BFM Tuba HT Subwoofer Build (plentiful pic warning)

[joeybutts]

Forgot to post this build over here! Built this for a guy in Iowa and took it out to him when I went to the eD meet. It is a 28" wide variety.



























In the customer's home!

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[5th element]

Wow that's one complex cabinet! Nice build too.

[WilZirkle]

Nice build Joey. I guess the guy in Iowa had to finish it himself....

[joeybutts]

Thanks guys!!

Yes Wil. The build doesn't take long to do, but the finish is a pain and takes forever. So I give people the option of finishing it themselves or paying me to do it. I have yet to have someone want to pay me to do the finish. Heck, I'm undercharging for the builds!!!

[5th element]

Ergh tell me about it, the finishing is the worst part. I am sure that no one has paid probably because it seems like a lot of money at the time - 'I'll do it myself it will be far cheaper!' - then after actually trying to finish them - 'darn I should have paid Joey!'

It's the sanding that gets me though, even with stearated sand paper the stuff clogs waaaay to fast and where wood/MDF is involved, I really don't have the nerve to wet sand.

[KVasco]

Nice build! :T

Ergh tell me about it, the finishing is the worst part. I am sure that no one has paid probably because it seems like a lot of money at the time - 'I'll do it myself it will be far cheaper!' - then after actually trying to finish them - 'darn I should have paid Joey!'

It's the sanding that gets me though, even with stearated sand paper the stuff clogs waaaay to fast and where wood/MDF is involved, I really don't have the nerve to wet sand.

Finishing my THT went rather quickly & smoothly. After patch & sanding, a simple black primer followed by 2 rolled-on coats of duratex. Durable and functional.

[CADman_ks]

Nice build! :T
Finishing my THT went rather quickly & smoothly. After patch & sanding, a simple black primer followed by 2 rolled-on coats of duratex. Durable and functional.

I've never used duratex myself, but I was surprised how good just a couple coats of black paint look when they are rolled on with a somewhat aggressive roller.

You end up with a finish that somewhat has a "grain" to, and it hides a lot of the sins that were in there too.

It's not for everyone, and there are probably some that would argue that it doesn't belong in your house, but for something like a sub like this, it would be a great finish for that!

[joeybutts]

Duratex is definitely the easiest method, but some people don't want to go that route in their home. I will probably be going the duratex route for my backyard BFM build.

[CADman_ks]

Duratex is definitely the easiest method, but some people don't want to go that route in their home. I will probably be going the duratex route for my backyard BFM build.

I went and read up on Duratex after seeing this post. That looks like some AWESOME stuff, and it would be the bomb for something outdoors.

I need to put some black textured "something" on the accent pieces on my Ocho's. I was thinking that I was going to use bedliner texturing, which I think would work, but after seeing the leather-look technique that Duratex has, I'm thinking that might be the way to go. They have a smaller trial "kit" that you can buy, and it's only $20 delivered...

[joeybutts]

Yessir! The only reason I said maybe was the fact that I seem to find herculiner pretty cheap on the regular, and I used that on my dad's subwoofer box and it came out quite nice, not too bumpy....

[impala454]

Awesome sub!

Quick question since the coatings are being discussed: Those who have used these various coatings, if you used them on a loudspeaker, did you keep it out of the driver holes and I guess just paint those flat black before you did the coating? I figured the coating might be too thick and mess up the flush mounting if your speaker is built that way (I'm thinking of using a coating like those mentioned on my Statements Monitors).

[5th element]

I am going to need to finish my subs at some point and a nice an easy durable finish like that would be perfect.

[joeybutts]

Awesome sub!

Quick question since the coatings are being discussed: Those who have used these various coatings, if you used them on a loudspeaker, did you keep it out of the driver holes and I guess just paint those flat black before you did the coating? I figured the coating might be too thick and mess up the flush mounting if your speaker is built that way (I'm thinking of using a coating like those mentioned on my Statements Monitors).

Yes. Do exactly what you said. Flat black in the gap, keep thickness out of the flush mount.