How to waterproof MDF speaker rings? Plywood any better?

[evers 10+ year member]

A few years ago I installed my 6.5" speakers with 3/4" MDF rings. After about a year I checked to see how they where doing and found the MDF rings to be puffed up and starting to deteriorate from what looked to be from water getting to them. Just got a new car and will be putting in some ID ctx 65cs and want them to be there for many years. Sooo question is what type of material/wood is best to build some rings that will hold up to the weather. Will resin make MDF waterproof? Paint?

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[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

Any type of wood it will expand, start to stink afer awhile, deteriorate, etc. when exposed to any type of moisture.

Best bet is to use some plastic or nylon speaker rings.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Spray the ring with protective stuff like bed liner or any paint that makes it waterproof.c bondo body filler or fiberglass works as well.

 

[EM2_Rob]

Would you have to do any prep work or could you just spray some bed liner right on?

 

[350zspl 10+ year member]

what he said rhino liner will help a huge amount

possibly flex seal too

 

[mklett33 10+ year member]

The problem with spraying on a coating is the second you put the screw into the wood you expose a hole, trust me, moisture will get in. Many home depots now carry 1/2" PVC sheet, this is a good choice.

 

[evers 10+ year member]

Copper-Green 14 oz. Spray Wood Preservative-CopperSpr - The Home Depot What do you guys think about this?

 

[disturbed471985 5,000+ posts]

I used bed liner. After predrilling holes for speakers I sprayed them again. Made sure to get in holes and boom solid as a rock...

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

All windows leak from rain,or collect some type of moisture, thats why they have drain holes in one corner or both..even if the seals are tight, we still roll our windows down at some point and break that seal.best thing to do is todip the MDF in a waterproofing sealer, and seal with an apoxy coating,and it will be just about water proof/bullet proof, yet, prepping the upper cut out with some deadner or Foil tap to make a half moon shaped deterrent on the inside of the door cavity will keep alot of the water from falling directly on the speaker and use ABS plastic or a couple ring spacers on the inside to pull the speaker more into the inner portion of the cabin space away from the door cavity

 

[trust fund baby]

after predrilling holes I resin em. it's worked well for me

 

[Massive spl]

Just use different wood. Mdf svcks.. I have birch that been sitting outside for two years in straight rain and snow and everything and it's still solid.

 

[jowens500 10+ year member]

I use abs plastic for thinner ones and hdpe plastic for thicker ones. You can use plastic cutting boards from Walmart, they are hdpe.

 

[Bacovish]

I use abs plastic for thinner ones and hdpe plastic for thicker ones. You can use plastic cutting boards from Walmart, they are hdpe.

This^^

 

[Uncle Snake]

I'm cutting mine out of aluminum on our waterjet. Problem sloved.

 

[evers 10+ year member]

The problem with spraying on a coating is the second you put the screw into the wood you expose a hole, trust me, moisture will get in. Many home depots now carry 1/2" PVC sheet, this is a good choice.

Do you have a part number, or picture for reference. I went to my local HD and I couldn't find any, and of course asking an employee was useless.