Baffle size

[sdp1234]

How much smaller should the baffle be than the inside dimensions of the box for a combo cab?  I will be attaching the grill cloth to the baffle with 1/4 inch spacers on the from to lift it off the speaker.  The baffle will mount into the box and attached from behind to the cleats.

I need room for grill cloth (maybe piping), tolex and any additional space that is recommended. 

What screws are typically used to mount the baffle to the cleats?  Just wood screws or should I have some type of mounts in the baffle?

Thanks

[stingray_65]

Without piping, 1/8" less than the bare opening, with piping 3/16"

so if your bare (no tolex) opening is 20X20 I cut the baffle 19 7/8 x 19 7/8"

That gives a 1/16th (.o625") a side for 1 layer of tolex (.032) and 1 layer of speaker grille (.0325)

I do not staple the grille on the edge or  it will mar the tolex.

This gives a nice tight fit, almost too tight so a heavy 1/8th (cut the line) is better.

with a scrap of tolex and grille cloth, you can fold each in two and use them as spacers to test fit your baffle.

YMMV as different tolex's and grille cloths vary in thickness

when installing piping, be sure to "set" the staples just a bit to make sure they dont mar or tear the tolex.

Ray

[jjasilli]

Yes, I figure 1/16" for one layer of tolex, plus the same for grill cloth.  That's 2/16" per side (tolex + grill cloth) X 2 sides = 4/16 = 1/4".  So for a bare 20" opening in the cab, I would cut the baffle board 19 3/4".  (I have not used piping.)

[Willabe]

with a scrap of tolex and grille cloth, you can fold each in two and use them as spacers to test fit your baffle.

different tolex's and grille cloths vary in thickness

Yes, I've done this same thing. Worked great. 


                  Brad      

[stingray_65]

Just a quick note,

It's MUCH better to be a bit loose than tight.

JJ is probably wiser in erring on the loose side.

I'll have to recant my original suggestion and agree with him.

1/4" less than the bare opening

Ray

[Boots Deville]

I would hesitate to follow recommended gap sizes to the letter as tolex and grill cloth thicknesses vary.  Test fit as suggested.

But stingray's comment about not stapling the grill cloth on the edge reminded me of a tip I thought I'd share.  If you install piping, it's hard to avoid the staples on the edge, which can mar the tolex.  In this situation I run a piece of that heavy duty Gorilla brand duct tape (black of course!) along the edge and wrapped around the back.  This smooths thing out nicely and allows to baffle to slide in nicely.

[jjasilli]

. . . or tap in the staples a bit more with a tack hammer.

[Boots Deville]

. . . or tap in the staples a bit more with a tack hammer.

Yeah, I do that as well, but sometimes I've still had the rough staple edges do damage.  I could be because I use "Automotive Welt" for piping, which is probably more rigid than a lot of the stuff made specifically for amps.