Alright SPL guys, what is the deal with the dowel rods in large enclosures?

[SPLAudioHz 10+ year member]

Obviously I am not an SPL guy, but I am going to attempt my first setup. I am seeing a lot of different enclosures, but most have 2x4s, dowel rods, and 1x1" pieces to create support from many different angles. What is the functionality and where is it ideally good to use it? Thanks!

Jesse

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[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

the answer to that question changes for car to car and box to box.

they are there to make sure that the box doesnt flex which will cause you to loose dbz. you just have to play work with it in your specific setup to figure out what works for it.

 

[BlactimusCrime 10+ year member]

the supports are most important with a box with large area sides, or with high power/large cone area setups

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

When I do an SPL enclosure it depends more on the size of the enclosure and tuning. If it is a lower tuned then i will use a 1" dowel for ever 12" squared of space(not perfect just eye ball it), if it is tuned higher then some times you can skimp a little. If I'm using a ton of power then I brace the hell out of it then do a few test burps to see were it flexed then brace more. lol

It is all dependent on some many things. Some subs even like it when the box flexes a little..just one of those things you have to test and play with.

 

[bhsdriller 10+ year member]

They keep the panels from flexing. Longer/larger panels need it more than shorter one's

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

My box is braced to keep it rigid...

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

They're just used to brace the larger and more necessary pieces of the box. Window braces this this work great because you can use one piece of MDF to brace four walls.

But dowels or all-thread would probably be better for spl setups to allow for smoother air flow around the bracing structure. For daily though, where you're not chasing numbers, window style braces work great from my experience.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

already answered a form of box brace to stop enclousure flex

 

---------- Post added at 10:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:57 PM ----------

 

They're just used to brace the larger and more necessary pieces of the box. Window braces this this work great because you can use one piece of MDF to brace four walls.

But dowels or all-thread would probably be better for spl setups to allow for smoother air flow around the bracing structure. For daily though, where you're not chasing numbers, window style braces work great from my experience.

you have some nice looking box designs

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

you have some nice looking box designs

Why thank you. I've been crazy busy lately...got 4 more design requests today. I need to crank at least a couple out tomorrow to try and catch up. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[SPLAudioHz 10+ year member]

Outstanding feedback. Bout to boot up CAD 11 and design something. RAM you have a PM.

 

[Heeltoeclutch 10+ year member]

Saw 1" dowel the other day $3 cheaper at michaels than home depot per 36 in.!!

Gonna hafta remember that if I ever get around to trying glass.

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

Saw 1" dowel the other day $3 cheaper at michaels than home depot per 36 in.!!
Gonna hafta remember that if I ever get around to trying glass.

Try to stick with 1.25-1.5". A good way to get a larger bracing point is to cut your dowel 1.5" shorter than the span you're bracing. Use a hole saw to cut 2.5-3" diameter circles out of MDF to put on each side of the dowel, and you have yourself more surface area contact than a 2x4 while taking up 1/3 the space.

 

[slim2fattycake 10+ year member]

best way to say it is, you want to break largest panels down in size first.

 

[SPLAudioHz 10+ year member]

Does the dowel and MDF used as support need to be subtracted from the air space?

 

[slim2fattycake 10+ year member]

yes