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View Full Version : Box building 1/2 inch or 3/4


liv2surf34
07-12-2004, 01:15 PM
Ok so im gonna start building my box, do i need the 3/4 inch mdf or will 1/2 be fine?

Ru Dawg
07-12-2004, 02:45 PM
3/4...3/4....3/4
no doubt about it man! Go with the big stuff!! Some have used 1/2 for special cases, but 3/4 is the way to go unless you have a specific reason to need 1/2(like a clearance issue or something).
The 3/4 is much easier to screw and will be much more sturdy.
I just built a box about 2 months ago for an Infinity Perfect 12.1 and used 3/4.

liv2surf34
07-12-2004, 04:31 PM
well sh*t, i just went to home depot and bought 1/2 hahahah, is it gonna affect the sound or anything?

410Fortune
07-12-2004, 04:38 PM
5/8" is the way to go.....3/4" too heavy, unless you are building a huge box

gatorpatric0
07-12-2004, 04:45 PM
well sh*t, i just went to home depot and bought 1/2 hahahah, is it gonna affect the sound or anything?

Well why the hell did you ask if you were going to buy 1/2 anyway. The only way it will effect the sound is if it comes apart and leaks. 1/2 is more likely to leak than 3/4.

410Fortune
07-12-2004, 04:48 PM
actually you have to also consider deflection, with 1/2" MDF or HDF, and a sealed enclosure depending on the size the wood will actually bend under the pressure from the woofer, expanding and decreasing the volume of the box, not good.

5/8" is the stuff to use....

wired_af
07-12-2004, 04:51 PM
5/8" is the stuff to use....
I agree.

gatorpatric0
07-12-2004, 05:00 PM
actually you have to also consider deflection, with 1/2" MDF or HDF, and a sealed enclosure depending on the size the wood will actually bend under the pressure from the woofer, expanding and decreasing the volume of the box, not good.

5/8" is the stuff to use....

Thats what will cause your box to come apart. Deflection will happen before your box comes apart.

liv2surf34
07-12-2004, 06:25 PM
damn, well i asked the question, then i just figured it wouldnt matter much, so i went and bought it, but i guess i will go get 5/8 or 3/4 tomorrow, my bad

JPA1982
07-12-2004, 06:55 PM
just curiuos how many woofers are u putting in, what size??

for the past 2 days i just built my brand new custom perfect fit 4 10" sub box, can't wait to get my other 2 subs in to fill her up, about 4.5 hrs total work. , still need to carpet it though. i had started one with 1/2 but like someone stated, can't miss with the screws or else, so i started over with 3/4, MUCH BETTER imo, i def wouldn't go with anything smaller then 5/8"

side note: for my new box
i've got 3 chambers, one big one in the middle with 2 10"s facing the back of the truck, then one ten on each side facing up each in its own chamber, i'm going to run 2 600-800w amps,one amp for middle subs, one for outsides, planning on hooking the amps up to switches, so i can turn on/off when i please, don't need 4 600w subs going at once for country music u know, lol, i'm stoked about it though, i'll get pics up asap

sorry if i went on to long, but hey good luck with your box, gotta take pride in home built custom work, so do it right i say, take care

liv2surf34
07-12-2004, 07:26 PM
im putting in 2 12s, i guess ill be heading back to home depot tomorrow for 3/4

410Fortune
07-12-2004, 09:18 PM
hahaha 3/4 is overkill :)
But it will work good! You can use 1/2" too, but its best to use bracing on all the edges with 1/2".......

gatorpatric0
07-13-2004, 11:33 AM
Liv, you are lucky you live in Jax because you are close to all the supplies you need and there is dozens of car shops down there so If you run into a problem you can take it there. I have to drive half-an hour one way to get to a home depot for this stuff.

liv2surf34
07-13-2004, 03:29 PM
yea its no biggie for me to head to home depot and there are about 3 "Rollin Sound"s within 20 min of me so yea its nice, but they are real expensive for simple stuff even, im gonna go try and find an RCA splitter today.

gatorpatric0
07-13-2004, 04:34 PM
Be sure you get the right thing. All it does is split one Plug of the RCA into Two. You need two of them (Im not sure if they come in packs of 2 or not.) Just explain your situation to any guy there and they will know exactly what you need.

