I'm building the Fostex back-loaded horn for the FE166E. The plan calls for the side panels to constitute an exterior surface on the front (see link below). This causes the plywood edge to be in a somewhat vulnerable location. How do folks keep these from eventually splintering? Do you normally veneer Baltic Birch horns? Should I add some sort of trim on this exposed edge (note that the baffle extends from the front of the cabinet so this may not make a sonic impact).
Not to worry, Ski. The Baltic Birch has such tightly glued plies that you should get decades w/o wear. Many of the speakers of the 50's and 60's were made this way. I would "break" (round-over) slightly the outside edges with some 220 grit garnet paper on a wooden sanding block. Also round over the top corners of the side pieces as they have done in the foto. Transforming all the 90 degree sharp angles into gentle curves will help a lot as will the finsh you apply. Everybody knows how I feel about goopethane but in this case it will offer some additional protection against abrasion so I would use it. Get the Minwax Wipe-On Satin Polyurethane. Looks good....... for goop.
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