Trainwreck Cab Construction

[camden_guitarist]

Hi guys, my Express is once again, cabless, my provisional pine cab buckled under the weight of the chassis during a lift for a rehearsal last friday. I wanna construct something a bit more durable but I only have access to manual tools, no machines. So I'm probably going into something like beech or birch...Oak wouldn't be bad but I think it's gonna be hard too tool.

On top of that, how do you guys get those motifs whilst painting/coating/lacquering (?)

Anyway, if anyone can put up a newbie course on cab construction/finishing, a lot of us newbies would be very grateful.

Cheers,

Paul.

[alanp]

When I win lotto and get enough money to get one of Nik's kits (damn car), I'm going to ask my woodworking uncle to make me a cab. Sod this 'DIY' stuff, I'm all thumbs when it comes to woodwork, and he's good at what he does. I'm thinking Rimu or something.

I guess what I'm saying is, do you know any relatives who'd make a good solid amp cab for you for a 12pack?

[camden_guitarist]

My dad and brother are in construction but I don't really think they could help me with this, on top of that...they still live in Holland while I moved to France, so delegating it whilst living here is not really an option. Plus I'd like to be able to say I build my amp totally by myself Anyway, any suggestions are welcome.

Cheers,

Paul.

[M Fowler]

Paul,

In your case using only hand tools you should use the beech or birch as stated or some harder wood than pine. You can butt join the top and sides predrilling three small holes for screws and larger drill bit to enlarge the hole for the screw head to be counter sunk into the wood. Use cabinet screws for strength and their ability to really tighten the panels together. If you can get wood filler or putty use that, but if no, then glue mixed with saw dust to fill in the screws/hole to surface level and sand. You can paint the cab. Easy and effective way to build cabs when dovetails, finger joints or biscuits are not available to you.

Are you sure some nice old retired cabinet or furniture builder in your area wouldn't enjoy building a cab with you for something to do besides passing down a craft?

Mark

[M Fowler]

Also do a search using cab and option for seaching subject line only and there are lots of posts on this subject.

[leleduke]

You should get Jim Weyandt to build one for you. He builds them like the originals.

MD

[CapnCrunch]

Paul,

When you say you will use only hand tools do you mean absolutely no power tools, or do you have some powered hand tools? In other words, do you have a powered drill, a hand operated power circular saw, perhaps a router?

If you don't have some basic hand operated power tools, you are going to have a difficult time building a cabinet, especially if you want it to look well done. I'm not saying it would be impossible, but it will be very difficult unless you have a lot of experience using hand tools.

Butt joints and screws will work just fine, but its tough to cut a very straight line with a hand saw unless you have a lot of practice. In my experience, Beech and Birch are nearly as hard as Oak. I don't know what hard wood costs in France, but by the time you buy the wood and make a few mistakes, (and you likely will make a few mistakes), you'd be better off having someone with tools either build it for you, or at least help you with the milling. Thats just my 2 cents.

[camden_guitarist]

Thank you all very much for your input, I value it all very much, I'll consider my options and shop around for some timber, as I said, the beech, birch and oak are readily available in most hardware outlets, more exotic stuff is harder to come by except teak...but hey that stuff is like harder than a rock and I wouldn't even want to put my dad through that...lol.

Anyway, furniture guys and other pros will conn you over here, it's like a secret code over here, why build up a small pool of good clients if you can just rip EVERYBODY off...seriously, I ain't a racist kinda guy, but I see it in every kind of business over here, from your basic plumber to electricien upwards...it's kinda sad, but the way of life...plus it's hard to come by these people (if you find a 'decent' one) coz their trade is getting discredited all time and people don't buy that much 'real' furniture any more, it's all your basic IKEA stuff, no real hardwood.

I'll try to look up some stuff in the local yellow and white pages, but I've been through that already and it's a bitch, as you can gather from my story above...

Anyhow, thanks again for all your input and I'll keep y'all posted.

Cheers.

Paul.

[mclmk8d]

I was looking at the photos of the TWs that Ultra Sound has and noticed they all have the same knobs. Are these the type? From Antique Electronics Supples www.tubesandmore.com KNOB - BLACK, WHITE LINE, LARGE, SET SCREW, BRASS INSERT Item # P-K349
Found a thread and was wondering if there is any difference between these and the Mouser 5164-1510AH knobs..pics of the Mouser ones anybody?[/img]

[Structo]

These look like them.

http://www.tubesandmore.com/scripts/fox ... tem=P-K349

[gearhead]

I was looking at the photos of the TWs that Ultra Sound has and noticed they all have the same knobs. Are these the type? From Antique Electronics Supples www.tubesandmore.com KNOB - BLACK, WHITE LINE, LARGE, SET SCREW, BRASS INSERT Item # P-K349
Found a thread and was wondering if there is any difference between these and the Mouser 5164-1510AH knobs..pics of the Mouser ones anybody?[/img]

Those are bigger than the Davies 1510 (Mouser) ones:

http://www.daviesmolding.com/standard-p ... fault.html

Dana ID'ed them a while back:

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... bs+express

[mclmk8d]

ahhh...found them on Davies website # 1510
http://www.daviesmolding.com/standard-p ... fault.html more rounded and petite!

[camden_guitarist]

Back on topic now, I just pulled up my Express building guide coz I knew that in there somewhere there was a little trick for building a cherry cab.

Woodcraft still lists these drawers. Anybody got any experience ordering from these guys and was the result up to the test??? How did you like the cab you got from it?

As well, my decimal count of 3 after the point is not accepted, do I round the width and depth down to: 18.37 and 8.87 respectively or up to 18.38 and 8.88 ???

thanks for any light shed on this, I'll be ordering to ship to France, so I'd better get the dimensions right first time

Cheers,

Paul.

[mclmk8d]

I believe they end up rounding up...mine was.
I didn't do a great job on mine, so I using it as a display case for a 1:18th diecast car

[M Fowler]

Here is the posting about how to order.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... ght=#34777