[DIY]: Fibreglassing Subwoofer Boxes

[mrpsi]

Disclaimer: The following are provided as a GUIDE ONLY, and neither myself. nor the original writer, nor Ozhonda take any responsibility for the outcomes of someone else doing the following. You follow these steps at your own risk!

Keeping things clean: Resin is messy, fiberglass is itchy, and it gets in and on everything.

Plastic Sheet: I covered all surfaces in my work area with plastic sheet (thicker than a trash bag but I can't remember the thickness) I got in a roll at the hardware store in the paint section. You can see it in picture 1.1 on my work bench as well as pictures 2.1 to 2.4 covering the car.
Gloves: I wore 2 pairs of latex gloves for all of the wet work. The reason is not because they rip or leak but so when I am done working, I could pull off the messy top layer and put my tools away without spreading resin everywhere.
Acetone: Get a gallon size if you want to have enough to keep things clean and keep your brushes submerged between coats. I bought a pint and then bought gallon and now probably have a bit more than a pint left.
Resin Lid: If you get the resin in a gallon paint bucket, pouring it makes a mess down the side, then it sticks to the plastic on your workbench, your hands, etc. A snap on lid, see picture 1.1, makes it much easier to handle and keep closed when not needed.http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/9/97/Subbox_001.jpg/120px-Subbox_001.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_001.jpg)



[edit (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki?title=Subwoofer_Box_Fiberglassing&action=edit&section=3)]
Box Work

2: I used the masking tape to form the box as described here (http://web.njit.edu/~cas1383/proj/Glassing2/index.htm/) to mask the side carpet board. To add the side walls and build a form below the side carpet board, I used hot glue gun and foam core board available at office supply and art stores. I then masked them off as well. The very bottom was done with aluminum foil and then masked, then I masked over everything again, just to be sure. If I had to do it again, one roll of blue 3M for the parts that stick to the carpet, white tape for the foam core and to put over the blue tape. I used a board on top of my spare to hold my resin, fiberglass mat and tools while I worked in there.
http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/d/dd/Subbox_002.jpg/120px-Subbox_002.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_002.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/8/89/Subbox_003.jpg/120px-Subbox_003.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_003.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/6/64/Subbox_004.jpg/120px-Subbox_004.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_004.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/2/2a/Subbox_005.jpg/120px-Subbox_005.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_005.jpg)



3: Just after the box has been removed from the trunk. On the Z, it was easier to remove the side carpet board with the box and then remove it from the box outside the car. You can also see the foam core build up, with this I was able to quickly shape it up. If I had to do it over again, I might have made MDF sections were it is flat and then fiberglass them together. It would have meant more time on wood cutting but less time on fiberglass because it would have required less glass work overall to make it strong. It might have been heaver though.
http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/8/8b/Subbox_006.jpg/120px-Subbox_006.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_006.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/f/fc/Subbox_007.jpg/120px-Subbox_007.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_007.jpg)



4: Just one layer and a test fit.
http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/1/1d/Subbox_008.jpg/120px-Subbox_008.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_008.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/d/db/Subbox_009.jpg/120px-Subbox_009.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_009.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/9/93/Subbox_010.jpg/120px-Subbox_010.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_010.jpg)



5 To make the ring I used a coat hanger through the router guide holes and then twisted it to the radius of the outside of the speaker ring size, then put a screw in the middle of where you want the hole and just keep it tight as you spin around it's axis. For the inside, just twist the wire some more till it matches the inside radius and do it again. For the inside circle it was easier to clamp the router down and spin the wood around.
http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/3/38/Subbox_011.jpg/120px-Subbox_011.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_011.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/5/5b/Subbox_012.jpg/120px-Subbox_012.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_012.jpg)



6: Another test fit for the ring in the trunk, 6.2 is looking up at the hatch to make sure it cleared that as well.
http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/f/f2/Subbox_013.jpg/120px-Subbox_013.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_013.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/3/3b/Subbox_014.jpg/120px-Subbox_014.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_014.jpg)



7: Wrapping the frame in cloth. Applying resign and building the thickness
http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/b/b7/Subbox_015.jpg/120px-Subbox_015.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_015.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/0/06/Subbox_016.jpg/120px-Subbox_016.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_016.jpg)



8: .1 is 6 layers of glass on the inside, .2 is 9 layers inside and out.
http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/8/8b/Subbox_017.jpg/120px-Subbox_017.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_017.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/5/57/Subbox_018.jpg/120px-Subbox_018.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_018.jpg)



