Homemade Speaker Boxes

Homemade speaker boxes are fun and challenging

There are many reasons to make homemade speaker boxes. Some speaker boxes can be expensive, others may not be the right size or style. Some people may just want to experience the pleasure of making their own homemade speaker boxes. All it takes is some basic knowledge of carpentry and wiring, and a little imagination.

Things You'll Need

• Paper and pencil
• ½ inch plywood
• Tape measure
• Table saw or circular saw
• Medium-grid sandpaper
• Drafting compass
• Electric drill
• ¼ inch drill bit
• ½ inch drill bit
• Jigsaw or saber saw
• Wood glue or wood epoxy
• 1 inch wood screws
• ½ inch lag bolts with lock washers
• Speaker wire
• Wire cutters
• Wire strippers
• Soldering gun and rosin-core solder
• Speaker jack plug
• Fine-grid sandpaper

Instructions

1. Draw a template with paper and pencil for the homemade speaker boxes. Allow a minimum of 2 inches clearance around the speaker. Draw the template with the speaker placed in the middle of the mounting board (baffle).

2. Measure the plywood and cut all the sections for the homemade speaker boxes using a table saw or circular saw. Use medium-grid sandpaper to smooth and even out the cut edges.

3. Measure the speaker(s) to be placed in the homemade speaker boxes. Use the drafting compass to draw a circle in the middle of the baffle to the speaker measurements. Line the speaker up on this circle and use the pencil to mark the screw holes for the speaker flange on the baffle.

4. Drill through the screw holes for the speaker in the baffle with the ¼ inch drill bit. Change to the ½ inch bit and drill a hole in the middle of the circle for sawing. Use the jigsaw or saber saw to cut out the speaker hole in the baffle. Use the medium-grid sandpaper to smooth and even out the cut edges.

5. Begin putting the homemade speaker boxes together one at a time by using the wood glue or epoxy to join the side pieces to the bottom piece. Screw the pieces together using the wood screws. Attach the top pieces to this structure in the same manner.

6. Mount the speaker to the baffle using the lag bolts and lock washers. Glue and screw the baffle to the front of the nearly-completed speaker box. Cut a length of speaker wire that reaches from the speaker to the back of the box using the wire cutters.

7. Use the wire strippers to remove ¼ inch of the wire insulation from both ends of the speaker wire. Separate the two leads on each end of the wire. Attach two of the leads to the speaker wire connector terminals with the soldering gun and solder.

8. Drill a hole in the back piece of the speaker box with the ¼ inch drill bit for the speaker jack plug (this is best placed in the middle). Install the jack plug into this hole with the supplied washers and/or nuts. Attach the remaining two leads of the speaker wire to the appropriate connector terminals of the jack plug using the soldering gun and solder.

9. Glue and screw the back piece onto the enclosure. Sand the entire enclosure with fine-grid sandpaper to prepare it for finishing with paint, stain, or fabric speaker cover material, as desired.

References

• Construction
• Soldering wire
• Speaker jack