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Steel sub boxes?

Old Dec 15, 2004 | 06:32 PM
  #1  
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I was wondering if that is a bad idea?

Would thin steel (1/8" or 10 gauge) work for a sub box?

If so, what would you need to apply to the inside of the box to make this work and sound nice?

thanks
Old Dec 15, 2004 | 07:10 PM
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Bad idea.
The steel has too much flex and will resonate too much. It might work with 3/4" cast iron, but that would be way too heavy and costly.
Old Dec 15, 2004 | 07:16 PM
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oh yah I never thought of flex...

damnit. I work in a steel shop... it could be all free
Old Dec 15, 2004 | 07:57 PM
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Dude if you have the means to build one go right ahead... 1/8 steel is pretty thick stock, but if its a fairly large box with high power woofers you might want to go a little bigger... Id definaly use some extra bracing on the inside too...

when you are done if you can jump on it without any flex, its a good box...
Old Dec 15, 2004 | 09:44 PM
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It's Christmas time, let the bells and subwoofers ring ring ringgg..
Ask yourself why no one else has done it, and kept the design.
Old Dec 15, 2004 | 10:00 PM
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You don't see metal boxes that often because most people don't have the tools/skill to work with it... it has been done, though... wasn't someone fabricating a box out of aluminum not that long ago ???

Anyway, as long as the box is rigid it will work just fine... go flick a piece of 1/8 steal... you will get a 'thud' before you get a 'ring'...

[ December 15, 2004, 11:05 PM: Message edited by: Haunz ]
Old Dec 15, 2004 | 11:05 PM
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If I do try this, what should I put on the inside.... ?
Old Dec 15, 2004 | 11:25 PM
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If you want, some polyfill, fleece, or whatever you have can absorb a small amount of energy... it can help attenuate harmonic disortion...

Id focus on making sure the box is good and rigid... what dimensions are you thinking of ?
Old Dec 16, 2004 | 12:58 AM
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dimensions...

noooo idea as of yet

I'm gonna start looking into that this weekend maybe.

Would bracing inside the box change the way the box sounds ??
Old Dec 16, 2004 | 11:13 AM
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Originally posted by dan:

Would bracing inside the box change the way the box sounds ??
It will only positively change the sound. The more bracing, the more rigid the box will be. You can go to town and build the thing like a tank. Cross members etc will not change the sound. But supports do take up air space. That needs to be accounted for in design.

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