Are screws really necessary when building a sub box?

[ghart999 10+ year member]

I have always heard that wood glue is stronger than the wood itself. So in a way the box should not need screws I would think? Also home audio speakers only use wood glue including the 18" Velodyne sub I have.

So why does everyone use them in car audio?

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[donpisto 5,000+ posts]

My guess is to secure the box better. That glue may be really strong but what if you put so much power your box begins fallin apart?

 

[nYc.kablamO 10+ year member]

your box isnt gonna fall apart. screws work but if youre building alot of boxes its just a pita to predrill and screw so it makes sense to use a brad nailer. just clamp it and keep the screws to a minimun if youre concerned, if youre running that much power the box should be well braced neways.

 

[wesl56 10+ year member]

i wouldnt trust glue alone... i use glue + about .5 pound of screws lol but i also have a spl box so...

 

[Neostar63 10+ year member]

whatever fastners you use are basically holding the box together until the glue dries. In theory you can build a box not using fasteners, and just wood glue. Its just a pita to come up with clamps large enough. If you have them use them, otherwise fasteners are the way to go.

 

[Ruffy 10+ year member]

First off

Screws are not holding your box together in the end, the glue is. Glue forms a bond that is stronger than the wood is bonding. On top of that too many screws risk the integrity of the wood.

Because ppl dont get this It's in bold.

YOU NEED NO SCREWS IF YOU HAVE PLENTY OF CLAMPS OR USE PROPER JOINTING TECHNIQUES

Secondly

A butt joint is not the best joint out there, yet its the most common because it's the easiest. A Dovetail, Baton Reinforced butt, mortise and tenon, Biscuit joints, miter and spline insert, miter lock, miter rabbit, milled corner, etc... are better for airtight seals.

The easiest being a Baton insert glued in the corner of the Butt joint

This provides a much better airtight seal even if your cuts arent perfect. For audio usage its best to cut the baton diagonally into a triangular wedge.

Even then I use a brad nailer. I am not going to predill anything, too much of a hassle. Clamps arent that expensive, not if you know where to buy them(Harborfrieght.com) I've bought 32-36" clamps for 3 dollars on sale there.

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

Screws are 100% unnecessary. This question/argument is posted a lot, but screws do not hold the box together. If anything, they're worse because you are shoving something down into the middle of the wood you're gluing. Use lots of clamps, and be patient and you'll be rewarded with a retarded strong joint. I use screws on car boxes because they act as mini clamps to make an airtight fit while the glue dries. On home audio speakers, yeah ****in' right.

 

[tRiGgEr 5,000+ posts]

Technically no.

But why not use them? Only reasons would be your too cheap or lazy...

 

[SQBubble 10+ year member]

Screws are 100% unnecessary. This question/argument is posted a lot, but screws do not hold the box together. If anything, they're worse because you are shoving something down into the middle of the wood you're gluing. Use lots of clamps, and be patient and you'll be rewarded with a retarded strong joint. I use screws on car boxes because they act as mini clamps to make an airtight fit while the glue dries. On home audio speakers, yeah ****in' right.

x100000000000000000000000000

Screw are useless...they are only usefull like mini clamps(if u have big surface u want to clamp but dont have enough clamps, this is when u use screws...its still better to buy more clamps.)

There is nothing that replace strong wood glue w/ clamps.

/

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

Technically no.
But why not use them? Only reasons would be your too cheap or lazy...

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif It can take 30 minutes to get a properly dry wood glue seal, which means waiting 30 minutes with clamps on ONE side. Not exactly lazy in my book...

 

[Fast1one 10+ year member]

I also use screws as clamps....When you dont have a lot of experience like me, your cuts arent perfect, and you dont have any clamps, screws are great to keep the box nice and sealed while its drying.

 

[954runner 10+ year member]

ive built a box out with no clamps and no screws. i just set other things up against the wood and let gravity do its thing. the box turned out well.

after i pre drill, i also fill the hole for the screw with woodglue, just to make sure //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

and i silicone or woodglue the inside, outside, and inbetween all the pieces.

 

[ghart999 10+ year member]

Makes sense that screws are just used as mini clamps.

What type and how many clamps would be needed for a typical ported enclosure?

 

[ballstothewall 10+ year member]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif It can take 30 minutes to get a properly dry wood glue seal, which means waiting 30 minutes with clamps on ONE side. Not exactly lazy in my book...

30 minutes, getting a little speedy there aren't ya?

 

[yacob.naif 10+ year member]

if you get 90 degree clamps, ($6 a piece at lowes and sears, $9 at home depot) if you get enough of them, you can clamp all 4 sides of the enclosure together, and have them drying overnight, and then the following day, all you need to do is the top and bottom pieces, and you're set.

if you get the cheap ones, they only clamp about 1/2" of the wood, so i'd get enough to clamp the tops and bottoms of each corner

still cheaper than getting the bigger clamps, they're $30 a piece or so.......