what would you recommend instead of mdf?

 

I used to have double mdf baffle in my doors for like two years. It was still fine when I got it out. You could see a bit of deterioration from moisture, but there wasn't anything nasty.
I wouldn't put it in if I had a new vehicle and was planning to keep it for 4-5 years without change.
But who does that?

 

I'm nit picking here, but that's what I do. In my current system all my speakers are mounted on a material called Arberum. It's a lamiated material that is very dense (like solid marble). It not the easiest material to machine, but still managable. I've also use aluminum, Corian, Vinyl (really thick white stuff), Delron and a few others. If you buy just enough to do the job you need it for, it dosent cost much.

MDF will work, and it will do a passable job. But in the end it all depends on how much you want to get out of your audio system. I prefer to lean toward the safe side and use materials that are not effected by their surroundings.

 

I have no issues using MDF.

But I will add that some people buy cheep plastic cutting boards and use those to make rings out of. You can go buy a bulk pack at Ikea for a few bucks. Those will last a long time and of course, are cheep.

 

And being able the put threads into the material is a nice touch. If it only take a few extra minutes to go the extra mile, why not.

I just put machined out a 3-way sent out of corian today. It works well and is much stronger then MDF.

 

If Arberum is what Al showed to me, then I now know. Yea that thing feels darn solid.

 

no, that was the Corian of which he speaks, arberum is nice chit though!!!

 

ABS plastic is a popular choice. It's easily machinable, shapeable with heat, and readily available in a wide range of thicknesses.

 

where would one get Arberum and how much?

 

For those liking the MDF, I've often cut what I need and then sprayed liberally with rocker guard. Never had moisture issues.

With regards to kick-panels, at Home Depot, there's a concrete anchoring paste (I think it's called) that I've used........ looks grey-ish with a slight yellow tinge....... kinda plastic feeling...... hard to explain. I've had great results pouring that into kick-panels to create some mass to the enclosure. It also bonds well with the enclosure and holds over the long run.

How well is the clay bonding and holding to enclosures (kickpanels) over time ?? You wouldn't want it to de-couple.