Which kind of clay do I use on my MDF rings?

[reed dollaz 10+ year member]

I see people using clay on their MDF rings for their mids. What kind is it. Is it hardening clay, or does it stay soft? And what is the pain purpose of this? The inside of my door is a hell whole and putting sound deadner on it would be close to impossible without removing window motors, cranks, etc. So I am just going to deaden the area around the mid and use this clay, if its what I think its for.

So please, explain //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

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[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Non hardener modeling clay. Its intended purpose is to decouple the speaker from the door. While its a widely used method, some people have reported problems with the clay ... melting ... over time.

 

[reed dollaz 10+ year member]

Non hardener modeling clay. Its intended purpose is to decouple the speaker from the door. While its a widely used method, some people have reported problems with the clay ... melting ... over time.

oh ok. thanks. is there another clay that is more durable that wont melt? some type of modeling clay thats meant to be cooked to be hardened. it wouldnt be hot enough to melt, or get hard. maybe that would work?

 

[rc10mike 10+ year member]

Go to ACE Hardware, get some non hardening rope caulk, its near the weather stripping. It comes in roll form, and different colors.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

Search: NHMC or non-hardening modeling clay. Search DIYMA, too.

Alumilite clay can withstand the heat. It's synthetic based.

Purpose is to mass load the surface. It has a density greater than concrete and almost granite.

 

[reed dollaz 10+ year member]

thanks guys. im still not sure what its exact purpose is. is it to hold the mid in tighter?

 

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

Non hardener modeling clay. Its intended purpose is to decouple the speaker from the door. While its a widely used method, some people have reported problems with the clay ... melting ... over time.

yes, itll melt. especially in FL.

id suggest instead of clay, put a tiny bead of Great Stuff foam around where the mdf ring meets the door, and that should seal it up air tight, and that wont melt like clay

 

[orangecounty1 10+ year member]

Go to ACE Hardware, get some non hardening rope caulk, its near the weather stripping. It comes in roll form, and different colors.

pink is louder than blue, but yellow is louder than pink

 

[reed dollaz 10+ year member]

pink is louder than blue, but yellow is louder than pink

ok so is this caulk pretty good? i think ill try that. or, where can i get any of this other stuff? walmart? arts and crafts stores?

 

[Exo5168 10+ year member]

Great Stuff works well actually, and can be found in Lowes or Home Depot. They also sell a couple of other alternatives.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Search: NHMC or non-hardening modeling clay. Search DIYMA, too.
Alumilite clay can withstand the heat. It's synthetic based.

Purpose is to mass load the surface. It has a density greater than concrete and almost granite.

Im surprised to hear that coming from you Foxpro. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif Its intention is not merely to mass load, but as I said above, to decouple the speaker from the door. If we just wanted to mass load, we could concrete the whole surface.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

yes, itll melt. especially in FL.
id suggest instead of clay, put a tiny bead of Great Stuff foam around where the mdf ring meets the door, and that should seal it up air tight, and that wont melt like clay

No. Totally depends on the quality and nature of the clay. It's not all the same. Next time: MY clay melted in Florida heat. Or, I used ________ brand, which melted in ________ location in my car. It's only fair.

One of the purposes of adding mass to the speaker mounting ring is to change the Fs of the driver. Great Stuff has virtually no mass. Keep that in mind.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

Im surprised to hear that coming from you Foxpro. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif Its intention is not merely to mass load, but as I said above, to decouple the speaker from the door. If we just wanted to mass load, we could concrete the whole surface.

Oh, really? Which driver have you decoupled with it? Better yet, why are you decoupling in the first place?

Did you miss the part about NHMC vs poured concrete and density?

Also, what's the modulus of elasticity of NHMC vs concrete?

 

[WrenchGuy 10+ year member]

Non Hardening Roofing Caulk. I kinda stumbled upon that and have yet to apply it.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Oh, really? Which driver have you decoupled with it? Better yet, why are you decoupling in the first place?

Decoupling the speaker from the door is an EXTREMELY common practice, and your acting job here doesn't mean alot to me. Must I find a list of resources that discuss the advantages of decoupling speakers? Or a list of top SQ competitors that 'decouple' their speakers?
You know very well the reason to decouple a speaker, minimize interaction between the speaker and the door. I guess my follow up question to you would be, knowing that decoupling speakers is a common tactic, why are you here suggesting it is not necessary?

Did you miss the part about NHMC vs poured concrete and density?

No.

Also, what's the modulus of elasticity of NHMC vs concrete?

I like you, but sometimes you seem like you are here more to try and look smart than to actually extend any realistic information that people can use.
As I said, 'decoupling' the speaker from the door is a well known tactic that car audio installers use. Very common. So if you think you have data or a theory that says otherwise, how about explaining yourself out instead of telling me to look up the modulus of elasticity of the materials being discussed?

Mass loading and elasticity have virtually no correlation.