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Something I Learned At GPAF [message #14955]

Fri, 06 May 2005 08:46

FredT
Messages: 704
Registered: May 2009

Illuminati (1st Degree)

I was telling Bob Brines what a pain it is for me and my petite wife to lug a full 4' by 8' sheet of mdf from the truck to the workshop, load it onto the roller table, and maneuver it throught the table saw. He responded "Why don't you use precut mdf boards like I do?" Huh? I had no idea that lumber yards carry 3/4" mdf in 12" and 16" nominal widths (the 12" is actually 11-1/4"), which are available in 8' and 16' lengths. Am I the only one who didn't know this?

Sure enough, I checked and there they were. I bought two 16' lengths at 84 cents per foot, which the yard cut into eight foot boards for easier transport. So the boards are about 25% pricier than buying a 4' by 8' sheet, but it's worth the incremental cost even if you own a table saw. Many speakers, including the FredArray, can easily be adapted to an 11-1/4" width by 12-3/4" depth, permitting the use of these boards just as they are with no ripping. You can use a circular saw or even a jigsaw and a carpenter's square to cut them to the proper length. Speakerbuilding just became a lot easier for me; even more so for Linda!

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Re: Something I Learned At GPAF [message #14957 is a reply to message #14955]

Sun, 08 May 2005 17:15

GarMan
Messages: 960
Registered: May 2009

Illuminati (2nd Degree)

Even Home Depot carries 12" and 16" width MDF. But I haven't seen it in 3/4", only 5/8", and they're usually in the shelfing section. Some are even pre-covered in wood patterned melimine!

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Re: Something I Learned At GPAF [message #14958 is a reply to message #14957]

Sun, 08 May 2005 17:45

FredT
Messages: 704
Registered: May 2009

Illuminati (1st Degree)

I suspected as much. 5/8" isn't the best choice for speaker building. I'm in Houston, and it's a large enough city to have more specialized sellers. I get mine from a place called Houston Hardwoods which has hardwood lumber, veneered mdf and plywood, plain mdf in several thicknesses up to 1.25", mdf boards, and several kinds of veneer in 2' and 4' widths.

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Re: Something I Learned At GPAF [message #14964 is a reply to message #14958]

Wed, 11 May 2005 03:50

BillEpstein
Messages: 886
Registered: May 2009

Illuminati (2nd Degree)

How about spending $100 bucks on an 18 volt cordless circular saw? Then you can have the yard load full sheets and make cuts as you unload at home.
AAMOF, in these cordless eelctric days, few people appreciate anymore how quickly and easily a really good $20 buck carpenters hand saw can cut through a 4' panel. Stanley Sharktooth in several sizes, highly recommended. Mine is 20 years old and will go through a sheet of MDF in about 11 strokes.

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Amazing the way the mind works [message #14965 is a reply to message #14964]

Wed, 11 May 2005 04:26

wunhuanglo
Messages: 912
Registered: May 2009

Illuminati (2nd Degree)

No wonder they can sell us anything. Stanley uses a picture of a shark to sell their Sharptooth saws, and seeing the shark your mind just "assumes" it says "Sharktooth".

Must have something to do with how I ended up getting married.

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