Looking to start building boxes..

[BeAlLsTaR13 10+ year member]

well, i've made the decision that i would like to start making my own enclosures, not to sell and such and take peoples business away and what not, maybe make one for a friend here and there but id like to start making my own enclosures, ive got some background with working with wood products, have taken many wood working classes throughout high school so got some bit of background.. just havnt gotten around to the design of a box, sealed seems pretty simple.. ported seems more difficult because calculation of port and freq and shyt but im sure i can learn

just wonder, what are some of the needed tools to have in box building? know i need a table saw and wood working table, have that already.. but what are some other kind of tools?

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[jdawg 5,000+ posts]

circular saw, router (along with a jasper jig), you can use screws or a nail gun, I use a nail gun with a small compressor, long *** pipe clamps, square

 

[l7runner 10+ year member]

I have a table saw but honestly I end up using a circular saw more often, just because it is hard to cut full sheets of MDF on a table-saw unless you have a huge table.

A router with roundover/spiral cut/flush trim bits are nice to use to finish up the box/cut speaker holes

 

[plugitin 5,000+ posts]

ported isnt that bad...youll get the hang of it. Each box you make will get better and better

 

[l7runner 10+ year member]

and some 3ft harbor freight clamps...like $4 a piece and work great, and 90degree clamp

 

[Stalin-ohaulic]

I have a table saw but honestly I end up using a circular saw more often, just because it is hard to cut full sheets of MDF on a table-saw unless you have a huge table.
A router with roundover/spiral cut/flush trim bits are nice to use to finish up the box/cut speaker holes

My table isn't that big, but I never have to use a circular. Measure all your cuts and trace them out on the sheet. Cut the small ones first by aligning the board and then walking it through on the overhung side and holding it tight against the fence. Perfect cuts, no wasted wood due to inaccuracies of the circular saw.

 

[I Like Waffle]

Most of the time you wont need a table saw exactly, you can make your own with some scrap wood/metal. The basics i use is

measuring tape

circular saw

jigsaw

safety goggles

dust mask

3ft clamps (harbor freight and biglots has them on teh cheap)

a good drill

drywall screws

titebond 2

20lb weights

Rasp (VERY important, as most likely all your cuts wont be dead on to the mm without a table saw, mine usually arent. Also makes it easy to round corners)

Spray adhesive

Staplegun

Roller (for carpet)

Im sure having a router would eliminate the need for half the tools i mentioned, but i dont have any experience with routers, dont mess with wood enough to need one yet, hope to get one soon though.

Also something weird i found out on my first couple boxes, its very important when you clamp the wood to make sure both the adjustable end and the claw end of the clamp are parallel to each other, Its hard to notice but if you dont line the clamp up the right way it wont be square when it dries.

 

[BeAlLsTaR13 10+ year member]

forgot i made this thread lmao, made it quick before work and forgot about it ive got the 3ft clamps already, got about half dozen of em in the garage and i know ima need a dusk mask lol, thanks for the help

if anythings left out lemme know //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif thanks guys

edit: how much to those jigsaws and routers go for? seems to be one of the only things i need minus a few little things

 

[amartin_72]

partsexpress has the jigs and you can order other useful things for cheap and get free shipping over 99 bucks

 

[dappa5 10+ year member]

Most of the time you wont need a table saw exactly, you can make your own with some scrap wood/metal. The basics i use is
measuring tape

circular saw

jigsaw

safety goggles

dust mask

3ft clamps (harbor freight and biglots has them on teh cheap)

a good drill

drywall screws

titebond 2

20lb weights

Rasp (VERY important, as most likely all your cuts wont be dead on to the mm without a table saw, mine usually arent. Also makes it easy to round corners)

Spray adhesive

Staplegun

Roller (for carpet)

Im sure having a router would eliminate the need for half the tools i mentioned, but i dont have any experience with routers, dont mess with wood enough to need one yet, hope to get one soon though.

Also something weird i found out on my first couple boxes, its very important when you clamp the wood to make sure both the adjustable end and the claw end of the clamp are parallel to each other, Its hard to notice but if you dont line the clamp up the right way it wont be square when it dries.

sissy lol good advice for newb though

 

[BeAlLsTaR13 10+ year member]

can i get all of what i need at lowes? my mom is HR manager there and brings home shit for WTF cheap, brought me home 66 piece ratchet set (kobalt) for 9 bux last year..

 

[Marlo Stanfield 10+ year member]

can i get all of what i need at lowes? my mom is HR manager there and brings home shit for WTF cheap, brought me home 66 piece ratchet set (kobalt) for 9 bux last year..

Yes you can get everything you need at a Lowes.. The list posted above is pretty good and do wear a dust mask when making big cuts of MDF(inhaling it isn't any fun, idc how tough you think you are lol).

See if u can buy or download Bass Box Pro 6, great program for designing.