Tube Amp Archive

Hello everyone!
Going to build a 1x12 cab.

Was thinking of making it entirely but it would be to heavy? 15/16kg without the speaker

Would it be a good solution to make the main structure with normal plywood and the baffle and rear paners with mdf?

Is it difficult to use screws on mdf? If so,Is it better to use tnuts for baffle-battens connection?

Thanks

I would not use mdf for speaker baffle--or the rest of the cab.

No MDF. It's very heavy. It takes screws badly. It's a poor choice.

If you want less weight, see if you can do it with 12mm plywood.

Common plywood or poplar ply is better then?

PS the cabinet will be covered with tolex

Yet probably lighter than "common" plywood, poplar ply is rather fragile. Birch plywood seems to be a better choice.

Birch is very expansive though, at least in my country

Your country is hard to guess...

If you live in Europe, https://www.vexi.fr/produits/panneaux/ might be an option.

"Normal" plywood should suit, even though the word "normal" encompasses different qualities.

Thanks for the link!

I see it's quite expansive in France too... I'm in Italy BTW

Can you get pine boards where you live? That is a good option for the "shell", and 1/2" ply wood for the baffle. As others stated, mdf is a bad idea.

Do you mean pine plywood?

About plywoods is it good if they are phenolic?

kiltro wrote: ↑Mon Feb 01, 2021 4:14 pm Thanks for the link!

I see it's quite expansive in France too... I'm in Italy BTW

A 467x375 panel (5E3 baffle board) 9 mm thick costs 6,23 € - VAT included, though not shipped.

If that is too expensive for you, go for the cheapest plywood you can find. It will suit. You should even be able to find some reclaimed boards to cut in.

NB: due to the cost of the hardware (corners, handle, feet) plus the tolex, etc, if you're on the cheap:

- how about finding an already made cab / used transistor amp to gut & host your build?

I'd use at least 18mm for the body and 15mm for the baffle.

ChopSauce wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 8:34 am
NB: due to the cost of the hardware (corners, handle, feet) plus the tolex, etc, if you're on the cheap:

- how about finding an already made cab / used transistor amp to gut & host your build?

I already have the hardare
Speaker too

Also I'm seeing that often there's talk about void-free cabinet grade woods what are these? Is it worth searching for them?

Just out of curiosity:

- did you checked the prices for even cheap plywood around you?

I am unable to find even the poorest plywood quality cheaper than Vexi, here.

Not sure what you are after...

For example pine ply 18mm is 18/20 €/m2
Birch in your link is 49€/m2

No doubt I'd go for pine ply if I were you, then. I suppose I also would like to wait for other members to confirm - or not.