoky]

Just wanted to post some pictures of my sub build that I have had going for about a year on and off. Some of the guys at avs helped me out with the sizing and driver choices.
I wanted something that looked similar to the jl gotham. I had size limits so it couldn't be huge. Ended up with about 8 cubic feet sealed. I had never done a curved build before and was looking forward to the challenge. Overall I was pretty happy with how it turned out. Decided to call this thing Kreios. Hope you like it!

[ThomasW]

Sweet..... :T

Do you have any pictures that document the build process? If not I'll move your post to our gallery section...

[Hdale85]

Wow thats an incredible looking sub! I may have to do something similar :B

[Silversmoky]

I didn't really document much as I went along. Just kind of had it in my head and went from there. Didn't think about doing it until the very end Wish I would have. Ya move it wherever it's best placed. Thanks Thomas.

[Hank]

Good work! A nice new creative enclosure.

[---k---]

very cool. I like the little feet - nice detail.

Did you use bendy ply?

[JonW]

Beautiful. Very nice job. A little different from the norm. Refreshing. :T

What is the cabinet built from? And how is it finished?

[Silversmoky]

very cool. I like the little feet - nice detail.

Did you use bendy ply?

Thanks. I didn't use bendy plywood, although I would like to know how that would work for this. I did at one point try 1/8 inch particle type board but even that wouldn't bend enough for the back of the radius, which gets pretty tight. I had pretty much figured that it wouldn't work and was planning on plastering around the entire enclosure to make it really smooth and also to make the box really dense and dead. It ended up working really well, besides making it weigh a ton.

[Silversmoky]

Beautiful. Very nice job. A little different from the norm. Refreshing. :T

What is the cabinet built from? And how is it finished?

Thanks again. The cabinet is composed of mdf, basic lumber, and Plaster for the outside which I used to make the curve very smooth for veneering.

The finish is all maple burl even the front baffle, which is stained. I used the iron on method, which I have to say is the best I have used for veneer so far. Sanded down very smooth and then it was like 25 coats of clear gloss lacquer. Took a while.

[Eton]

Awesome veneer work?
Who makes the drivers?

[Hdale85]

Going to take a guess and say they are either Rythmik or they are the last of the TC drivers which are sold under the AudioPulse name at PE.

[Silversmoky]

Drivers are Tc2000 dvc 15's.

[Hdale85]

Ah so you've had them a while then

[JonW]

and then it was like 25 coats of clear gloss lacquer. Took a while.

So how did you apply the lacquer- spray? And what kind did you use?

I'm trying to figure out how to make a nice finish on some of my future projects. Thanks.

[Silversmoky]

Ah so you've had them a while then

I have I actually got the first one before they stopped selling to the public. Took me a while to find the second one, but finally it worked out.

[Silversmoky]

So how did you apply the lacquer- spray? And what kind did you use?

I'm trying to figure out how to make a nice finish on some of my future projects. Thanks.

No problem Jon. I have actually been watching your project for a while. Looks pretty good to me.

On other speakers that I have made I have sprayed lacquer using an hvlp gun and was always happy with the results. I wanted to try brushing on the lacquer and see how it would turn out. It also made it easier on a project this big. Overall I really liked the brush on result. I used Watco Clear Gloss Brushing Lacquer. It lays down really well once you get a few coats on. Hope that helps.

[Hdale85]

Did you sand in between coats?

[Silversmoky]

I did. Between every coat lightly with 600 grit paper (dry) and then very thoroughly removed all dust with a tack cloth.

[Hdale85]

Guessing final coat got some polishing compound of some sort.

[Silversmoky]

Actually no polishing compound. That's just the finish of the lacquer. When you get up into that many coats it gives it quite a bit of depth and shine.

[Hdale85]

Hmm bet it would be real shiny with some polishing compound

[Silversmoky]

Yeah you are probably right!

[Hdale85]

I want to do my new speakers in either bamboo or birdseye maple with a nice deep blue stain and then a nice clear coat like that. I'd like to anyways I'm still not sure I want to tackle all that.

[Silversmoky]

Sounds interesting. I'd like to see that. Definitely takes some time but it is worth it overall I think. Will you be building one of Jed's upcoming designs or do you have something else picked out?

[Hdale85]

Jed and I are collaborating on a new design currently Basically he does all the designing and asks how I like the idea's or which of what I'd like to use and what not. But yes will be one of his designs.

[Silversmoky]

I'm looking forward to whatever you guys come up with. Jed's designs are always great.

[Hdale85]

Oh it will certainly be an awesome design Probably a bit on the expensive side but worth it in my opinion.

[Silversmoky]

Sounds good. I usually end up doing the more expensive ones anyways.

[Hdale85]

Well I hope you decide to build them They will be a bit larger then his previous designs though. Right now we're looking at 8" wide 49.5" tall and umm 15.75" deep. But the low end output is going to be phenomenal. Of course with your new sub that may not be important But me I like 2 channel without the use of a sub.

[Silversmoky]

I will definitely stay tuned. I love bigger towers.

[DS-21]

Beautiful work.

And you gotta love it when someone follows up "I had size constraints" with "they ended up being eight cubic feet!"

[MuaDibb]

Beautiful work Silver, I'm jealous! :

Where did you get the feet? I'm finishing up a project and those look interesting.

[Silversmoky]

Beautiful work.

And you gotta love it when someone follows up "I had size constraints" with "they ended up being eight cubic feet!"

