Quick Question About Creating Seal Around Subs

[Umbra]

I just finished assembling and caulking an enclosure for two 12" subs last night. I'd ordered carpeting from Parts Express earlier in the week and it should be arriving today.

I'm trying to figure out the how to create a seal around the subs. I bought them second-hand, so I don't have the gasket that would have normally came with them. I know you can buy "speaker gasketing tape" from PE, but I opted to skip it when ordering figuring I wouldn't need it, especially 50ft of it at $8 and now I wish I had because shipping's like $10.

I don't want to wait another week to finish this project, I have everything else. I thought I'd check the hardware stores around here (Home Depot, Lowes, Ace) and look for something like 1/8th adhesive weathering strip or rope caulk, something that'll provide a seal without adhering the subs to the box. Anyone have a suggestion for a good material?

Also, assuming I have some sort of sealing tape: what's the order of materials?

- Carpet to the edge of the hole, then tape on top?

- Carpet up to where the tape will be (or go to the hole, then trim it back) so the tape meets MDF?

- Tape first onto MDF, then cover with carpet?

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[jrdnhsnbrg 10+ year member]

Any closed-cell foam will work well, any adhesive weatherstripping will be perfect. You will want to carpet all the way to the hole then put the weatherstripping over the carpet.

 

[Full Tilt 10+ year member]

Yup, I've been told weatherstripping works like a charm.

 

[Umbra]

Thanks guys. I'll see what I can find at the shops.

Do I carpet to the hole somehow, or do I carpet over it and then cut out a circle?

 

[bbeljefe]

Carpet ove the hole and then cut it out. And apply the gasketing to the driver, not the box.

 

[Umbra]

Carpet ove the hole and then cut it out. And apply the gasketing to the driver, not the box.

I didn't even think of that, it makes a lot more sense. Thank you.

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

i'm lost as to why you need weather strip to make a seal. why not just carpet over the hole and cut a small + in it and fold it into the box, this will make a air tight seal if you mount the sub down to the box with proper screws.