So, I shunned proper tools. What now?

[Synyster97XLT 10+ year member]

I resorted to using the panel saw at Lowe's for precision cuts. I used a jigsaw to cut godawful circles with, I used a square alone for 90 degree attachments. I'm about to get a table saw, I think I'm just gonna sand my circles down. I want to get clamps, but I don't want to get the wrong ones. I got wood glue and didn't use it. I'm going to when I refurbish my shitty box. So basically, what do I need to get to make a nice box? 90 degree clamps? Bar clamps?

Anything that you all use to make good boxes, just tell me. It would be greatly appreciated.

And, if you all think that this post is long enough to use cliffs, just let me know.

P.S. Any advice is also accepted.

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[CRXBMPN 5,000+ posts]

a panel saw at home depot, my jigsaw for the very precise hole cuts, some screws wood glue and caulk... thats what I need, and thats what you got...

 

[csu87 10+ year member]

all i use is a circular saw, jigsaw, screws, nailgun, glue and caulk. and a sander to get everything flush

 

[Bullet03 10+ year member]

circular saw, jig saw, drill, screws, wood glue, caulking.

 

[bhsdriller 10+ year member]

tablesaw, wood glue, clamps, router w/ cirlce jig

 

[dr_peeb 10+ year member]

I resorted to using the panel saw at Lowe's for precision cuts. I used a jigsaw to cut godawful circles with, I used a square alone for 90 degree attachments. I'm about to get a table saw, I think I'm just gonna sand my circles down. I want to get clamps, but I don't want to get the wrong ones. I got wood glue and didn't use it. I'm going to when I refurbish my shitty box. So basically, what do I need to get to make a nice box? 90 degree clamps? Bar clamps?
Anything that you all use to make good boxes, just tell me. It would be greatly appreciated.

And, if you all think that this post is long enough to use cliffs, just let me know.

P.S. Any advice is also accepted.

Get long bar clamps, 3 or 4 footers. They clamp all the way down to zero, so they can't be too long to work for you ... unless they're too long for your garage!

You can also use two long bar clamps together to equal one. Two 3-footers can clamp a 6-foot thing.

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

Table saw, drill (3/32" drill bit and philips head driver for it), screws (1 5/8" for joints and 1 1/4" for screwing together double-layered sides), wood glue (titebond II would be my choice), clamps, 90-degree corner clamps are nice to have, and router with circle jig

 

[lostdaytomorrow 10+ year member]

Router, carbide upcut spiral bit, carbide roundover bit, carbide teeth (40+) saw blade, at least 10 large high quality (should cost at least $20 each) clamps, 5 smaller clamps, Titebond II or III depending on how long you have to wait till using your box, Deckmate screws (length depends on wood thickness), drill bit for pre-drilling all screw holes, at least 4 90 degree clamps, dremel or belt sander for final sanding if needed, and construction adhesive or caulk for all inside joints on box.

Edit: Circle jig for Router

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

Technically, the only tool you need besides a drill, clamps and glue to build an enclosure is a plunge router since it can cut everything from straight lines to circles. However, people aren't that patient. Personally, the two tools you must have are a table saw or circular saw, and a jigsaw. Take it from me that they are NOT interchangeable. Once you start doing fancier stuff, a mitre saw is a godsend because if you need to cut small piece of wood, as in making feet for speaker cabinets, you can't do that with a table saw as you'll get dangerous kickback, and you can't make sure you're cutting dead flush with a circular or jigsaw since the piece is too small to use a fence.

 

[altoncustomtech 10+ year member]

Circular saw with clamp on fence, jig saw when the router won't work, a plunge router (don't skimp here), Titebond is the ONLY glue FTW, 18 guage brad nailer works wonders (no pre-drilling), plenty of 4ft, 3ft, 2ft and 90degree clamps, carpenter's square and 3ft ruler....

These tools will help turn out some plenty good boxes, patience is a virtue to remember and ALWAYS use the SAME ruler, tape meausre, etc. when measuring your cuts BECAUSE no 2 measuring devices measure the same... use a pencil and WRITE DOWN NOTES on the wood as ur cutting, its easy to forget measurements, blade orientation, and other pertinent information....

That's my worthless .02

 

[TnT_Sounds 10+ year member]

This for the 21's? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

Technically, the only tool you need besides a drill, clamps and glue to build an enclosure is a plunge router since it can cut everything from straight lines to circles. However, people aren't that patient. Personally, the two tools you must have are a table saw or circular saw, and a jigsaw. Take it from me that they are NOT interchangeable. Once you start doing fancier stuff, a mitre saw is a godsend because if you need to cut small piece of wood, as in making feet for speaker cabinets, you can't do that with a table saw as you'll get dangerous kickback, and you can't make sure you're cutting dead flush with a circular or jigsaw since the piece is too small to use a fence.

With a miter-gauge on a table saw you can get pretty darn small pieces cut safely imo..and there are tons of jigs out there to buy or that you can make cheaply that work wonders (such as making a 'sled' that runs on the slot-tracks on the table saw surface that you push across the blade, with this you can safely cut small pieces)

 

[BassMechkanic 10+ year member]

panel saw at lowes/ homedepot to cut biggers pieces, table saw to clean up cuts and smaller pieces, plunge router w/circle jig, good high quality jig saw, nail gun to tack together until glue dries, tightbond II, and good silicone to seal inside seams, DA sander with 40 grit to clean edges perfectly smooth, if really want a sealed/dense box, coat inside with resin.

 

[marcotheclepto 10+ year member]

where does everyone get their clamps? would they be found at lowes/ home depot what kind of money would i look at spending for some 3 ft ones?

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

I got almost all of mine at home depot, get the orange ones...theyre Jorgensen (they make nice clamps) but theyre going to be around 17 bucks a clamp and if you want a good amount, it'll be an investment...I'd suggest having 4 of the 2' ones and 4 of 3' ones, and a pair of the 90-degree clamps they sell are nice to have