Appropriate Speaker Cabinet Material?

[rsalinger]

I was just offered a 12m2 lot of 8x2cm Black Sucupira planks. Black Sucupira is a rare (but not endangered) old-growth rain-forest hardwood with a deep, beautiful grain, often marketed as Tiete Chestnut in North America.

Is this appropriate material for a speaker cab?

or

Where could I find out if this is appropriate speaker cabinet material?

Cheers,
Rob

[Cantplay]

Any material you use for a cabinet will have its own resonance.

The cabinet size will also have a voice in this, as will whatever bracing you use.

A lot of rainforest wood is oily, and you need to wipe it with naphtha before you glue it.

John

[rsalinger]

Any material you use for a cabinet will hav.e its own resonance.

The cabinet size will also have a voice in this, as will whatever bracing you use.

A lot of rainforest wood is oily, and you need to wipe it with naphtha before you glue it.

John

Thanks John,

I haven't noticed that Black Sucupira is overtly oily, yet. However, I will have to wait and see... as I would imagine that any oiliness showing up would do so on freshly cut surfaces. Would that assumption be correct?

What I have noticed is that these planks are heavier than the cherrywood boards, of similar dimensions, used in my Stangray clone last year. Also, this wood is very, very hard... "sparks" really do fly, when you put a saw to it, so they say. Dovetailing will probably be a chore.

Cheers,
Rob

[Reeltarded]

Not exactly on the oils, but I don't think I'd worry so much. Most oily wood comes from a rain forest. (jungle in my day).. and since this isn't endangered, I wouldn't make a cabinet out of it..

Just kidding.

So, it cuts like sapele, hmm.. Sparks fly because it's full of silicates. It's very heavy because it's full of silicates, and sapele taps out somewhere around glass at twice the thickness. Commonly called African mahogany, it's not usually african, and surely not mahogany. (for instance)

I've never heard of a wood by either of those names.. hmm.. I am not sure what it really is.

A great cabinet wood taps out like "tock tock" instead of "ping ping", or "tick tick". I like ply without voids!

[Structo]

As you probably know, it will make for a very heavy speaker cabinet.

Also, some of those exotic hardwoods are toxic to breathe the saw dust so be careful there.

Interesting about the sparks.

I have heard about that before with the silicates.

And yes good idea to wipe it with naphtha or acetone before gluing.

Can you post a picture of some of it and wipe it with some naphtha or something to show the grain before you snap the shot?

[rsalinger]

As you probably know, it will make for a very heavy speaker cabinet.

Hey Tom,

To be quite honest, I would never buy an unknown wood, with unknown tonal characteristics and a heavy wood at that. However, seeing that it was given to me, I'm willing to experiment. Obviously, I'm hoping for a happy accident.

They say, "nothing comes for free"... I hope this doesn't come at the expense of a hernia? LOL!

Cheers,
Rob

[timford]

Maybe start with a really nice head cabinet.

I've never made a speaker cab or head cab out of hardwood (but I have made other stuff with it). My cab have been always been solid pine or marine (voidless) ply. But looking at all of those trainwreck heads I think it would be a real nice project.

I've heard of and seen pictures of speaker cabs being made of hardwood, but haven't heard them personally.

Best of luck. Working with wood can be very rewarding.

[rsalinger]

Also, some of those exotic hardwoods are toxic to breathe the saw dust, so be careful there.

Thank you for the heads-up! Really.

I looked into this. Surprise! Black Sucupira sapwood saw dust is toxic to breathe, after kilning or being completely sun-dried. Did I thank you for the heads-up, Tom?

On the positive side, this trees' (scientific name: Bowdichia Virgilioides) bark and seeds, when chewed, have Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory qualities, being used in folk-medicine and traditional healing, throughout the amazon basin, to cure various rheumatic and asthmatic diseases.

Take THAT to the bank, Bayer Pharmaceutical Corporation!

[rsalinger]

Maybe start with a really nice head cabinet.

I've never made a speaker cab or head cab out of hardwood (but I have made other stuff with it). My cab have been always been solid pine or marine (voidless) ply. But looking at all of those trainwreck heads I think it would be a real nice project.

I've heard of and seen pictures of speaker cabs being made of hardwood, but haven't heard them personally.

Best of luck. Working with wood can be very rewarding.

Thank-you, for the words of encouragement. I will be attempting a 1x12 combo to house the Stangray Clone I built last year. Obviously, I was inspired by the old Hardwood Boogie Combos.