# Enclosure construction
**URL:** https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477
**Category:** DIY
**Tags:** lamination, damping, constrained-layer, mass-loaded-panels
**Created:** [February 21, 2026, 12:41am UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477 "2026-02-21T00:41:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@ugly\_woofer](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/ugly_woofer)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/21 "2026-02-22T20:09:17Z")
First I’m going to say that most people underestimate the amount of sound that gets transmitted through the cabinet walls. It’s an eye opening experience if you cover the drivers andlisten to the cabinet.
Second, I’m recommending 1/4" recycled tire rubber sheeting between layers. Also I would use a mdf, rubber, baltic birch layering to further control sound/vibration transfer.
---
### Author:  [@Ani](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/Ani)
#### Post date: [February 22, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/22 "2026-02-22T21:34:44Z")
Hi Nick, got any link for the recycled rubber? What glue for sandwiching the sheets?
---
### Author:  [@ugly\_woofer](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/ugly_woofer)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2026, 12:11am UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/23 "2026-02-23T00:11:20Z")
Ani, I get it from Home Depot. Just search for recycled rubber flooring there. When using it between layers foam board adhesive works well, it comes in caulk tubes, but I spread it with a notched tile trowel. If you just want to glue it to the inside, urethane caulk works well.
---
### Author:  [@Analogkid455](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/Analogkid455)
#### Post date: [February 23, 2026, 1:12am UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/24 "2026-02-23T01:12:55Z")
I am loving the feedback. Alot to think about.
---
### Author:  [@Eggguy](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/Eggguy)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2026, 12:07am UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/25 "2026-02-24T00:07:29Z")
Here is an Idea that I intend to try.
---
### Author:  [@raddon](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/raddon)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2026, 2:11am UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/26 "2026-02-24T02:11:25Z")
Hi Drew - don’t know how long you have been in the scene.
Some years ago on PE Techtalk, a master wood guy Dave Pellegrene, spent some months doing various laminations that he then cut into the carcass walls and such. IIRC, he said that you could make a “dead” light laminated board, but it was a lot of work.
---
### Author:  [@a4eaudio](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/a4eaudio)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/27 "2026-02-24T02:24:17Z")
I made a curved cabinet out of 6 layers of 1/8” Baltic Birch plywood using Gorilla Glue between layers. Gorilla Glue is pretty weird stuff, it expands a LOT and cures as almost a soft styrofoam. I would consider mixing this up some 1/8” tempered hardboard (Masonite) and Loctite PL Roof Flashing (flexible construction adhesive).
---
### Author:  [@raddon](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/raddon)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2026, 4:26am UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/28 "2026-02-24T04:26:58Z")
I would agree that at a particular curing stage, Gorilla Glue is like styrofoam. But when it cures completely, it holds wood like a mutha.
I used Gorilla Glue for this kerfed build. Very strong and dead.
---
### Author:  [@Analogkid455](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/Analogkid455)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/29 "2026-02-24T22:27:14Z")
So many options!
---
### Author:  [@mwmkravchenko](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/mwmkravchenko)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/30 "2026-03-03T16:17:48Z")
Much less than you think.
First principles.
If you want a true constrained layer you need rigid glues. Polyurethane liquid will give you a fairly rigid glue bond. Your familiarity with Fibreglass is a polyester glue bond. More rigid.
The posters have described mass loading, and compliant layer bonding.
Again if you have fiberglass experience you may have vacuum forming experience, that is the best way to bond layers. uniform pressure and as high as you wish. For boxes I generally never go above 15 inches of Hg.
There are other ways. You do not need battleship thickness if you do proper layer constraint.
And finally all this is for naught if you don’t use effective acoustical damping of the interior.
A few things to ponder.
---
### Author:  [@Analogkid455](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/Analogkid455)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2026, 5:24pm UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/31 "2026-03-03T17:24:13Z")
Thank you for the added info. I am still debating on how to do the panels but have a better idea than before. Still have some time until the weather decides to get nice enough to do this.
---
### Author:  [@Eggguy](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/Eggguy)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2026, 9:29pm UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/32 "2026-03-12T21:29:22Z")
I decided to make a small mock-up of my constrained layer Idea. The first picture is what would be the underside, designed to accept a removeable bottom panel.
---
### Author:  [@Ani](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/Ani)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/33 "2026-03-13T13:23:54Z")
What did you use in your layers?
---
### Author:  [@Eggguy](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/u/Eggguy)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477/34 "2026-03-13T13:54:37Z")
[Previous page](https://discourse.midwestaudio.club/t/enclosure-construction/477.md?page=1)