Is there a place to buy a cubby subwoofer/enclosure?

Tim, I finally found a place here in town the it seems the local audio shops buy their stuff. On their product page they list a few 3/4oz mats (halfway down the page) and I am not sure what the difference is between them. Which one would be best to use in this application? Thanks!

You also mentioned 10-12' of the mat... was that just to do the enclosure or for the complete mold?

 

I have a Gen II enclosure back - no speaker mounting made yet.

 

if you are just making your own, you don't need to make a mold, just build up a few layers in your car, let it cure overnight, then take it out and add a few more layers at the work bench - much easier on your back, and easier to lay up if parts aren't trying to roll off horizontal surfaces.

I'd tell you to get 3 yards of the 50" stuff. Looks like they are selling by the pound and the yard. Are you making a mold to make more? If not, there's no need ot make a mold, just make yours.

I'd tell you to get two gallons of orthophthalic laminating (no-wax) resin. But, ask for two separate containers - easier to handle, and you won't open the second until you really need to. Make sure it comes with MEKP hardener/catalyst.

Get an aluminum roller to get the air bubbles out - ½” X 3” STRAIGHT ~$10.

I use old juice bottles for mixing, but I've measured them out to know how much is where on them (200-300-500 cc's) I generally just use the 500cc mark, 5+cc's of hardener, and go to town. A 4-5 cups of that for the whole layup of the back. I think there's about 3800 cc's in a gallon.

You'll need a little clear dose cup- it has cc marking on it - don't rely on "drops" - a squeeze bottle with a measuring cup at the top is awesome( catalyst dispenser-$11). Squeeze what you need, pop the top, pour it in, mix it up. I use 2" chip brushes to spread resin on small parts like this (I get buy the case at harbor freight), and blue latex or nitril gloves (harbor freight) - two pair, peel off the first part when it's time to clean up - you'll have insanely fuzzy hands from loose glass mat.

Store this stuff in a dark dry place, away from flame and heat.

Don't rely on a dust mask, get a respirator - they aren't that expensive, under $20.

 

Thanks Tim! Yes, only doing the enclosure, not a mold. Through there are a few more people out there wanting a unit.

I stopped by the place and picked up 4 yards of the 38" stuff and two quarts or resin. I am surprised you mentioned 2 gallons.? Anyway we will see how far it goes. This is all new to me.

Hope to have the area prepped tonight and start glassing tomorrow.

 

I suggested 2 gallons in case you have an "oops" batch, or you realize what fun you can have with this stuff. You're going to use a good bit just for the back, but if it's close enough, you can go get more. You're going to use around 8 layers of mat

 

OK, I have the area nearly prepped. I read that some cut the mat into strips and others just tear into patches... what do you suggest? How much resin should I mix at a time? The temp should be around 65-70. The longer the pot-time the better I am thinking.

Thanks!

 

I tear it into pieces. Tear 4-5 strips about 6-8" wide from the roll, then rip them into 6-8" wide. Have them ready, if you can have someone hand them to you, even better. You'l probably only go through 1/3-12 of these on your first lay up. After some practice, you could probably get them all done in one session. Being new to it, I'd go for 2-3 sessions of layup.

Being new to this, I'd mix about 300 cc's at a time. Brush over the whole area, then go back and start dabbing in the mat and resin. You'll get about 15 minutes of pot-life if you measured your MEKP correctly.

 

Well some good news and bad news. I did the first layup yesterday and other than getting really high, it went well. It was in the teens outside so I didn't leave the garage door open. Wow, I nearly passed out even with the respirator on.
The glass went on fine and got about 30 mins before the 1/2 quart gelled up.

The bad news.... apparently I got a massive air leak between the house and integrated garage. It smelled as bad in the house as it did in the garage. Mama wasn't happy when she got home from tea. Fortunately it warmed up in the 30s so we could open the windows and air out.
I am not going to do another layup in there, but I have to remove the work so I can reconnect the battery. Do you think the one layer will hold up?

 

Well hallelujah, praise the Lord! It came out in one piece. It was flexing quite a bit and figured it would tear but it did not. Popped right out. That is just one layer of mat.

Now I just need to find someone with a warm shop to finish up. Probably have to wait till next spring.

 

For those that have added a sub (or 2)...what impact have you or do you expect to car efficiency in regards to the additional current draw? I want to add subs as well...but am curious about impact to MPG overall. I dare not speak of what I want to add because it is way over the top, so am simply probing. I like these cubby enclosures...and I am guessing they have little to no impact overall, but just a guess.

 

^ how much cash are you going to put into your mega system? I will probably have $1200 in my system by the time I am done with this sub. I could have gotten a lot of miles with the gas I could have purchased with that 1200 bucks... what is your point? Just have fun with it.

 

Looks good, now build it up to about 1/4" thick, no bubbles. I does stink. Your respirator must not have been tight enough. I was laying up for about 90 minutes, about a gallon of resin, with a torpedo heater about 5' away-resin and kerosene, smells great together. But I didn't smell it at all with my mask on.

 

Wow, a whole 1/4"?

Perhaps the fumes were getting by my beard. I was feeling pretty nauseous for most of the day.

Anyway, still have to find a place to do it or wait till it gets warm out. That is a long time from now.

 

Well, at least 3/16. If yOu have air bubbles, I'd go 1/4". You should be able to stand on it

 

I do not mind the one time purchase for the sub/amp...just was curious if anyone has hard data on impact to MPG. I want a single 12" or 15" ported box...which I know would consume the entire cargo area. I currently have a dual 10" sealed box setup in my Titan...and I have simply had enough of the tight bass. I need bass with some roll off.

 

I hear you... The biggest hit to FE will be the weight of the equipment I suspect. Dragging an extra 60-100lbs might be noticeable. The drain on the battery... probably not so much. Though you would be wise not to drain down the 12v with the car not in "Ready" mode. That can cause some serious problems.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Gotcha. I think the box weight will definitely make a difference. My understanding is that the car does not have a traditional alternator in which case the overall system may be affected by additional current draw...but I am already talking over my head.

 

Right, no traditional alternator. Instead, the small 12v battery (not much bigger than a motorcycle battery) is charged via the much larger traction battery through the inverter. But it can only be charged when the car is in "Ready" mode. Otherwise the power would solely come from the 12v battery and that won't last long driving large amplifiers.
People here have mentioned very odd behavior (low FE, starting problems, display problems) just from a 12v battery putting out low voltage. If whenever my OEM dies, I am going a deep-cycle replacement.

 

hmmm...good info. I have large aftermarket battery in my Titan...but I make it a point not to run the amps with the motor off. The biggest concern I have is actual current draw during peak hits. In my Titan...it drops the 12V even with the motor running...but I think that case is more extreme since it is pulling 80amps. It really needs a second battery. I am not sure how many amps I would be pulling give/take for one 15" ported sub. What does the Optimum battery replacement run price wise? Normally those smaller special app batteries are pricey...that was the case for my Miata.

I just filled my tank for the first time today and got 46MPG even with my new wheels and I have not ran in EcO mode yet or adjusted the PSI. If I can improve on this slightly...I am liking this sub box idea more and more

 

The Optimum batteries(yellow top) are about $230 up here but I am sure less down there.

It is funny how we talk about 46 being bad but talkin truck 17 is great. lol.