This isn't a complete A to Z build thread, but I thought it might be helpful to see how my plan went south and comeback with a plan B, seemingly the story of my speaker building life. I didn't shoot photos of it all that might be interesting because I was busy stomping around and swearing and wondering if I should go back to square one!
My intention was to master the crackle. This was a portion of my samples. The one on left had me believing I could do what my minds eye saw.
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215000)
I had some low tack vinyl spray masks cut from my patterns which I applied over black primed cabinets. Then masked all but panels off.
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215003)
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215004)
Then shot RF Red. All good until I went to do the crackle over it . Things went south quickly, and despite my best 2nd and 3rd efforts looked like shit. I was not a happy camper.
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215006)
I walked away and contemplated my next move. I could pull the masks off, sand down and start over, or....or....or.
I could try something else. Rocker Schutz. And I just happen to have a Schutz gun from yesteryear.
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215008)
I'm on thin ice now, adding layers upon layers and wondering if I will be able to get the masking off cleanly. I pressed on with texture figuring I had nothing to lose. Sometimes the universe smiles on me. No photos of the process other than completed. I shot more black primer over texture and topcoated with clear conversion varnish.
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215009)
The rest of this is more informational and less dramatic.
I was not happy with fit of screws in mounting slots on tweeters. The slots being about the size of screw root. Since I had already tapped the holes my fix was to open the tweeter slots a little. If you do this, be sure to mask off front an back or you'll have metal shavings inside tweeter.
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215010)
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215011)
Because of paint film buildup tweeters didn't fit down against back of waveguide, so I needed to do some carving on the sides. And yes, I slipped with my chisel. Not pretty but got the job done and it's covered up by tweeter.
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215012)
My way of getting to bottom screws
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215013)
I kerfed NoRez so it would bend at miter and also built a jig to bevel at the rear
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215014)
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215015)
Test drive the fit
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215016)
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215017)
To install NoRez, I peeled release paper on front bits only, slid down back of baffle to get position right.
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215018)
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215019)
Then peeled the remainder
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215020)
And made a "grill lifter" with Padauk
![](https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=215021)
Ta Da!