Well I have made the decision to paint and now my journey begins. I plan on taking my time and just doing what I can =)
This is the work area I have. It aint much but it works. The bench folds up against the wall. I need to lower it to the height of the table saw. I thought I would like it a bit higher but I was wrong.
I am starting with getting the stands painted. I decided I wanted more roundover. The pvc pipes you saw on the bench will be filled with sand to add weight.
This is the MDF sanded and now ready to be sealed. I have read ALLOT online and MDF edges are supposed to be hell. I am going to try the 50/50 glue/water method and seal the entire pieces then prime sand and paint.
I hope all these pics are ok to post.
Wayne Parham Messages: 18789 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
Wow, looks nice!
Reminds me of my very first speakers, one π's actually, which were gloss white and had rounded edges like that. All of my early models did. It looks great when painted, I think.
Well I am kinda ticked at myself. I found some good primer I had sitting around and thought I would try some on a scrap piece. I put it on and it seemed amazing. It sanded well and covered evenly. Well after painting all my pieces I am now finding it doesnt sand for beans and I am having to work three times harder to get it done. I should have stuck with my original plan.
What I am noticing though is that I am sanding my pieces VERY well and the grain of the MDF doesnt seem open at all on the edges. Why would the edge be any different then the top? Its an all man made product and isnt like plywood in layers. Is it maybe sealed on the top and bottom in some way before you get it maybe?
petew Messages: 63 Registered: June 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM USA
Viscount
MDF is denser on the surface and softer in the core. It's part of the manufacturing process where a thick spongy mat of fiber and special sauce is rolled and cooked to finished thickness.
I'm enjoying following your progress. Looking forward to building myself four two's for surrounds then a trio of fours.
Well after much frustration and stubborness I finally got my stands painted. They are not as perfect as I would like them to be, but that is usually how I feel about projects I undertake. My wife thinks they look great and truthfully that is all I care about=) I am going to try and fix a cpl little spots on the bases and hope I don't screw them up lol.
This was the bad primer job I did with a brush. I then got a small roller and redid the primer. I wanted a smoother finish but will just have to live with what I got.
I painted them with a Satin Black paint. I was hoping it would have been a little less "sheeny" but I am still happy.
OK I know its cheating =-) but my neighbor has a body shop. I talked to him yesterday about the possibility of him helping me get my speakers painted as I want them to look much better than my stands. He said to bring them over whenever I am ready. SCORE!!!!
Wayne Parham Messages: 18789 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
That's the way to do it! Sometimes it's fun to DIY, other times, it's better to take it to the shop. It really depends on whether or not you have the right tools for the job. I think the car body shop can put an excellent paint job on the cabinets, because they're set up to do it and have all the right stuff.
OK I am amazed right now. I went out and hit the bases with some 400grit wet/dry (wet) and OMG. I am such a mental midget. These things are now something I can be proud of. I don't know why I wasn't going to do this. I can see now that if I want I can get away with finishing the speakers however I want. This is taking out any and all imperfections. I am not changing my mind about the body guy but look forward to at least using his spray booth for that just right finish. The sky is the limit now.
I was going to have the body guy spray these but opted to complete the project myself. I felt like a cheater and really feel I should finish it.
I got the speakers all finished primered and sanded
1st coat of paint is on. I liked the textured look the roller gave on the primer but this just isn turning out the same with the paint.
I thought the paint was a latex but it is an oil base. I have never used an oil base paint before. It seems to have its good and bad points. I am now wishing I would have sprayed instead of rolling but its a bit late now. I will sand them and give them another coat. Hopefully at that point I can fine sand and seal them and be done.
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