Tips for finishing touches on box

[DNick454 10+ year member]

Alright, I just finished building my box for my subs, but it's currently just raw MDF. I couldn't help putting it in and hearing it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Anyways, I've got a few questions about putting the finishing touches on the box to make it worthy to look at as well as hear it.

First question is, when painting the port or raw MDF in general, how many coats of primer and actual paint do I need? I've heard MDF just soaks up the paint like a sponge and the wood texture shows through. I want the port to look nice and smooth.

Second question... where the hell can I get enclosure carpeting. You know, the typical blackish/gray felt textured sorta stuff. I can't find it anywhere, yet 90% of boxes are covered with it.

Another question I have is for the wiring to the subs. I've got a set of of terminal cups laying around, but honestly, I can barely fit my speaker wire from the amp into the terminal sockets. On top of that, the little itty bitty terminals on the inside of the box only allow for some really thin wire. I was told by a few people to simply drill a hole in the back of the box and run the thick gauge wire directly into the box and into the subs. Makes sense to me I guess. It's easier, its a bigger wire, and less connections. Then they said to just fill the gaps around the wire with silicone. Any suggestions for this? It sounds like a good idea imo. No air leaks like most terminal cups with the benefit of a fatter wire.

Last question and I'll stop rambling.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

In it's current state, all the corners in the port are are 90 degree sharp angles. I was thinking about getting my buddies 3/4" roundover bit and routing the corners and making them nice and smooth and hopefully reduce a bit of air turbulence and give a nice smooth exit for the port face on the box. The problem is... even though I countersunk the screws, they still would be clipped by the router bit if I were to try and round over the corners. I'm assuming a router bit spinning fast and coming into contact with a screw head would not be good, any suggestions here?

Thanks for putting up with my long wall of text //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

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[DonH 5,000+ posts]

primer the port then paint whatever color with about 4-5 coats. but you already finished the box have fun with that. also for carpet go here

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=260-765

 

[DB-Audio 10+ year member]

http://www.yourautotrim.com has box carpet as well as many other fabrics that you can wrap your box with

 

[DNick454 10+ year member]

primer the port then paint whatever color with about 4-5 coats. but you already finished the box have fun with that. also for carpet go herehttp://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=260-765

Everything on the box is glued, screwed, and sealed except for the top. I purposely didn't epoxy that in place yet so I could remove it. It's just screwed in place so that I could take it back off, paint the port, and then glue it, screw it back down, and let it cure for good.

As for the carpet, do you know of any major stores that carry it? I was hoping to not have to go online and actually order it. I've checked fabric stores and even car electronic stores and neither had it.

 

[DB-Audio 10+ year member]

In my area I know that joblot caries it a,d I think that micheals craft store carries it but not sure

 

[DNick454 10+ year member]

In my area I know that joblot caries it a,d I think that micheals craft store carries it but not sure

Hmmm, theres a Michael's by me, I'll definitely have to check there. Whats the most common adhesive? Contact cement right? Also, I don't have a compressor/spray gun to use. Can I just get the can of it and paint/roll it on, or would that soak into the carpet too much?

 

[bonesninja 5,000+ posts]

use 3m spray adhesive.... at least the super 77

 

[DNick454 10+ year member]

use 3m spray adhesive.... at least the super 77

The 3M spray adhesive stuff. Does that come in an aerosol can? Like I said earlier, I don't have access to an air compressor and spray gun. And what's super 77?

 

[Supergumby5000 5,000+ posts]

The 3M spray adhesive stuff. Does that come in an aerosol can? Like I said earlier, I don't have access to an air compressor and spray gun. And what's super 77?

yes it does

you can also get carpeting at shucks/other auto stores like that, but the selection sucks. The shucks here either has tan or black, but only one of each (so you either get tan or black when you go, depending on their stock)