Enclosure Material

Hi,

I am going to build a wooden enclosure in my boot so as to spray it and put stickers on it. I would like to know what wooden material would be the best to use. I know sub boxes are build from MDF but I would like to know if this material is heavy and if it is what other option would be the best. My problem is that enclosure cannot be too heavy on the back of my car or else it would touch my back rims.

Ivan Sammut

Depending on what subs your using and the type of box you could get away with something like 1/2inch particle baord...... just remember when the box flexes that means a loss in sound.

I would never use particle board. Look on some audio forums, there are other types of wood that are lighter than MDF, but just as good. How big is the box going to be that weight would make that much of a difference?

agree'd.. Ide never use particle board either...
what size, kind of subs are you making a box for?? and what kind of vehicle is it going into?
MDF isnt that heavy.. Ive got a fair sized box in my Supra made out of 3/4" MDF for 2 12's and it isnt that heavy.. Doesnt drop the rear end at all..
But if weight was really a concern, I would even use 1/2" MDF (pretty light stuff) Or look into making a fiberglass enclosure.. (very labor intensive)

I would never use particle board. Look on some audio forums, there are other types of wood that are lighter than MDF, but just as good. How big is the box going to be that weight would make that much of a difference?

I love it when morons try to answear peoples questions.
MDF isn't even the best material to use. Marine Grade Plywood is.
Particle board is a lighter alternative if you can't get any MDF and you dont want to work with plywood. Though it is lighter than MDF it also has alot worse sound absorbtion properties.
The reason MDF works so WELL is because of its density. HDF would be optimal but it is so hard that it eats up normal drill bits. To explain why, the ammount of sound any solid can absorb is 100% dependnet on its mass. In stupid talk? 50kg of plastic is going to absorb jsut as much sound as 50kg of MDF. which is going to be smaller? The MDF because it is far more dense. Also, 100lbs of steel is going to absorb as much sound as 100lbs of polypropilien foam board (styrefoam sp?). that is why expensive home sub woofers are made out hard wood sheet wood and then the inside is lined with steel or lead. Weight also lowers the Fs of a material. an enclosure with extremely low Fs wont distort the sound like an enclsoure high Fs in the audiable range (this is also how sound dampening makes the music in a car sound more "real." it adds mass to the panels).
Fiberglass molds seem to be your best bet, light and smooth for sticking stickers on. Though i think a painted 40-50lb MDF enclosure wouldnt drop the rear end of any car more than 1/2". so it shoudlnt rub your tires. well unless it has extremely soft suspension or you have something like a honda civic lowered 4" with 20" rims. at which point i would shoot you. :lol:

Fiberglass molds seem to be your best bet, light and smooth for sticking stickers on. Though i think a painted 40-50lb MDF enclosure wouldnt drop the rear end of any car more than 1/2". so it shoudlnt rub your tires. well unless it has extremely soft suspension or you have something like a honda civic lowered 4" with 20" rims. at which point i would shoot you.

I have the softest suspensions ever cause I have a Pug205 with 16" Rims installed. I'll try to check out MDF.

steel is better the all of those!!

nutuhhhh!!!
Im'a carve mah nerxt enclsure ot' o' a BOLD3R.

lol. But steel resonates too much, well unless you use like 1/2" steel. which would take one hell of a Mig welder to weld and would be one heavy SOB. damn, a solid steel enclosure. that would be the supremest badass enclsoure.

I have never heard of HDF .... guess you learn something everyday. If HDF is made like MDF, it wouldn't chew up a drill bit or saw blade - it just just compressed wood chips

same process, grater pressures. and harder glue i beleive. I persoanlly have only seen it once. It is very hard to come by. of corse around here MDF is starting to become very hard to come by. the closest place to get a 4x8 sheet of MDF is 30min away. :(