longdrive03 Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Thinking about a Belle building using 1.25" birch ply I have for the sides of the base cabinet. I've seen 1" mdf or layered sides. I've built a couple of sets of Lascala' and Speakerlab K (in the 70's. Is 1.25" too much? I realize the outer edges will be thicker than the front top and bottom edges. Need some input as to whether that would look whacky. Would I need the bass cabinet bracing if I go this route? I've got K-33s and some EV SM120 mid horns so I may take a stab at the project. I've read some good reports on this horn. I've got some Peavey mid drivers that I might try (need to check on 400HZ xover point first). Will probably make different top front boards to play with different horns. . The plywood is great for a workbench top. I built 3 with my friend for his huge workshop. Please let me know what you think. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 I think you would only have to start bracing the floors.,, Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zobsky Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 1 hour ago, longdrive03 said: Thinking about a Belle building using 1.25" birch ply I have for the sides of the base cabinet. I've seen 1" mdf or layered sides. I've built a couple of sets of Lascala' and Speakerlab K (in the 70's. Is 1.25" too much? I realize the outer edges will be thicker than the front top and bottom edges. Need some input as to whether that would look whacky. Would I need the bass cabinet bracing if I go this route? I've got K-33s and some EV SM120 mid horns so I may take a stab at the project. I've read some good reports on this horn. I've got some Peavey mid drivers that I might try (need to check on 400HZ xover point first). Will probably make different top front boards to play with different horns. . The plywood is great for a workbench top. I built 3 with my friend for his huge workshop. Please let me know what you think. Thanks. They would look fine. See mine at Depending on how you implement the top, .. it might make sense to double up on the sides of the mid-high cabinet too, or at least give it that appearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longdrive03 Posted August 23, 2016 Author Share Posted August 23, 2016 Yes, bracing the floor may be necessary. This stuff aint light. I can barely rip a sheet on my table saw by myself. I got 12 sheets of this stuff at an estate sale for $75.00. Good birch on one side. I cut some up in 1" thick strips and turned them sideways to make ends on a subwoofer build. Goes for about $120 a sheet I'm told on special order only. Heck why not. Thoughts on whether the the angular bracing between the sides and the top of the doghouse????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranJ Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 EV SM120A are fantastic horn lenses and make a very happy marriage with Klipsch K55V - even better, remove the bug screen at the driver output. Here's my Peavey FH-1 based speakers (used to be LaScalas); your speakers are going to sound very similar to mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avguytx Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 Dang. That'll be some heavy duty cabinetry. But for the price, hard to beat. I guess I'll stick with my 3/4" Baltic Birch for mine. Unless you decide to build 2 pairs of lower sections. I'm only about an hour from you, I think. Ha ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsoncookie Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 12 sheets - 12 sheets - for $75 ??????????? You get the "You Suck" Award for the year. Lars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsoncookie Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 (edited) How many ply ?? Any idea country made in? Sub ends look beautiful. Did you pass through a wide belt sander ? I am sooo excited of all your future projects w that stuff. Lars Edited August 24, 2016 by Karsoncookie I always have more to say !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longdrive03 Posted August 24, 2016 Author Share Posted August 24, 2016 I believe the plywood was made here in the good old USA. There are non-plies. Five plies are 3/16 of an inch thick and for flies are one 16th of an inch thick. I only have three sheets left. I might do a fake double thickness up at the top to match the 1.25" size of the bass cabinet. I won't need that thick of side panels on the top since it's not really doing with the bass vibration. actually I think I got 13 sheets of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longdrive03 Posted August 24, 2016 Author Share Posted August 24, 2016 Fran your set up looks good. I'm Biot do the ported version of the belle to extend the bottom end use a different Tweeter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 I built my Belles with 3/4" and no brace without issues. Beings that it is a shorter cabinet and you will be using 1.5" plywood, I don't think you will need the bracing. Also I think the Belle can go up to 600hz, so the Peavey mid driver you want to use can be crossed higher. Good luck with the build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honeybadger Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 17 hours ago, longdrive03 said: Yes, bracing the floor may be necessary. This stuff aint light. I can barely rip a sheet on my table saw by myself. I got 12 sheets of this stuff at an estate sale for $75.00. Good birch on one side. I cut some up in 1" thick strips and turned them sideways to make ends on a subwoofer build. Goes for about $120 a sheet I'm told on special order only. Heck why not. Thoughts on whether the the angular bracing between the sides and the top of the doghouse????? Very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longdrive03 Posted August 24, 2016 Author Share Posted August 24, 2016 Thanks HB and Fran. I will play around with the Peavey driver but might look at the EV 6DNX driver or DH1A or the K55. I know Moray James is a big fan of the DH1A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 The sides are so short, I can't imagine it helping. A double which rear panel, maybe, but a couple of strips glued to that back panel would probably be equally as good at suppressing resonance. , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speakerfritz Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 hmmm....belle's have not as deep but often refered to as faster bass. me personally thinks you could get away with 1/2 inch on all but the back panel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzannucci Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 It can't hurt. The thicker the better and lower chance of resonance. While you are at it, extend the horn some to get a lower cut off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 you don't look anything like Jacques Clouseau Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longdrive03 Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 That is Chief Inspector Clouseau to you you swine!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jorjen Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 On 8/23/2016 at 11:36 AM, longdrive03 said: Thinking about a Belle building using 1.25" birch ply I have for the sides of the base cabinet. I've seen 1" mdf or layered sides. I've built a couple of sets of Lascala' and Speakerlab K (in the 70's. Is 1.25" too much? I realize the outer edges will be thicker than the front top and bottom edges. Need some input as to whether that would look whacky. Would I need the bass cabinet bracing if I go this route? I've got K-33s and some EV SM120 mid horns so I may take a stab at the project. I've read some good reports on this horn. I've got some Peavey mid drivers that I might try (need to check on 400HZ xover point first). Will probably make different top front boards to play with different horns. . The plywood is great for a workbench top. I built 3 with my friend for his huge workshop. Please let me know what you think. Thanks. As far as the difference in panel thickness you will have a bit of a problem if you try to miter (45) your corner edge banding joints if you veneer the cabinets. You may have to just use butt joints which is fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longdrive03 Posted November 8, 2016 Author Share Posted November 8, 2016 Here is what one looks like now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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