The Construction of a Masterpiece

[LoneRanger 10+ year member]

I offered to sell a guy on this forum a box I had built for my g/f's car a few months ago that never got installed. The price was cheap, the deal simple, but something went fatally wrong.

I went to cut the hole in the face to accomodate his 15" RE HC woofer that would soon be making it's home in the beautifully painted jet-black SQL box, when my cheap-*** B&D Jigsaw (never buy power tools at wal-mart) threw the blade and took a chunk out of the face of the box as well as my right index finger. I cussed a bit and sat out on a mission to build this gentleman a box to replace the one i had just royally phucked up.

So I go to Lowes in Wilmington, Ohio and purchase a sheet of 3/4" MDF and the nice man at the Projects Center offers to cut the boards to size for me with his giant wall-saw ( don't think he did this out of the goodness of his heart....Mr. Lincoln did most of the negotiating //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif ) For the board and the cuts, I was only out $20.88 after tax. I then proceeded to the caulk/weatherstripping aisle and got a tube of liquid nails and a box of weather stripping, then a few aisles over to plumbing for 2 10.75" pieces of 4" PVC (the guy in plumbing cut those for free. Total cost: $7.22 making the grand total $28.10

Now to wal-mart. I got a gallon of Bondo.....I used about two 8 ounce cupfulls to smooth out the corners of the box, and plan to use the rest when I redo the trunk of my Saturn. Since I plan to use this for personal gain too, I won't count the cost.

Finally, I went down to the local car audio shop and got a cup terminal and a pair of 4" port caps. $6.33, which brings the total up to $34.43.

I got home and put everything together to create one very nice box that will hopefully find a nice home in Mr. Smith's trunk //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Now if only the dirty bastards at UPS would come get it.......

I'll post pictures of the box on this thread as soon as they're developed

Click to read more...

 

[ss3079 5,000+ posts]

Thats gotta hurt...cutting your finger....geese. Almost as bad as Derek almost drilling though his hand (//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif ).

Now does everyone realize how good of a guy Mr. LoneRanger is?

- Steve

 

[burtonsnow83 10+ year member]

lol

 

[Randy Savage 5,000+ posts]

Hehe...here's a story for you guys...

I was about 12, I wanted to get some fish- so that Xmas, I got a 30 gallon fish tank. My dad, who practically built our house, wanted to build a nice stand for it, which would also have shelves in it. So, he started on that. He had the table saw set up outside, and was cutting the pieces. He had a piece on the table saw that wasn't being cut. As he was making a cut, that piece started to vibrate and fall off the table...so he went to grab it, and sliced off his thumb //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eek.gif.771b7a90cf45cabdc554ff1121c21c4a.gif . Well, he grabbed his thumb, threw it in a paper towel, and took off to the hospital. They managed to sew it back on, but he doesn't have much feeling in his thumb. Well, after it healed, he finished my stand. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Whew...anyways, hope your finger is ok...

 

[paikiah 5,000+ posts]

Always wear protection!~

whether cutting a piece of MDF or shagging, protection is what separates relief and regret.

Call me overkill, but I always wear a dustmask (army issue gasmask for resin), earplugs, goggles, gloves and long sleeve shirt.

Anyway, I use a cheap B&D jig too, but use Bosch blades. It seems to hold out a little better than B&D's.

Hope your finger gets better man... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[LoneRanger 10+ year member]

To all those concerned, it'll be just fine.....my finger is still usable, just a little sore.

I learned my lesson about power tool safety: Don't use cheap tools with dull blades.....Also, it's probably not a bad idea to wear leather gloves when cutting stuff.

 

[Woodmister 10+ year member]

Im gonna use protection next time I make my box after hearing your story, fo sho...

 

[RangerMan Premium Member]

Know what sux??? Getting popped by power wire

 

[Wonderbread 5,000+ posts]

copper splinters **** hardcore...

 

[ss3079 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by RangerMan Know what sux??? Getting popped by power wire

Yeah...letting it touch bare metal is fun - talk about 4th of July all over again

I dont wear my wedding band when installing anymore, though...found out not to wear it the hard way.

- Steve

 

[more_spl 10+ year member]

Originally posted by Wonderbread copper splinters **** hardcore...

owweee... i've been stung so many times by my ground strands.. "WE'VE GOT A BLEEDER~~~!" i've made bleed before.
Funny quote from above: "always use protection"... ESPECIALLY in car audio //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[paikiah 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by more_spl owweee... i've been stung so many times by my ground strands.. "WE'VE GOT A BLEEDER~~~!" i've made bleed before.

 

Funny quote from above: "always use protection"... ESPECIALLY in car audio //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

I guess ANY DIY installer has had their fair share of accidents... wonder how many tiems we had to be hurt to know that protection is the best thing you can do prior to an install...

 

[LoneRanger 10+ year member]

I sent it out UPS Standard last night.......however, the tracking number is at my apartment, and this computer is at my buddy Dave's house. At any rate, it should arrive by tomorrow or friday at the latest, Mr. Smith.

 

[RangerMan Premium Member]

Originally posted by LoneRanger I sent it out UPS Standard last night.......however, the tracking number is at my apartment, and this computer is at my buddy Dave's house. At any rate, it should arrive by tomorrow or friday at the latest, Mr. Smith.

Ain't Donn the Sweetest! Donn..I've got a box plan for ya to figure out

 

[LoneRanger 10+ year member]

Originally posted by RangerMan Ain't Donn the Sweetest! Donn..I've got a box plan for ya to figure out

Send it over to my email donnballenger@yahoo.com and i'll have a look at it after work tomorrow....i'm off to enjoy some R&R right now //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif