Model 19 cab - fabrication cost est.?

[Carl Bill]

I have to assume you are no where near Tulsa, Oklahoma?

I have a vintage pair of 19's (1978) and I am working toward speaker projects here. I have a set of 19 plans I got when I worked at Altec in OKC in 1980. I actually assembled many 19's at Altec in OKC and know them well. I also have a complete set of 19 parts to make another pair, but I have other projects on my mind at this time.

I always thought, that if I were to build another pair for myself, I would do a few things different from the factory model. Use better materials for the base and top/bottom piece (they are actually exactly the same) and use plastic laminate to cover both instead of the fake vinyl leather stuff. Bolt them together with a few more bolts instead of only 2 bolts and a few sheetrock screws holding it all together. Seal the joints with caulk, use some black fabric to cover the insulation exposed at the port. Paint the bare wood around the port with flat black paint, etc...

I am planning on getting the barn cleared out for some speaker building this Summer, so come by and let's talk about building a pair of 19's. Sounds like fun if you are near by and in no hurry. Bill is only 90 minutes away in OKC if you want some new drivers too!

Walnut or Oak? I think the veneer plywood is the expensive part. I assume you can go with MDF and buy veneer to cover the whole thing?? That would be my weak point. Never did much veneer work, but I am sure it could be figured out.

Sounds like a fun project.

By the way, I used to work for beer until my doctor told me to stop drinking beer. Now it is vodka and soda. But still cheap compared to market!

[les winter]

Hello Robert.

Since I am just finishing my own Model 19 clone I can offer a small bit of advice.

Consider building this of Baltic Birch plywood. Much more expensive than mdf; around $100/sheet vs. $35. And bracing the cabinets. The lower base stiffens the bottom and the upper cabinet stiffens the lower cabinet top. The backs, fronts, upper top and sides could use treatment. I used around 1/4 cubic foot of bracing made of 3/4" x 2" baltic birch. It does a fine job.

I would be surprised if anyone could build a pair in less than 50 hours not including finish.
At $40/hour, you have 2 grand in labor and maybe $500 in material. It took me longer and I used plastic laminate in stead of wood veneer. Speaker box construction comes with a learning curve that a regular custom furniture maker will need to include.

good luck with your project.

Les

[GM]

I would be surprised if anyone could build a pair in less than 50 hours not including finish.

At $40/hour........

Speaker box construction comes with a learning curve that a regular custom furniture maker will need to include.

You're kidding, right? Then again, with my current level of decrepitude I'd probably be lucky to do it in 50 Hrs less finishing if not a simple paint job, but I'd like to assume that the rest of the 'gentle readers' here likely to DIY a pair are in much better condition than me.

Where do you live? I haven't seen craftman's rates this low in at least a couple of decades. Then again, 'Hotlanta' has been one of the most expensive places to live in the lower 48 states for quite awhile now.........

I doubt this, but having them done by a cabinet manufacturer that's already set up for this type of simple mass production have historically charged less. Once the CNC machines are programmed it takes no time (relatively speaking) to knock out such simple cabs. For mitered corner construction, they use a tape n' glue lay up with a few brads to hold it all in place while the glue sets that takes about as long to do as it took me to type this. If anything you'll pay a premium for not meeting a minimum number of upper/lower 'counter top' inches that they base their pricing on.

Regardless, yours look fabulous and I've no doubt it performs audibly better overall than the original, so well worth however much time it took IME.

GM

[Mustang Marvin]

Now, let me get this straight. Are you saying there is a cabinet maker set up to mass produce M19 cabinets (Atlanta). I would be interested in a pair as well...

[les winter]

Thanks for your kind words, GM.

If anyone posts their wants over at WoodCentral I'm fairly certain they could find a guy with a two-car garage shop who would take $40 an hour and let the buyer direct the work. Alternatively, look up your local Woodcraft store, stop by and post a wanted ad. You might find a talented amateur who would fullfill your needs.

If you go to a kitchen cabinet fabricator they can certainly build the boxes quickly, but the issues of bracing and air tightness and other speaker-centric stuff will be foreign to them and cost a disproportionate amount more. Kitchen cabinet box makers build pretty flimsy stuff relative to our speaker needs.

Ultimately, the costs of the cabinets, built to order are not cheaper than buying used already-built ones, if you can find them. At $500 or so for the materials, you are well on your way to a pair of 19's including the drivers.

I choose to build mine because I like building furniture.

Good luck to any that choose to build their own. It's a great project.

regards
Les

[GM]

Thanks for your kind words, GM.

You're welcome!

Agreed and have periodically recommended having a local DIYer do the work, but AFAIK it's always fallen on 'deaf ears' even though it would cost less, so don't bother anymore.

Not the ones that use to be around here WRT to custom cabs, they just followed plans/instructions 'to the letter' to ensure no undue liability when it was time to collect, so being careful of what you asked for was the rule.

Right, DIYing isn't so much about saving money as it is getting what you want/need for your app.

GM

[GM]

No, I'm saying that the M19's simple collection of boxes and frames with a few baffle holes are what manufacturers that do kitchen, etc. cabinets, window frames or similar are optimized for.

WRT Atlanta, this was once a major manufacturing town, but due to labor/tax rates going through the 'roof' in recent decades, most began moving away/been bought out beginning in the '90s. There was a good one up on the outskirts of Lawrenceville N.E of us though, but that was ages ago too, so with the build up of that area I assume they've moved on also. There use to be some up around Gainesville where DSL is also.

Speaking of which, someone needs to check with them to see who does their cabs as they are high quality constructed with 13? lam BB ply. For example: Danley DTS-10 "Super Spud" DIY kit - AVS Forum

That said, not too long ago I got a flyer announcing a new business opening near me featuring custom made wood based (PB?) business furniture, but it came along just as the economy collapsed, so not surprised when I got a phone 'disconnected' message just now.

Doing a search, I found one near me that might actually do it locally based on its address, but all I got was 'ringing', not even an answering machine, so not sure what that means. I've made a note to check them out the next time I'm over that way though.

GM