building a pair of boxes, what thickness of mdf?

[pow3rslave]

I'm building a pair of 12 sub boxes to go on either side of the boot port hole, and because i've got a bit of a boot install already, i wanted to keep weight to a minimum.

i was thinking of building a box/cube frame from pine DAR (42x19) and sixaflex/screwing 6mm mdf onto it, except the front panel where i'd use thicker mdf to mount the sub.
the 6mm seems fairly rigid, so i don't think it'll bow/flex out much.

i just wanted to see if there could be any problems with this thickness, cos most built boxes i see look like they're about 1.5 cm of mdf

BTW i haven't even decided on the subs yet, most likely the box will be unported. i'm basically going to build the boxes then add or subract from the internal volume depending on which subs go in.

[HCVP]

Your better of just making the enclosures entirely out of MDF. Depending on the application, i wouldn't use any less than 18mm, and i always double up on the baffle.

If weight , or space is of an issue then you would be better of just using a single sub. A single quality sub will always reproduce accoustics better than two cheaper alternatives.

If it's a sealed enclosure then you may also benifit from some resining and some form of dampening.

[StoneX]

I always make my boxes with 18mm unless I'm building a SPL box.

If you want to save some weight you can make the box with thinner MDF then fibreglass the inside of the box to add strength.

[2LOUD2OLD]

yep 18mm minimum, i built mine with 25mm and then fibreglass on the inside for good measure

[HCVP]

Have you made any progress or further decisions yet?

[vt josh]

im with what the boys said only ever use min of 18mm

[AmmoJammo]

it depends entirely on the subs, and the amount of power, as well as the size of the panels being used on the box

16mm should be ok, you may even get away with 12mm depending on the above factors.

if you run 12mm, you can simply put bracing running from the centre of each panel to the opposite panel, which will make it much more rigid.

[vt josh]

lol dont use anything less then 16mm

[ssv 08 ute]

Go hardcore i say...32mm !!!
mmm...maybe not

[StoneX]

I've used 32mm for a single 12" home theatre box... It weighed a shitload

[Jonnii]

good luck trying to put a decent sized screw in 6mm mdf...

We made some display setups for a company at work and made them out of 32mm. Its a bit of overkill but no vibrations in it at all solid as a rock.

[holdenboy]

Yep 16mm for those sized boxes as a minimum...you can get 18mm fairly easily so might as well go with that anyway.

My old box (32mm / 48mm baffle), with about 10L of resin weighed a ridiculous amount.....atleast is was a free 2" lowering job everytime i put it in the car

[HCVP]

good luck trying to put a decent sized screw in 6mm mdf...

I think you have a "decent sized" screw loose if you are tying to put a screw into a 6mm section of mdf, i think maybe 16mm, was the number originally mentioned?

[Jonnii]

I think you have a "decent sized" screw loose if you are tying to put a screw into a 6mm section of mdf, i think maybe 16mm, was the number originally mentioned?

Sorry i mis read the original post thought he was saying to make box out of 6mm but he wanted to use it an paneling