9: Long strand fiberglass body filler (kitty hair), and a bit of bondo. The trick with the kitty hair is getting as much air out of it as possible or as I discovered, it will keep breaking into little pockets of air that will need fixing. I used 320 for the rough sanding before using high build primer, then 600 paper on the primer. The foam found under the trunk mat has been cut to fit around the speaker box with a box cutter and a trim saw.
http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/6/67/Subbox_019.jpg/120px-Subbox_019.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_019.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/7/70/Subbox_020.jpg/120px-Subbox_020.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_020.jpg)



[edit (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki?title=Subwoofer_Box_Fiberglassing&action=edit&section=4)]
Paint and Finishing

10. Painted with PPG Nissan Pikes Peak White, Pearl and clear but not wet sanded yet. I know the cup connector was not recommended but I wanted the easy removal aspect. I also added banana plugs to the wires so they would be slip fit.
http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/0/06/Subbox_021.jpg/120px-Subbox_021.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_021.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/8/89/Subbox_022.jpg/90px-Subbox_022.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_022.jpg)



11. Wet sanded with 1500, then #7 rubbing compound, glazed and buffed. When I drilled the holes for the screws, I countersunk the holes so the screws would not chip or crack the fiberglass going in. It seemed to work out ok. I had to cut my rubber mat and carpet to fit. This was a little scary only because I did not want to buy another trunk mat. I basically modeled it up with foam core for the template.
http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/c/ca/Subbox_023.jpg/120px-Subbox_023.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_023.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/a/ab/Subbox_024.jpg/120px-Subbox_024.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_024.jpg)



http://www.350z-tech.com/w/images/thumb/2/21/Subbox_025.jpg/120px-Subbox_025.jpg (http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Image:Subbox_025.jpg)

[mrpsi]

This is a great write up i used on my fibreglass pods for my doors and some of the fibreglassing in my boot.

Hope it helps others out there with there audio installs

[95civic]

hmmmm not your own work? Should prob put the disclaimer up anyway...

[mrpsi]

disclaimer is up. no its not my work but thought it would come in handy for others as it helped me

[xntrik]

hey dude this diy has already been done.

[mrpsi]

sorry didnt realise. i did a quick search and didnt find much on fibreglassing.

Ahh well another DIY wont hurt

[AutoNoob]

can this fibreglass boxing technique be used to make a DIY POD air filter BOX? or will the heat melt it? Fibreglassing a AirFilter Box/Housing would be sick. Easier to make than an alumnium ghetto box.

[GIPONU]

hey dude this diy has already been done.
by me. XD


can this fibreglass boxing technique be used to make a DIY POD air filter BOX? or will the heat melt it? Fibreglassing a AirFilter Box/Housing would be sick. Easier to make than an alumnium ghetto box.

yeh u can make those items out of fibreglass/carbon. autosalon magazine did it once in a DIY issue.
and them gruppe m air intake boxes actually have strands of fibreglass underneath that layer of carbon fibre. i took a real close look at it.


now for my fav part. EVIDENCE!
http://www.ripway.com/members/getfile.asp?file=\DSC00484%2EJPG
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75836

[VTECACCORD]

Where is the best place to buy fiberglassing supplies from in Sydney ?

[GIPONU]

Where is the best place to buy fiberglassing supplies from in Sydney ?

i heard from boat builders/material suppliers.
or u can try solidsolutions in melb.

[IZY-10]

Where is the best place to buy fiberglassing supplies from in Sydney ?

bunnings sell them in kit form

[GIPONU]

bunnings sell them in kit form

i ended up using like 4 of them.
then some1 told me its cheaper to buy from a supplier.

[mrpsi]

definitely cheapers to buy from a supplier especially if you are gonna buy in bulk.... >5sq metres

[IZY-10]

i ended up using like 4 of them.
then some1 told me its cheaper to buy from a supplier.

man what did u make?

[GIPONU]

man what did u make?

sub enclosure for my integraaaar
if u scroll up a few posts, theres a link and pics of the finished product.

[Mitchman]

can this fibreglass boxing technique be used to make a DIY POD air filter BOX? or will the heat melt it? Fibreglassing a AirFilter Box/Housing would be sick. Easier to make than an alumnium ghetto box.

yes. Same type of priciple.
made this friday night/ satday
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l250/mitchimal/100520081485-1.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l250/mitchimal/airbox1.jpg
Have an aluminium top on it also (not pictured)
was going to do a DIY but realy its as simple as any fibreglassing job. Just make templates of where the box will sit top and bottom then make up a few cardboard sides. tape them together.. measure.. re enforce.. n glass it all.