Thanks DS -21. That is kind of funny. I guess compared to some of the guys on avs it seemed on the smaller end, who talk about 20 cubic feet routinely. Definitely as big as I would want to go, I think!

[Silversmoky]

Beautiful work Silver, I'm jealous! :

Where did you get the feet? I'm finishing up a project and those look interesting.

Thanks Muadibb. The feet are actually a few things combined. I used thick L brackets with lag screws to secure to the enclosure. On the bottom I modified the bracket a little so that the largest feet from PE would screw right into it. Then on the top I used a small chrome collar to hide the hardware and on top of that is actually a large cylinder neo magnet. I like the outrigger look for speaker feet and this is what I eventually came up with for this look. :T

[JonW]

No problem Jon. I have actually been watching your project for a while. Looks pretty good to me.

On other speakers that I have made I have sprayed lacquer using an hvlp gun and was always happy with the results. I wanted to try brushing on the lacquer and see how it would turn out. It also made it easier on a project this big. Overall I really liked the brush on result. I used Watco Clear Gloss Brushing Lacquer. It lays down really well once you get a few coats on. Hope that helps.

Thanks. I didn't know there is such a thing as "brushing lacquer." Good to know. :T And I'll buy some and try it out. So did it come out smooth enough, even when applied with a brush?

I tried using Sherwin-Williams CAB-acrylic lacquer once. Brushing didn't go so well. Once I had more than 3 coats the new coats started dissolving and lifting off the earlier coats. I also tried my cheap Rockler HVLP spray gun with that stuff. And the result was a very bumpy finish that looked like it was spat out. Oh well. That said, I have very little finishing experience. Maybe I'll try out the stuff you used.

And again, your sub looks excellent. :T

[CupCak3]

How long did you have to wait b/t coat and sanding?

I'm trying to determin the finish to use w/ my project. I've been really interested in some h2o based stuff from sherwin williams but this brush on stuff doesn't seem too bad.

[Rolex]

For those that are interested, I have just recently starting using a finish that I have been overall quite happy with. Forever I was into spraying lacquer. Three coats, no more, otherwise the finish starts to eat itself. I used to spray lacquer at my dad's house since he has a stand alone building for his shop. Lacquer odors were no problem. My woodshop is in my basement, so I can't spray lacquer there. I don't like the garage cause there is too much prep work required to get it ready to spray lacquer. I was recommended a finish by another woodworker and have use it with good results.

Mix equal parts of Minwax polyurethane, Minwax Tung Oil, and Turpentine. Apply liberally to the entire product. Let stand about 30 minutes and wipe off all the excess with a dry cloth. Let dry for 24 hours. Sand lightly with dry 600 grit paper. Clean well. Reapply finish as before. Continue on with as many coats as you wish. I've been using three.

Once the last coat is on, and you wipe it off, make sure you get it all off. Otherwise you will be left wit rough spots. If done correctly, the entire surface should be very smooth and does not require sanding after the last coat.

The nice thing about this finish is you can apply it in a basement, you can pick your sheen based on the sheen of the polyurethane and the tung oil. It doesn't feel as heavy as most of the "sit on the surface" finishes including lacquer or polyurethane, and you get the depth of the grain that the tung oil offers. But you still get the protection that Polyurethane offers. You can change the ratio of the mix to just about anything you want.

I have attached pictures of the Zaph L18 I did that was finished that way.

[Silversmoky]

Thanks. I didn't know there is such a thing as "brushing lacquer." Good to know. :T And I'll buy some and try it out. So did it come out smooth enough, even when applied with a brush?

I tried using Sherwin-Williams CAB-acrylic lacquer once. Brushing didn't go so well. Once I had more than 3 coats the new coats started dissolving and lifting off the earlier coats. I also tried my cheap Rockler HVLP spray gun with that stuff. And the result was a very bumpy finish that looked like it was spat out. Oh well. That said, I have very little finishing experience. Maybe I'll try out the stuff you used.

And again, your sub looks excellent. :T

I have worked with some different poly's for clear coats on some of my other projects. I sprayed them on. The results were pretty good. But I switched to the Watco and I use it to spray and brush. Have been very satisfied with both methods. I think it lays down more even and is slightly clearer compared to a more yellow looking poly. Brushing it, I will say you have to keep moving, keeping a wet edge like painting. If it gets to dry it can start to streak slightly, although it is very fixable on the next coat. Thanks again.

[Silversmoky]

How long did you have to wait b/t coat and sanding?

I'm trying to determin the finish to use w/ my project. I've been really interested in some h2o based stuff from sherwin williams but this brush on stuff doesn't seem too bad.

I usually waited several hours between coats. Then I lightly sanded. Just basically going over the entire surface very softly then cleaning thoroughly with tack cloth.

Rolex - Looks pretty nice. Looks like an interesting method.

[JonW]

I have worked with some different poly's for clear coats on some of my other projects. I sprayed them on. The results were pretty good. But I switched to the Watco and I use it to spray and brush. Have been very satisfied with both methods. I think it lays down more even and is slightly clearer compared to a more yellow looking poly. Brushing it, I will say you have to keep moving, keeping a wet edge like painting. If it gets to dry it can start to streak slightly, although it is very fixable on the next coat. Thanks again.

Thanks for the further help. I'm making notes for my next project.


And Rolex, that does look like a very ncie way to go. Plus you've got some pretty veneer there. :T