The Opals - Quick and Easy
Lou Coraggio © 2001 All Rights Reserved    Back to Home Page

I recently got a consignment to replace some ancient bookshelf speakers for some friends of mine. The speakers were to be a surprise birthday present. I had a cap of about $500 to produce a pair of "free standers" to fit in a large room filled with the eclectic furnishings of two world travelers. The Opals from Subwoofers.Com seemed like the best choice. Since this couple lived on a pecan orchard, I ordered a sheet of NBL from tapeease.com. As I was planning the layouts, I noticed the slip match of the veneer was about 5.5". One side had a beautiful set of heart wood "cathedrals". I decided to cut down the sides to better fit the veneer. Each long panel was cut 39" x 10" resulting in net volume of about 1.7 cu ft. The final dimensions of the MDF cabinets is 39 x 11.5 x 10.

A side benefit of reducing the side panels was a very easy cut layout. (An option for those of you who get your panels cut at the lumber yard. Eight 39 x 10 panels and ten 8.5 x 10 panels can be made from a single sheet of 3/4 MDF. Since I used biscuits to join the cabinet, I used a "storyboard" layout approach. I first mark up one side with locations for each brace. Then I line up the other three sides, and scribe the lines with my framing square. If you are off a bit, your box should still come out square.

For assembly, I laid out the back flat on my work bench. I placed wax paper over the back. Next I setup each of the braces and the two sides. When I was sure I was square, I clamped and glued the sides (with all the braces) using wood glue. The wax paper keeps the glue off the back. I added an additional 3/8 panel behind the drivers so I had to glue this to the main baffle. (I did cut down two braces to accommodate the extra thickness. I next glued the back to the sides using wood glue on the biscuits and outside edge, and a thin bead of Liquid Nails along the inside (to help seal the cabinet). Any overhang was easily handled with my flush-trim router bit.

For the grills, I used 3/8 stock. I first cut a template with square edges inside and out. Then I cut two blanks on my tablesaw with a 60 degree chamfer. I then screwed the template to each blank. I drilled a 3/4 hole to allow me to use my flush-trim bit on the "real" grill. With the opening cut, I then ran my chamfer bit around the inside edge of the "real" grill. Cloth was applied with hot melt glue. (If you use 3/8, you will have to sand down the male HedLok fastener) I did cut down the grill size to 16 inches.

I routed the cutout holes for each of the drivers in the front baffle using a Jasper jig. After veneering, I planned to use my rabbeting bit to cut the recess for the drivers. After test fitting, I then clamped and glued the baffle.

For veneering, I tried 3M High Strength 90 spray adhesive. I got nowhere near the coverage expected, and I had to fix a couple edges where I missed spraying. Considering the expense ($13/can) and the masking time, I'm not sure there is much of a saving over solvent based contact cement. The veneering went quickly. The only hangup was with the woofers. They didn't fit the holes depicted in the kit directions. By using a wood rasp, I was able to widen the thru hole a bit, and rerout with my rabetting bit.

After experimenting on several projects, I now have my signature finish down pat. I use at least three layers of Deft Clear Wood Finish (Gloss) applied with a good china bristle brush. Lay the speaker horizontal and lay down thick wet coats. After 10-30 minutes, you can rotate the piece 90 degrees and do another side. Let these dry 1-2 hours. Turn another 90 and repeat. Using this method I finished the Opals in two days. Now here's the trick. DON"T use anything but HIGH GLOSS. If you want a satin finish, get a pad of synthetic steel wool (00 or 000 equivalent) and rub the box with the grain. It took about 15 minutes to bring both boxes down to luster.

Personally, I think the Pecan is gorgeous. It only costs 5-10% more than red oak, finishes much easier, and is at least as hard as oak. (Hickory essentially looks the same in veneer.) As far as cutting down the boxes, go for it if you choose. I played them for a few hours while building the packing crate and cleaning up, they sounded marvelous. No shortage of bottom end. Tight clean and neutral. The new owners have called me three different times to rave about some new detail they never heard before.

If you are a newbie in speaker building, the Opals are an easy kit to start with. Don't just sit there, make some sawdust!