posted
I am building a frame for my box out of 1" square steel tubing and I was going to wrap it with 1" MDF, however a friend of mine told me I should switch to Birch Plywood, that it is lighter weight and stronger than MDF.
Is that the case? Is it better? I made the switch from Plywood to Particle Board to MDF over the years, now is Birch Plywood really what I should be using, or what?
Give me some direction - this is for a daily driver that will pound pretty well - 4 12" with about 3-4k of power on 12v.
Give me some feedback please (and thank you).
Posts: 1320 | From: Lawrence, KS | Registered: Jun 2005
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CLARION DRX9375R 2 OZ TWEETERS 4 OZ 5 1/4 IN THE KICKS 2 OZ 8" (200L)IN THE DOORS 2 OZ 12" (300L)ported 1 linear power 8002 1 linear power 3.2 2 linear power 2.2 linear pa2 "bb" linear power xo2 linear power x03 Posts: 603 | From: BAY AREA CALIFORNIA | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
well so far - Im not hearing any negatives to this. When we say $$$$ - what are we saying? I mean - I just dropped (fairly recently) $45 bucks a sheet for 1" MDF.
Is it more than that? If so - ballpark it for me. If not - ballpark it for me anyway please.
posted
Well. Up here in Green Bay, Wisconsin Home Depot charges around 22 bucks for 3/4" 4x8 sheet of MDF. Menards (up here)is where the void free better Birch was at 59.99 for 13 layer(3/4") for a 4x8 sheet.
-------------------- Team Cactus Sounds Team XS Power Posts: 2394 | From: WI | Registered: Jun 2004
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quote:Originally posted by xpl: well so far - Im not hearing any negatives to this. When we say $$$$ - what are we saying? I mean - I just dropped (fairly recently) $45 bucks a sheet for 1" MDF.
Is it more than that? If so - ballpark it for me. If not - ballpark it for me anyway please.
posted
We use apple ply from time to time and it is solid as hell and light. It is expensive though... around $100-$120 a sheet for one inch. Great looking wood though, clean cuts, hardly any saw dust. Just my 2 cents.
-------------------- Mike Schwitz Stay Tuned Audio 262-542-8863 Team Ultra Subs Team SRS Also an "Insider" 262-707-7570 (cell) Posts: 129 | From: Milwaukee, WI | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
Just go with free-air subs, then you don't have to worry about the box.......Ha ha J/K I used MDF inside the cab, but on the doors I used birch plywood, it kept the doors light but strong. Have you figured out how much steel tubing you need? That way we can figure out how heavy the box will end up weighing for both MDF/plywood. maybe that will help you figure out which one to go with.
-------------------- extreme 2 2 MTX RFL 1 MEMPHIS 4KW So far 165.7 db.... Posts: 128 | From: Lawrence, KS | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
we built two identical boxes. one out of 3/4" MDF. the other out of 3/4" birch ply.
the spl was 1.4dB higher with the birch box.
i think the acoustics of the wood itself also help to be honest, kinda like guitars are made with mahogany (some of the best and most demanded) for the resonances of the wood itself.
just my two cents.
im going to resin the inside of the box tomorrow. that will tell me if its the acoustical characteristics or the strength itself.
quote:Originally posted by Pulse Car Audio: we built two identical boxes. one out of 3/4" MDF. the other out of 3/4" birch ply.
the spl was 1.4dB higher with the birch box.
i think the acoustics of the wood itself also help to be honest, kinda like guitars are made with mahogany (some of the best and most demanded) for the resonances of the wood itself.
just my two cents.
im going to resin the inside of the box tomorrow. that will tell me if its the acoustical characteristics or the strength itself.
We've done the same test and didn't see a difference in SPL at all
How big were the enclosures? Maybe the strength of the birch had less flex then the mdf in your enclosures?
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Posts: 8168 | From: Russellville AL | Registered: Nov 2002
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