Help..once again i come to you guys/gals for help...i want to create my own sub box for my xB...i want to create it out of fiber glass...(unless you guys know of another material which might be easier)...how would i go about it? where do i get the material...fiber glass? How easy it mold it? How durty does it get? i know its alot of questions but i know someone out there knows the answer...thanks for the help...peace

:?:

Interested too. Any takers on these questions.

This is a page I made a couple years back:
http://sr20.hybrids.jp/van/badroc/vansfold/carbon/funwith.htm

The pics are pretty crappy (digicam technology wasn't the greatest back then), but the information hasn't changed much through the years. Hopefully that'll give you a good baseline to start from. Back then I could only find less than half a dozen pages on the net that showed you how to work with 'glass and carbon fiber, but I hear there's TONS out there now, with good pics. Just do a google search for something like "fiberglass custom subwoofer box" and you'll probably find some of the better ones.

fiberglass is VERY messy. To do it right is going to be a huge amount of work. I would not reccomend trying it if you havnt worked with it before.

fiberglass is VERY messy. To do it right is going to be a huge amount of work. I would not reccomend trying it if you havnt worked with it before.

that's what they say about sex but we all still do it.

fiberglass is VERY messy. To do it right is going to be a huge amount of work. I would not reccomend trying it if you havnt worked with it before.

that's what they say about sex but we all still do it.
but, some of us have a partner to help out.

don't rub it in, randy.

guys...mixxing sex with cars sounds kinda wrong...i know we all love both the same...but guys...thanks for your input...if anyone else has any more ideas...please input...

one more question...how does the sound come out from a fiber glass box? does the FB raddle? does the bass come out (sound the same) as a regular sub box?

question...i just of this as i was lookin info up on fiber glass molding...if i was to create the "skeleton", if you will, of what i want my box to look like...then i some how "staple", or get some fiber on the skeleton...then actually put the glass on it...do you think that would work? or is that the actual process...or is that too hard? ideas? cause i think i have the design for what i want my skeleton to look like...but i'm not sure if i should make the entire thing of fiber glass...or just certain parts...or just the face...what do you guys think?

i would suggest going to www.caraudioforum.com and searching for tips on how to do it. i think you would find much more helpful information there to get you started. another thing about fiberglass is to take your time because if you rush it it will not come out good. also if your going to paint the enclosure when it is done you will be able to see any little imperfection so be prepared to do a lot of sanding

can fiber glass be left alone and still look good...or does it have to be painted? does that depend on the fiber that one uses? or will it be shiny? or dull?

wah verone, that's almost another xB....way out of my budget

all i'm looking for is a custom sub box on one side of the trunk that holds ether 2 10's or a square Kicker


i can do all the other install stuff myself (kind of like a hobby) but i'm scared to pull off a fiberglass work

thnx


dont be scared of fiberglass! just do some research (its not rocket science) and dive right in. trial and error...dont expect it to be perfect the 1st time through just like learning anything.
here is a quick write up i did on a simple fiberglass project i did in my sister's civic.
http://www.codefusion.org/~legarcia/civic_fiberglass.htm
ask me some questions if you need help.

l. garcia 8)

Technical note , the proper term is Fiber Reinforced Plastic , the fiberglass is worthless without the resin. It would take an huge amout of writting to describe the various methods but I will describe a few. One way is building it first out of posterboard and then covering that with fiberglass{or for more strength use thin plywood}. Another method would be to make a frame out of metal rod and them cover over that but I have not seen this used except by the sculpters who use FRP. The other way is to build a temporary female mold and then lay-up the fiberglass into it. Working with this is not only messy but can be potentially hazardous. The fiberglass can make you itch and if allergic will cause nasty rashes. The resin are very potent in aroma and if breathed too much will give you a nasty headache , followed by unconciousness. When the catylist is added into the resin it creats heat and if mixed incorectly can actually explode. However the standard over the counter{so to speak} fiberglass and polyester resin is safer than some of the other types. You should be able to find these at any auto parts store and most hardware stores. Try working on some small project first before going into the biggy. If you would like some more indepth info , PM me and I will reply. I have worked with fiberglass for several years now and I am starting to experiment with the more exclusive carbon fibers and epoxy resins.

dont be scared of fiberglass! just do some research (its not rocket science) and dive right in. trial and error...dont expect it to be perfect the 1st time through just like learning anything.
here is a quick write up i did on a simple fiberglass project i did in my sister's civic.
http://www.codefusion.org/~legarcia/civic_fiberglass.htm
ask me some questions if you need help.

Not a bad job there! Note how he used aluminum foil , the resin will not stick to it , better the shiny side out. However be careful to not get resin onto any cement at it sticks like crazy. In fact you can make a stuff called "resin concrete" by using the resin instead of water , although it has to be thinned down.

the sound will be relatively the same...you can not tell with your ears. so long as the box is built correctly ie. thick enough walls and proper bracing if needed.
here is what is known as the fiberglass bible on termpro.com boards (where i learned to fiberglass just by reading about others' projects)
http://www.termpro.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=32;t=000549
here is another excellent link about planning a project. although its about making a center console, the info can be applied to any fiberglass project.

there are tons of more links i can show you if you want. some are more helpful than others, but they all have some usefull stuff.

l. garcia 8)

you can get everything you need here:

http://www.shopmaninc.com/

http://www.selectproducts.com/

dam...you guys are great...thanks for all the info and advice...its great to have people who know what they are talkin about...thanks... :D

Call me direct i am a fiberglass master HEHEHE i actualy just love the smell of it the taste of it the texture LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!! number is below !!!!