410Fortune
07-13-2004, 04:58 PM
its called a Y cable.
Also you can get RCA adapters that allow you to plit the RCA's at the amp or head unit. Keep in mind splitting the RCA's will drop the signal level, and is not even close to being the best way to do this.....many amps these days now offer a through port, so you can daisy chain them without needing to split the signal or lose strength...

liv2surf34
07-13-2004, 06:03 PM
so i should look for RCA adapters instead of a y cable then correct?

410Fortune
07-13-2004, 06:05 PM
No not really, they both do the same thing...it depends on your wiring layout, the RCA cables you have, and where you want to split. Keep in mind you will have to choose the cables based on male/female on both ends so be sure what you have...

liv2surf34
07-13-2004, 06:18 PM
ok well i guess ill wait till my wiring kit comes and i get everything laid out and worry about it then...now im off to build my box

terdrocket
07-13-2004, 09:38 PM
hahaha 3/4 is overkill :)
But it will work good! You can use 1/2" too, but its best to use bracing on all the edges with 1/2".......


50% of my box is two layers of 3/4" and the other 50% is 1 layer of 3/4" w/ full Dynamat lined / poly-fill stuffed interior. Makes a big difference over a standard box.

JPA1982
07-13-2004, 09:43 PM
really, line the box with dynomat?? could u use anything else, my new one is just a sealed box, with 4 subs,

i'll do nething to make these hit harder and clearer, thanks

Overkil
07-13-2004, 11:52 PM
hahaha 3/4 is overkill :)


nothin' wrong with a little overkil now and then.........

gatorpatric0
07-14-2004, 10:02 AM
The Model Of Rockford Amps that Liv bought does not have line outs. I had to use y-cables and It works fine.

410Fortune
07-14-2004, 11:53 AM
Yes it will work fine, I have had them in several of my own vehicles as well.
I am not bagging on you hahaha! Just throwing in my 02.

Overkill thats funny.

With all that polyfill, dynomat, I assume its a sealed enclosure? Did you paint or resin the MDF as well?

Oh yeah gator dont forget to paint the inside and or outside of the box too...MDF is pourus and will leak air, it helps.

gatorpatric0
07-14-2004, 02:18 PM
Why are you telling me, Im not making a box. I might consider it down the line, but Im perfectly happy right now.

liv2surf34
07-14-2004, 02:25 PM
hey gator, on the back of that pioneer head unit there are 2 sets of outputs, the front outputs and the rear outputs, can i just use both when i hook up my amp or do i need to just use the rear and split it a ways back?

gatorpatric0
07-14-2004, 02:27 PM
Use the rear and split it. The front is for your front speakers and is directionnal. The rear is not directional so it needs to go to subs. When you hook up your speaker amp, use the front set.

liv2surf34
07-14-2004, 02:28 PM
ok thanks

JPA1982
07-14-2004, 04:58 PM
well here it is, all done, i've got 2/4 kenwoods that are going in it, 2 more on the way, can't wait
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/533000-533999/533410_80.jpg
old box
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/533000-533999/533410_13.jpg
NEW one!
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/533000-533999/533410_81.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/533000-533999/533410_82.jpg

hows urs coming? liv2surf34

gatorpatric0
07-14-2004, 06:05 PM
I need to do something like that. All I would have to do is replace my amps with ones that were stable to 1 Ohm, and buy two more subs. Fun stuff.

JPA1982
07-14-2004, 06:15 PM
go for it, i've got the measurements, if u or anyone is interested

gatorpatric0
07-14-2004, 06:29 PM
How many cubic feet per sub?