3 ways with Peerless 830668 10" woofers in sealed bass bins. The top enclosures will have 2.5"+ roundovers with SB12MNRX2-4 midranges and GRS RT3.0-8 ribbons. Cut some PB after work:
Nice driver combination, those should sound great!
5.375" OD cardboard shipping tube from work = free
Two 11.5" x 3/4" × 48" PB shelf boards from Menards = less than any 6" sandwich from Subway
We had absolutely beautiful weather here today (71°F and partly sunny) so I took advantage and machined the rebates, through holes, and rear reliefs for the midranges. Perfect fits. Whew, glad those steps are done!!!
I still have to make a template and router the rebates for the rectangular ribbons. Then It’s smooth sailing ![]()
I made my router template to machine the rebates for the rectangular faceplates of the RT3.0-8 ribbon tweeters. I’m sure there is probably an easier/better way but this is just how I do it. This is not a daunting task to the experienced, but maybe me posting this could possibly help a newer builder who has been reluctant to use a rectangular frame driver.
First step: protect the ribbon and faceplate surface with some painter’s.
tape.
Second step: set the rip fence with the tweeter just barely touching the cutting edges of the saw blade’s teeth and the fence itself.
Third step: rip a piece of scrap wood the same width as the tweeter.
Step four: cross cut it in half, then use two other scrap pieces of wood that are the same exact thickness to form the template. I do this on my work bench top but it could be done on any surface that is smooth (ie the tablesaw top).
Continued:
I use a piece of wax paper so the glue won’t stick to the work bench surface.
A tiny bit of TiteBond II and some very light clamp pressure:
Clamps and weighs removed… this template should produce extremely nice rebates with my 0.250" router pattern bit.
That was how I made square templates before I got my 3D printer. You should use a bearing bit that matches the 6 mm radius of the corners of the tweeter. 1/4 inch is pretty close but you can buy 12 mm bits online if a test cut isn’t close enough. I mount the driver and stick the template to the baffle with double stick carpenter’s tape and then remove the driver and cut the rebate. I set the router on the template and plunge the bit until it hits the face of the baffle and lock it. I have a big set of wire size drill bits that I then use to set the depth stop on the router. It’s always a good idea to make a test cut on some scrap.
Good additional advice Ron. Thanks!
Good pics, makes it easy to visualize and great tips Ron!
Even on the CNC and with round drivers, I still need to do at least a couple of test cuts, the posted specs are never accurate ![]()
And you have to plan for the wood finish
Definitely, all the layers of primer and paint adds up and a nice snug fit in raw MDF no longer fits!
I cut my rebates after the cabinets are finished. The only problem I’ve ever had is getting a wood chip under the router base and scratching the finish. After a little light sanding and another coat of poly on the baffle it’s all good.
Yes, good point to consider if priming and painting. Since these are PB they will be veneered, so I like to keep the fit snug.
New pattern router bit ordered.
Another beautiful day here for this time of year. After getting my yard chores done I spent a little time flush trimming the enclosures. I built the bass bins last year as ported prototypes for a pair of MCM 55-5670. I built them with some super cheap and sightly damaged PB. I had to enlarge the through holes for the bigger Peerless. I’ll have to cut some block off plates to seal off the ports.
I cut these squares out of some scrap PB that are exactly the same width as the cardboard tubes’ diameters. A quick temporary tack with some hot glue and easily cut exactly in half on the table saw.
Oh yeah, this is the timely post I was waiting for. I recently acquired a ‘crete form with a 7-3/4” outside diameter and a mailing tube with a 6-1/4” outside diameter…
Okay, carry on.
Great solution versus kerf bending. I’ll have to try it!
Horizontal polars should be super smooth.
Good idea for cutting the tubes in half















