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Custom DIY 2x15 cab build

#42
i got it at home depot out here in so cal. they only sell it in 2x4 foot panels so it was expensive @ $13+ per sheet. each sheet weighed a little under 8lbs. when i asked them what it actually is made of at two different HD's, the lumber guys both said, "it's whatever we get out here on the west coast".
looking at it, it looks like baltic birch and it's very stiff and warp free, yet lightweight.
 
#44
johnk_10 said:
i got it at home depot out here in so cal. they only sell it in 2x4 foot panels so it was expensive @ $13+ per sheet. each sheet weighed a little under 8lbs. when i asked them what it actually is made of at two different HD's, the lumber guys both said, "it's whatever we get out here on the west coast".
Click to expand...
It's not BB. BB comes in at 50 pounds for a 4x8 sheet of 1/2", and I've never seen any big box stock real BB, but rather something Asian that bears a resemblance to it.
http://www.boulterplywood.com/MultiLayerPlywood_4.htm
 
#47
I haven't been able to figure out HD when it comes to sourcing plywood. I assume they get from where ever gets the best deal. Whenever I'm in there for whatever reason, I check out the plywood stock. I've seen sources from China, Ecuador, and yes, even the USA and I know I haven't seen every batch come and go. I've found some that's just as John says, stiff and light, good cab building wood. And I have picked up a sheet or two and done small boxes with it and it worked with great success, nothing substandard about it. I've also seen stuff that may appear to be good cab wood only to find it full of voids when cutting it for some flooring or whatever. And I've seen some that is just junk, voids, uneven plys that that don't run even, ultra thin veneer, etc. I also have cabs of real baltic birch and yeah, it's a good deal heavier.

If you got the right pieces John, you'll have a sturdy, stiff and light cab, which appears to be what you have.
 
#49
i agree. i think that they get whatever they can get at the best price too. and the east coast often gets different plywood than the west coast (and at lowes, it's the same situation). by looking at the outer skins, it looks exactly like birch (it's definitely not pine or fir plywood ). i went thru a stack of them to pick out the lightest weight ones that were perfectly straight in both directions. expensive? yes, but i think that it was worth it, especially if i'm going to put that much labor into it.
 
#51
Here anyway, everything starts out as 4x8 sheets. Then some gets cut up as smaller "project panels" and marked up. I would assume whatever you have started out as normally priced big sheets. Of course, most of us don't have time to go watch every load come in. If I was smart, I'd have grabbed a dozen sheets of the stuff I got ahold of and forgot about baltic all together.:D

May do that next time I run into it although, the last several times I've been there, the stock wasn't good enough, so I still have baltic now.
 
#52
IIRC, $13 for a 2 by 4 sheet of that stuff isn't THAT much more than a standard 4 by 8 of their 1/2" birch plywood, comes to $52 for 4 of those compared to ca $48. Take the money and run I say, you're saving a lot of weight w/whatever the wood is for the smaller panels, that's worth it to me.

Edit: I built two 1-12 cabs w/the 1/2" birch ply at the same time I did the 1-15 w/the "wonder wood" and the 1-15 cab was noticebly lighter even though that was the bigger cab. Same bracing styles, too.
 
#53
dhsierra1 said:
IIRC, $13 for a 2 by 4 sheet of that stuff isn't THAT much more than a standard 4 by 8 of their 1/2" birch plywood, comes to $52 for 4 of those compared to ca $48. Take the money and run I say, you're saving a lot of weight w/whatever the wood is for the smaller panels, that's worth it to me.

Edit: I built two 1-12 cabs w/the 1/2" birch ply at the same time I did the 1-15 w/the "wonder wood" and the 1-15 cab was noticebly lighter even though that was the bigger cab. Same bracing styles, too.
Click to expand...

I should make a point to compare prices again next time I'm in there. Seemed to be a bigger difference between small panels and big sheets but maybe different store managers do things differently, who knows.

Anyway, who cares when you have a 215 you can throw around easy.
 
#54
i made some more progress on the cab today. i sprayed it with the satin vinyl paint, mounted the corners, feet, handle and the dampening material. i picked up the aluminum grill but haven't had a chance to cut it to size yet.

here's where the cab is now ( without the grill, it weighs 44lbs):

2x15cab-10.jpg


with the STM900 head:

2x15cab-11.jpg


2x15cab-12.jpg


IMO, the cab sounds awesome, and even better now that it has the dampening in it. it sounds huge yet tight and i'm lovin' it. i should be able to have the grill cut out and installed by tomorrow afternoon..
 
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#60
BillyB_from_LZ said:
Excellent build!!!

Are the edges of the grille going to be flanged for stiffness or will it just be a flat piece?
Click to expand...

thanks.
the grill is just flat. it's going to screw down the the 3/4" x 3/4" trim all the way around the perimeter of the felt lined baffle plus have 8 rubber standoffs for extra support.
 

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