Jess

One way is building it first out of posterboard and then covering that with fiberglass{or for more strength use thin plywood}. Another method would be to make a frame out of metal rod and them cover over that but I have not seen this used except by the sculpters who use FRP. The other way is to build a temporary female mold and then lay-up the fiberglass into it.

Another method is called "moldless composite". You carve the desired shape out of foam and then lay up fiberglass over it. The foam can either remain in place to provide reinforcing or be removed once the resin cures. This method is great for complex shapes like fuel tanks, boats, surfboards, and light aircraft structures (the Long-Ez homebuilt is all moldless composite). If I wanted some good speaker enclosures that had to fit a complex space this is the way I'd go.

Working with this is not only messy but can be potentially hazardous. The fiberglass can make you itch and if allergic will cause nasty rashes.

This is of critical importance. Many resins can cause severe allergic reactions after you build up a sensitivity. At first there is no problem, but after a few exposures you might get life-threatening allergic reactions. I'm talking respiratory failure, not just a rash! To avoid this, be sure to use good gloves (nitrile, for example) and make sure that your work area has fan-forced ventilation. Some resins demand the use of a proper respirator as well. Don't take this lightly unless you really want to carry your own oxygen bottle around with you!

A good supplier for composite materials is Aircraft Spruce and Specialty. Here is the composites section of their on-line catalog:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cmpages/menus/cmtoc1.php

This stuff is used by serious aircraft builders who entrust their lives to the structures they build. Good stuff.

George

I need a box for my xB. Any takers? It needs to fit 10" inch subs.

Another method is called "moldless composite". You carve the desired shape out of foam and then lay up fiberglass over it. The foam can either remain in place to provide reinforcing or be removed once the resin cures. This method is great for complex shapes like fuel tanks, boats, surfboards, and light aircraft structures (the Long-Ez homebuilt is all moldless composite). If I wanted some good speaker enclosures that had to fit a complex space this is the way I'd go.

Yes this would be a good way for a speaker box but be careful to use a foam that can withstand the heat/chemicals! Styro-foam will not work!!

DjFrost

Do you have a workplace? I got the tools, this will be my first time too but i'm going to try to build one, let me know, we can set up a weekend

Another method is called "moldless composite". You carve the desired shape out of foam and then lay up fiberglass over it. The foam can either remain in place to provide reinforcing or be removed once the resin cures. This method is great for complex shapes like fuel tanks, boats, surfboards, and light aircraft structures (the Long-Ez homebuilt is all moldless composite). If I wanted some good speaker enclosures that had to fit a complex space this is the way I'd go.

Foam would only work the best if you wanted to fiberglass a certain exterior shape, but wouldnt work well if you wanted to have the floor or sidewall of your enclosure to contour a certain curve. If you really wanted to you can, but why do the extra work? whats the point?

The way I do it is lay strips of 3M masking tape (just in case), then lay the aluminum over the area im going to fiberglass, after that I would lay my mat and resin. Once cured, I'd pop the mold and peel the aluminum off the glass. There are different techniques out there, but thats how I do it.

Installers use foam instead of using a wood-wire frame to get the shape they desire before laying glass and resin. We are doing an enclosure all in foam right now because the exterior shape is complex. Other than that, I use a combination of a wood frame and strips of wood.

do you mean like this

my first time building, pretty easy

http://mysite.verizon.net/res6yqtf/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/subbox.jpg
A layer of masking tape, a layer of aluminum foil, another layer of masking tape, and a little bit more of aluminum
http://mysite.verizon.net/res6yqtf/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/subbox2.jpg
About 2 layers of woven fiberglass
http://mysite.verizon.net/res6yqtf/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/subbox3.jpg
Almost dry
http://mysite.verizon.net/res6yqtf/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/subbox4.jpg
Base removed from the car and about 2 more layers of fiberglass matt

I will never work with fiberglass matt again! So messy and it gets all over the play, for those of you who wants to venture in this project, get woven fiberglass

What in the hell. How is that gunna look? for how many subs? if it duzn't turn out aiight, gimme a holla

how many subs do you think i can fit? i'm thinking about 2 but dont know if the air space is sufficient

How far have you gotten already or is that it? Are you just doing the spare or the whole trunk without those 2 boxes? I'll post pix of the trunk that I did 2 weeks ago. I actually did it a different way than most. I fiberd the bottom to make it straight, then I built the enclosure for 3 10s over a wood box then made an amprack that sits in front so the subs are elevated over the entire thing, and of course, a neon accent cutout. I'm not good with sanding plus I was lazy so I just covered the entire thing in a special black vinyl that everyone asks if its carbon fiber until they feel it. I'll post pix sometime soon. Its for sale and only 2weeks old. The 3 10s are great sounding but I think 3 12s would be a tad too much.

i saw your box at the meet a couple weeks ago, very nice

i just started that today, i want to conserve space

maybe i'll try 2 10s


you wanna meet sometimes, maybe you can help me, if you're willing to help