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Shellac done. Home stretch!! Going to factor a diy spray booth/dust filer for future projects when the garage becomes a shop.

It was a weekend of ups and downs. I fully intended to be finished painting this weekend. Friday was a long day at work. My plan to get a jump on the weekend with a Friday night coat went awol. After meeting with a sidejob client, picking up supplies and making the 45min drive back to the office to file timecards.... to the pub!

Saturday morning started well, and early. By 5:30 I was tucking into breakfast and by 6:45 the garage was under a blanket of beautifying fumes. Glad the organic respirator from spray foaming the basement wasnt lost in the shuffle. By Saturday at 2 the paint was solid and it was time to remove masking.

One of the towers exhibited flaws that made it the guinea pig speaker, so I experimented with the best strategy to remove the mask on it. Pulling back at 45, pulling towards at 45... nope. The best way to remove mask and not hurt the paint, while keeping the mask from tearing is straight back -perpendicular to the work surface. Unmasking the towers was like opening a present from an aunt. I wasnt sure what it was, and I wasnt sure I was going to like it.

All in all it was OK. There were some issues to resolve caused by overheating one side of a tower, and general tape bleed to look past. To reduce the visibility of the split face required a small craft brush and some spot detailing with stain.

SHELLAC. It cures, saves and hides missteps What a great product. Once it started going on I was rewarded with that familiar golden glow. You know, like the trophy case in your junior high, or your first project in wood shop. A loon piggy bank for me, got a B-. The best I can describe the process was fast and non threatening. Brush it in and it wicks to where it should and tacks up in seconds. There wasnt even a strong odor, but I still wore the Vader respirator.

It was a good weekend and I learned a lot. The impending finishline is tantalizingly close. Patience is key now.

Buffing stage one.....

Polishing stage....

I'm really enjoying watching this. When I build speakers I never seem to make time to finish them other than maybe a coat of black paint - get the drivers in the box and that's it.

This is very different

My ultimate question will be when the units are finished.. how do their compare to factory bought ones in both sound and price? add up the amount of time that you spent on them and try and work out how much you ended up working for?

I have learnt from my own experience in woodworking that you don't go out and make something to save money. I found that I do it either for the enjoyment of making it, or that I just cannot readily find anything that fits my needs on the market and have to custom make to get what I want.

I am curious as to why you decided to make these speakers?

Because I love doing it. I love the science of sound. I find it intensely gratifying and important to know why, how, and to execute a hypothesis to strive for exceptional results. There was a lot of thought about strategy and where to go next with my evolution. Building loudspeakers offered the most opportunity to expand my general knowledge of electro acoustics.

If I counted all the time I spent doing anything my life would become about accounting and not about living. I try to do my best, and live my best. Kind of being self aware as far as my personal growth. I makes me the best person I can be.

A final look before they hit the operating table today. Excited to be deaf soon. Lol.

Wow. Very impressive. Well done! I am enjoying watching this project. Thanks for taking the time to share.

Cheers,

Those look awesome.

Agree with the amount of reading and helping others design their rooms, that you have experience with. This is the best next step.

Plus it's a hobby who cares about the time, as long as you enjoy and learn something new, that's the whole point {Gain more Knowledge} growth all around.

I have learned quite a bit reading your insights the last couple years. A major plus for us Axiom heads is having more knowledgeable forum members willing to share.

Can't wait to hear your thought's upon completion.