Guitar cabinet 'flat packs'

[Che_Guitarra]

Does any retailer / forum member sell amp cabinet kits as flat packs? The postage/courier costs of getting a one piece cabinet to Perth Australia is out of this world, so i'm fishing for alternatives.

I've put my feelers out for a local cabinet maker, but tradie's can pretty much pick and choose work in my area, and so far my job isn't of interest. FWIW, I only have grease monkey tools, not woodworking tools... I don't really want to buy a heap of kit i'll only ever use once or twice.

Do flat packs exist?

 

[alnicopu]

Message Muchxs. He may be able to help you out.

 

[Che_Guitarra]

After a bit of online reading, I think i'm over-estimating how hard box joints are to cut. A router and an accurate jig will get me 99% of the way. It's time to get my DIY on.

 

[Billm]

If you have access to a table saw and a dado blade set, that's a very fast way to make box joints once you get it set up. The router works well, too, but is more time-consuming.

I've made speaker cabs with simple half-lap joints and internal corner blocks that have held up very well. Finger joints and dovetails are not essential.

 

[Che_Guitarra]

I'm going for a router over a table saw so I have a tool that can roundover the cabinet edges too... just to help contain costs a little

 

[BobbyZ]

Seems I saw someone selling precut cab kis on ebay. It's been a while however.

Looks like your going DIY anyway. Just had a thread on Shock Brothers about box joints with some youtube links.

 

[Billm]

I'm going for a router over a table saw

No argument on the roundover, but roundovers are a whole lot easier with the router mounted in a table.

 

[macaroonie]

I'm going for a router over a table saw so I have a tool that can roundover the cabinet edges too... just to help contain costs a little

And your speaker cut outs. Use a radius bar for this.

You might find this thread worth reading , it covers all you will need to know except Tolex

You can do almost all you need to do with a router and a circular saw.

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulle...ing-The-Build&highlight=backyard+box+building

 

[macdog]

I'm on the other side of the country but I got a local cabinet maker to build a big cupboard for my guitars. Looks fantastic, even he was surprised at how well it turned out. I'd keep looking for a cabinet maker.

 

[Mat]

I build mine in the non traditional butt joint method.

Now the twist I have is that along with a good coating of quality glue I place a number of dowels though each joint which adds significant strength and locks the timbers together. In some ways the poor man's finger joints.

Not the "accepted" method but works well and I end up with great sounding pine cabinets.

I purchase my pine from Bunnings - important to spend the time "sighting" boards to get ones with no twists etc but it can be done. This works out to be extremely economical.

 

[old goat]

And your speaker cut outs. Use a radius bar for this.

You might find this thread worth reading , it covers all you will need to know except Tolex

You can do almost all you need to do with a router and a circular saw.

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulle...ing-The-Build&highlight=backyard+box+building

Note that the rabbet joints he uses are for plywood--if you use those joints in solid wood there will be no side grain to side grain gluing--end grain glues poorly. And that's a small stereo cabinet. If you want the cabinet to last and it's fairly large use finger (box) joints or cut dovetails by hand--cheaper tools (decent box joint router jigs are expensive. The jig for a table saw is shop made but you need the saw.) Dovetails are much easier to do than you think, and a lot more fun than working with noisy routers and table saws. They're a lot easier than playing the guitar. And who knows-you might get hooked and have another gear-obsessive hobby--at least with woodworking you can convince your wife the furniture you build will more than pay for the tools. Can't say that about guitars, not after she's heard you play.

 

[Che_Guitarra]

Wow nice build thread. Funny thing is i've inherited a set of JBL's very similar to those - although mine are only two way.

I have a jig in mind for the box joints, but I now realise i'll probably need another for the 1" cabinet rake (?) from top to bottom.

Fun times.

 

[macaroonie]

Note that the rabbet joints he uses are for plywood--if you use those joints in solid wood there will be no side grain to side grain gluing--end grain glues poorly. And that's a small stereo cabinet. If you want the cabinet to last and it's fairly large use finger (box) joints or cut dovetails by hand--cheaper tools (decent box joint router jigs are expensive. The jig for a table saw is shop made but you need the saw.) Dovetails are much easier to do than you think, and a lot more fun than working with noisy routers and table saws. They're a lot easier than playing the guitar. And who knows-you might get hooked and have another gear-obsessive hobby--at least with woodworking you can convince your wife the furniture you build will more than pay for the tools. Can't say that about guitars, not after she's heard you play.

Not too sure about ' small ' 34" tall 18.5 wide 15" deep. Thats a 15" bass driver.

I used Gorilla glue for the joints and was well pleased with its performance. There are some screws in there for good measure

 

[DC Music]

Does any retailer / forum member sell amp cabinet kits as flat packs? The postage/courier costs of getting a one piece cabinet to Perth Australia is out of this world, so i'm fishing for alternatives.

I've put my feelers out for a local cabinet maker, but tradie's can pretty much pick and choose work in my area, and so far my job isn't of interest. FWIW, I only have grease monkey tools, not woodworking tools... I don't really want to buy a heap of kit i'll only ever use once or twice.

Do flat packs exist?

You might want to contact Mark Watson at Amwatts. (link removed)