AudioCircle
Industry Circles => GR Research => Topic started by: jparkhur on 10 Apr 2013, 05:30 pm
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I didn't want to highjack anyones thread, so I am just starting a new one. I hear many talk about building speakers and other items, but are scared to dive in. I decided to try to build stands for the Encores in my garage with the basic tools that you could either have or borrow from you next door neighbor. This is the beginning of it all. There have been some great stands made in this circles and others. I'll throw mine out there (which I am sure someone has done, but not documented).
GOAL:
Materials must be under 50 dollars
Materials must be purchased locally and require few cuts
Any idiot like me can do it.. I cant solder worth ......
You can finish in a day if you can budget your time.
Limit tools used if possible.
Jon
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Hardware store:
1 sheet of MDF 2 feet by 4 feet, can fit in any car or Prius.. 10 dollars
4 steel threaded rods 5/16 inch with 4 T nuts for the top, and screw and washer for bottom 10 dollars
4 PVC pipes, pre cut to 24 inches, found in the plumbing isle-4inches wide 10 dollars total (2.50 each)
2 cans of hammered black spray bomb paint 12 dollars
1 pack of sand paper 4 dollars
Total 46 dollars
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I used a table saw to cut the top and bottom parts. The 3/4 inch top ( you could use 1/2 too) is going to be just smaller than the bottom of an Encore speaker. The bottom will be 12x13 inches or similar in proportions to the top. You could use a circular saw with a straight edge or even a jig saw with a straight edge.
The bottom will be two pieces glued together to make it 1.5 inches thick and allow for the speaker spikes if needed. I put the table saw at 30 degrees and cut every edge to make them all look beveled on the sides.
I drilled two holes in the top plate to accept the T nut which will hold the rod in place at the top and you can assemble from the bottom-as well as add sand later or lead shot.
I drilled two holes in the bottom plates too. I counter sunk with a spade bit so you would not see the bolt on the bottom. I layed the top part over the bottom to sync of the screw/bolt holes too.
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I sanded all the edges with a sander, but you can easily do this by hand. I primed them all white, and then had some extra Green Bay Packer paint to see if it would stick to the PVC without roughing the PVC up. It did not and I had to scruff the PVC some more even though the primer was built for PVC
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=78601)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=78602)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=78603)
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Tried to paint everything black and glued the two pvc tubes together for the look I wanted. I used some left over gorilla glue, did not work.. I expanded out and should have used regular glue. I had to chip away at it in the middle and then to make I look better I ran a bead of paintable caulk over the joint and pushed it in with my finger to make it appear smooth. I will never notice it once it is all done. Some of the paint ran on the sides, i'll have to touch up in the end. Also, when I glued them together, I laid them flat on the ground and then clamped them on the ends to keep them from moving.
It is raining, snowing and we are getting and ice storm tomorrow, so will put off final construction and paint until it warms up. JON
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=78604)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=78605)
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Cool project!
I've purchased black "plastic paint in a can" from Home depot and painted
the PVC feet on my gear stand, I was not convinced till I used it.
It covered beautifully, and has not peeled, flaked etc.
BTW, I rally enjoy your build threads, please keep em coming !
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Thanks,
I may include or steal the Vapor Idea for the T Bolts on the bottom of the speakers and stands to hold them on. I figure with littles running around it maybe needed. Similar to the ones here: Would be an easy drill insert and threaded T bold
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=78606)
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Cool project!
I've purchased black "plastic paint in a can" from Home depot and painted
the PVC feet on my gear stand, I was not convinced till I used it.
It covered beautifully, and has not peeled, flaked etc.
BTW, I rally enjoy your build threads, please keep em coming !
Krylon makes some nice plastic paints that stick well. It's widely available but I think Wal Mart is abouit the cheapest
-jay
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Thank you
That looks like a pretty easy project, are you going to fill the pvc with anything?
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Here are the T nuts for the top. I thought they had stops on them they don't so the rod keeps going though. I will fill them with lead or sand.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=78681)
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Nice one Jon. Did a set of stands last year after finding someone's plans either here or somewhere else that was pretty similar to your approach with some tweaks that may make it even less work for beginners (like me):
- Instead of PDF, just bought a bull-nose, stair tread made of red oak from a big box store. If you want, they can even cut it to width for you at the store and you can get enough for two tops & bottoms out of one piece
- Cut the 4" PVC to length and just used some textured, spray paint on those
- Used one threaded rod all the thru the PVC and drilled a counter-sunk, center hole thru both pieces of wood and just used washers and nuts to tighten it down. A washer/nut on both sides of the base to hold the rod straight and one for the topside of the top (this helped me keep the sand in the PVC and keep it from leaking...but more about that later)
- I stained the wood pieces, but they could easily be painted and the bull-nose adds a little bit of detail
- I assembled everything and used silicone sealant (paintable) to seal the bottom of the PVC to the base, tightened it down and let it set overnight
- Took the top off and filled with dry sand, tamped it down firm (but not too firm that you break the seal on the bottom) and then but the top back on and tightened it down well
- Bought clear rubber squares from big box store for the corners of the top (help hold the speakers on)
- Attached big rubber feet on four corners of base since they were going onto a hardwood floor
Have to admit, they turned out nice and were very heavy and quick to build. Keep posting your pictures, I like the idea.
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Yes to all of that. It is snowing again. Stuck at this point until it warms
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=78793)
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Bolts on both ends and footer plugs in
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=79127)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=79128)
I off set them for a different look and would use just one pipe in the future.
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I woke up to this in the morning. Gorilla glue is not the best to use on the spike insert. It expanded in to the threads so I had to buy new ones at hardware store - not good. I had to re prime the Mdf edges as the did not like the spray primer at all. Last coat of hammered black should go on today if the garage heater kicks in.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=79266)
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Done, filled with sand three quarters of way up from an insert hole on top. Color is hammered black, off set pipes for my screw up on top plate size and finished with a set of chrome spikes from GR Reasearch. The speakers on top are the super duper sale kit with grossly upgraded xo's ( that was my thing- I could have just done the bypass like Danny said- more cost effective but?). The speakers are a gun metal satin.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=79390)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=79391)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=79394)
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Pulling the xls encores out from the wall actually helped with imaging and soundstage. Great little speaker.
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(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=79396)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=79397)
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=79398)
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I feel better now. :wink:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=79400)
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Jon,
What a great way to make a good speaker stand for a small amount of outlay.
Greg
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Those look great, if you had to guess how much do they weigh with the sand in them?
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25 pounds of sand in each, plus other wood..... 35 pounds filled tops. They are heavy to the average lift, two hands...
Next time.. one pipe only and I would like to see if I can use thinner material on the top shelf so I don't see it as much.