| Glue
for crossover boards: 
Fresh silicone glue may
work great, but this is even better. Superfix from Casco.
Except for Scandinavia, I have no idea about the
availability of this compound in other countries.
It's expensive, around 20-25 US $ for 300 mls, but worth
it.
It's a non-toxic, doesn't smell, tough to get off your
fingers, doesn't take any solvents, flexible and easy to
cut
when hardened (remove crossover components for tweaking).
It probably contains a lot of latex (natural rubber) for
having all these characteristics.

My Router guide

Click
images to view large

The guide was bought on
eBay from Germany: http://stores.ebay.de/weyher-holztechnik
As can be seen from the
pics, the guide was modified as the pin (4 mm screw) is
too large and un-handy for precision routing. I shortened
the alu bar and inserted a 2 mm hard steel pin (concrete
nail). The large handle on top was also omitted as this
prevents routing very small holes.
Flanging straight vents
made from ABS plastic:
The pics below are
hopefully self-explanatory.
A number of vents are made from ABS plastic and usually
requires to be cut to target length.
The outlet of the tube is already flared and after
cutting to required length, the inner opening may
be given the same treatment simply by heating the end of
the tube with heating gun.
I run my B&D heating gun at highest temperature and
hold it 5-7 cm from the end of the tube while
slowly rotating the tube. When the tube opening starts
softening I push it towards the bottle shoulders
and continue to rotate while pushing. When done I hold
the flared end towards a piece of MDF while
cooling and you may add cold water to cool faster.

Soldering tag
strips:
This is a question I've
had many times: Where do you get the soldering tag strips
used for the crossovers?

These come from RS-Components and you have to order from
a shop dealing with electronics. rswww.com homepage
Item 433-775, approx. 2-3 US$/ea. Minimum is 10
pcs.
UK:
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=0433775
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/search/searchBrowseAction.html?method=getProduct&R=0433781
Getting these soldering
tag strips in the US has proven quite a challence for a
few and Robert/US came up with this information:
"connector,
lug type terminal strip"

http://www.alliedelec.com/Search/ProductDetail.asp?SKU=750-6635&SEARCH=&ID=&DESC=56A&R=750%2D6635&sid=47801A004136617F#
from Allied Electronics: http://www.alliedelec.com/default.asp
However, only available
in rows of 8, but very useful it seems.
Thanks to Robert for the information.
Bitumen pads and damping
materials.

Bitumen pads (the black sheet) available here
in Denmark at Harald Nyborg shops. http://www.harald-nyborg.dk/templ.asp
The pads have #01389: http://www.harald-nyborg.dk/merinfo.asp?varenr=01389&n=10

(the black sheet is 4 mm bitumen pads)
10 mm polyester
foam bought
in shop selling stuff for pillows, mattresses, etc.
Actually we have a "foam shop" , Jysk
Skum, here in town, Aarhus/DK. Jaegergaardsgade
77, 8000 Aarhus C. http://www.jydsk-skum.dk/
Green felt material bought at car accessory
shop. For those living in Denmark you can find the green
felt at Jari Autosport:
http://www.jariauto.dk/shop/terms.html
Search for "grøn filt" and a local shop - or order
on-line.
Mail from
Michael:
I have found an American product that seems to do the
trick. (See attached .pdf file.) It is a
modified asphalt product with a glue backing and costs
only $42 for 111 square feet. Please note that it
is designed to be applied with high heat. I have
successfully applied it with a modified professional heat
gun. However, due to hazard of fire the
membrane should really go on the panel before
the cabinet is constructed.
I recently found that it can be more easily applied
with contact cement. If applied this way, the
cement should be applied to both the non-glue
side of the membrane and the panel, allowed to dry,
then mated. The best method is to bond two
membranes; that is, heating and sticking
together the glue sides of two membranes.
This membrane is then contact cemented to the
panel. Of course this doubles the weight
and thickness of the new membrane but it really
increases the effectiveness of the damping of 19mm
MDF. I have tested it with an accelerometer
and Clio and the results are impressive.
Before I forget, a single 4mm layer seems adequate
for cabinet thicknesses up to 12mm. I plan to test
thinner cabinets with doubled members later.
Regardless of the application method chose, staples
should also be used to provide a
mechanical connection that protects the
glue join. I hope this information will be useful
to you or others.
Download file here. gif image/94KB
Thanks a lot to Michael!
PartsExpress
- has some bitumen pads in stock:
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=268-010&CFID=10084208&CFTOKEN=94265725
This is mineral-filled asphalt dampening sheets, probably
the same as those I can source here in DK.
Item #268-010 (10"x10") or #268-015
(29"x32"). These are only 0.07" thick =
1.8 mm, but you may use two layers.
More on bitumen:
For the last few years,
I have used bitumen pads sold by Solens in
Montreal. It looks like the same that you are
using. Here's the link in case people ask you:
http://www.solen.ca/
My best regards,
Alain, Canada
Thanks, Alain.
Comments on
damping materials from Kim Bond/Australia:
Some suggestions you
might like to consider:
Polyether acoustic foam
(see for example http://www.acoustop.com/pdf/161.pdf is very effective at absorbing
frequencies above 300Hz (over 80% absorption) and gives
excellent results in bass reflex cabinets. It can
obliterate higher frequency standing waves and is very
effective behind mid-range or full-range drivers, where
it minimises high frequency reflections back out through
lightweight cones a little goes a long way.
Instead of bitumen pads, try constrained layer damping
used in cars (see http://www.dynamat.com/technical_specs_dynamat_xtreme.html for an example) to damp critical
enclosure panels. It is more expensive than standard
automotive bitumen pads but thoroughly effective and,
again, a little goes a long way.
Finally, good old wool. Carded wool is best, after the
carding combs have teased the raw fleece into long,
flattish strips. Hobbyist spinners and weavers know all
about this stuff and are often happy to help. It is cheap
too and need I say that a little goes a long way?
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