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Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)

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Scott Trebble

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Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« on: 28 Sep 2013, 06:54 pm »
Hello all,

  I figured I would finally start my own thread on my speaker builds.   This will be a bit sporadic as I am still also working on flood recovery from the June floods in Alberta.  I will resurrect the thread as I make progress.
   I have finally decided to try my hand at veneering the final boxes as well.  I just placed an order for some walnut burl for the faces, and reconstituted wenge for the sides and tops. I also ordered some camphor burl that had some amazing figure:



I don't have a pic of the walnut burl as they take the pics down as soon as you order it and I neglected to save one first.
I ordered from VeneerSupplies.com

The A/V-3 towers will be front vented.  I'll likely take the walnut about 2/3rds down and finish with the wenge.  I think I'm going to skip on any grills.
That's about it for now  :D

Cheers,  Scott

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greenklein

Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #1 on: 9 Oct 2013, 02:15 am »
Scott,

Have you started building yet?  That veneer looks real nice...tempting!

Todd
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Hank

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #2 on: 9 Oct 2013, 04:39 pm »
Congrats on taking the plunge!  That burl figure is truly amazing!
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Scott Trebble

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #3 on: 9 Oct 2013, 08:03 pm »
Todd,  life is getting in the way again.  I hope to start in earnest in a couple weeks.  We'll see :-)
The veneer arrived this Monday. Only a week since I ordered it...across the continent and across borders... pretty good :-)
The walnut burl that I had planned to face the speakers with is exactly 8" wide, so unless I book-match the veneer it's too tight.  The camphor veneer (pictured) is about 10" wide, so it may be the one I go for. I'll try doing some bookmatching on some scrap and see how it goes.    Yea Hank, that burl is going to look fantastic with a finish :-)
   I have a question for veneering the fronts.  It seems folks cut out the speaker openings and glue everything together before veneering,  then you open up the covered speaker holes with a trim bit, and carefully cut away the recessed part.  Is this the way to go?
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PDR

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #4 on: 9 Oct 2013, 08:12 pm »
Looking forward to your build.
Beautiful veneer.... :o
I often wonder how many GR
speakers there actually are in Alberta.
Think there are 4 or 5 of the "V" series alone
We do well for only having about 3 million people.... :thumb:
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mlundy57

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #5 on: 10 Oct 2013, 12:06 am »
Quote from: Scott Trebble on  9 Oct 2013, 08:03 pm
I have a question for veneering the fronts.  It seems folks cut out the speaker openings and glue everything together before veneering,  then you open up the covered speaker holes with a trim bit, and carefully cut away the recessed part.  Is this the way to go?

That's what worked for me. I have also heard of using a rabbiting bit to trim the recess area but I couldn't figure out how to get the cut depth exactly right. A pair of shop scissors to get close, a sharp X-acto knife to trim up to the edge, and sandpaper to smooth everything up is how I did it on the N1X's I just finished.

Mike 
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Scott Trebble

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #6 on: 10 Oct 2013, 12:36 am »
I like the rabbet bit idea... it leaves some substrate to support the veneer being removed.  I would think there would be less chance of chipout,  plus less fiddling :-)
  I think that the recess diameter (and depth) are really the only critical cuts.  The tweeter hole could probably be sized so that a standard bearing on the rabbet bit would yield the proper diameter recess.  I guess I'll try on some scrap.
Cheers,  Scott
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Bob in St. Louis

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #7 on: 10 Oct 2013, 01:50 am »
Good choice on the Burl. Looks pretty sexy!

I've done a whopping ONE veneer job, using Pelin Burl.
I cut out everything, and then veneered the final product. In hindsight, this seems like the biggest "PITA" way to do it. The problem is that every single millimeter has to be perfect. You can't make a mistake, otherwise you're on "damage control", fixing the final product.
Next time, I'll veneer the bulk pieces, cut to final size, cut out the holes, and finally assemble them.

New cutting blades and using half the normal travel speed with the power tools are my best pieces of advice, and the way I'll do my next veneering project.

Good luck. Please post pics!

Bob
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Hank

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #8 on: 10 Oct 2013, 12:52 pm »
Yep, I cut all pieces, route the driver, terminal cup and port holes, then assemble the cabinets, then apply veneer, then do my hand rubbed Danish oil finish, then cut the veneer that covers the holes.  I've used single edge razor blades and router trim bits successfully.
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Scott Trebble

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #9 on: 27 Nov 2013, 12:19 pm »
Just thought I would update this thread with a couple pics.
Sorry I haven't posted progress pics.  I do have them, and could post more build pics if there is a demand,  but the build was pretty straight forward.
Here's the result :





I bookmatched the walnut burl veneer, as it wasn't wide enough otherwise. The sides are wenge veneer. No stain, finish is 9 coats wipe-on poly, 2 coats spray-on semi-gloss poly, then 2 coats wax.
For trimming the speaker holes, I modified a zip bit on a Dremel, which worked very nicely.

The speakers are set up in the shop, and sounding awesome  :-)





Now,  on to building 5 more AV speakers for the HT !  :-)
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Bob in St. Louis

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #10 on: 27 Nov 2013, 03:23 pm »
The speakers are beautiful, but I love the workshop even more.   :thumb:

Bob
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Captainhemo

Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #11 on: 27 Nov 2013, 06:51 pm »
MAN,  very cool  , nice   job   :thumb:
And even more importantly,  how do  you  like the sound  ?


-jay
« Last Edit: 12 May 2014, 11:40 pm by Captainhemo »
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Scott Trebble

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #12 on: 12 May 2014, 10:24 pm »

Finally!  :thumb:
My speakers are finally done.
Here's some pics to show them off  :D
The main speakers are camphor burl and wenge veneers, and the surrounds are curly sycamore.
Unfortunately,  my sub has blown a fuse which I have had to mail order. The system sounds awesome anyways !
Hmmm...maybe I need to build a new sub now ?   :roll:

















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mlundy57

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #13 on: 12 May 2014, 11:12 pm »
Those are really sharp. Love that burl against the dark wenge. Did you cut a separate baffle then glue it to the front of the cabinet?
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SetterP

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #14 on: 12 May 2014, 11:29 pm »
Wow!  Those speakers are OUTSTANDING!

Congrats on a beautiful collection of loudspeakers.  Enjoy the fruits of your labor!
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DeeJayBump

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #15 on: 12 May 2014, 11:30 pm »
Those look fantastic, really like the contrasting veneers for the top & bottom, well done.
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persisting1

Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #16 on: 13 May 2014, 07:12 am »
You have some handsome speakers on your hands. Good job.
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Hank

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #17 on: 13 May 2014, 12:59 pm »
Scott:  great job! :thumb:
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Scott Trebble

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #18 on: 15 May 2014, 03:03 am »
Thanks all  :D
Mike... I cut both veneers at the same time and taped them together.  The baffle is all one piece...like normal.
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THROWBACK

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Re: Another Rookie Build (A/V-3, A/V-3S, A/V-1RS and X-LS Encore)
« Reply #19 on: 15 May 2014, 12:37 pm »
So...where did you get the cool GR logos?
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