TragicMagic

Good day all,
In a few weeks (hopefully) I'll be piecing together my modest system. One of the components is a small 8" Cadence sub. I want to make a small sealed enclosure for the driver, that'll be placed in the cabin of the car, between the center armrest/console and the backseat. Right on top of the floor hump.
Due to space constraints I was going to fabricate the box out of .5" MDF, so I can obtain the proper internal volume, with smaller external dimensions. I'm no carpenter by any means. So screwing together narrower panels may be a little more tricky and less forgiving than .75" thick material. I've seen a few Youtube videos where the boxes were clearly nailed together with a pneumatic nail-gun. I don't imagine that method of construction is recommended, but it would work.
What I'm thinking about doing is making the box, with the "brad nailer", then using Rubberized Asphalt Undercoating to seal the box inside and out, as much as I can. Then use a DupliColour clear-coat to make it look all nice and shiny.
I'm not sure how solid this undercoating product becomes when it dries. Perhaps I need something more along the lines of a pick-up box liner??? There's a Dupli-Color Truck Bed Coating product that might harden up more once it's cured.
So what are your thoughts, is this a worth-while endeavor? Will the end result be a nice sealed, air tight enclosure?

Sonic

iTrader: (1)

Here is a suggestion:

wood glue to seal and hold the joints together >>>Elmer's Wood Glue | Canadian Tire

Followed by brad nail or wood screw... if using screw pre drill the wood before screwing...

Sand the box surfaces and edges and spray 3 or 4 coats of >>> Rust-Oleum Stops Rust | Textured Finish - Black | Home Depot Canada

TragicMagic

Sonic, I know exactly the Rustoleum product you're referring to. The link you posted, isn't working for some reason.
I was going to do what this video shows...
Car audio tutorial -- How to build a speaker box - YouTube
So the box would be built just like that. Nice and solid. I thought that a box liner coating would help ensure a proper seal. I'm not sure if the Textured Finished Rustoleum spray would seal the box up as well.

I have an unfinished box in my wife's Accent. It's running a 10" TypeR at 500W off a DLS Ultimate amp. I think I'm going to give that box a go with one of these products and see how it turns out.
Some of the complaints about the DIY aerosol spray box liners is that you don't get the textured finish that you do when using a full kit. I wonder if I use the box liner product first, then top coat it with the textured Rustoleum spray... Hmmm.... A little more money, but the best of both.

Dukk

There is no reason to paint the enclosure with any kind of rubberized spray. Use wood glue during assembly and if you do have gaps in the joints then use latex caulk in the joints.

TragicMagic

As much as I thought I'd do this to "seal" up the box in case of issues with fitment, it's also a way to finish the exterior. As opposed to carpeting it.
After I wrote the original message, I looked at some Youtube videos of people using various bedliner sprays. It can look really good, in my opinion. For what a $10 can is going to cost me, I think I'll give it a go.

Sonic

iTrader: (1)

If you like the bed liner finish then go for it.

audio1der

To add to Dukk's suggestion, I would wood glue the joints, throw a few brads in there to hold it while the glue dries, then fill the interior joints with glue like you would with caulk, THEN go over that with caulk after it dries; with .5" wood you can use all the strength you can get.

Dukk

Oh - for an exterior finish, for sure then. If you like the look, go for it.