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unique baffle materials
Can one get ~piano finish without spray systems (ie rattle cans)? Paint and clear coat brand suggestions (and thoughts about just taking baffles to an auto paint shop).
Has anyone here given a go with building a cement baffle, or used countertop materials? I’d like a 1 ¼ inch solid wood baffle- but know the problems, and looking for something interesting.
Plz post ideas / pics.
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Concrete baffles are possible, and I've contemplated complete boxes, but I just don't have the time for the projects I've already started. There are a multitude of Corian type solid countertop materials available and they machine with wood working tools. Finally auto body shops will be willing to paint baffles for you, but you will need to be specific about what kind of finish you want. Be sure to tell them you don't want any orange peel, and you're looking for a base with clear finish.
You can get a reasonably good gloss black (ie, piano black) finish using Minwax Polyshades gloss black stain & poly. Because the name "MINWAX" is involved, opinions may vary. I'm sure some fine-tuning of the process AFTER the initial two coats could make or break the outcome, but I've been satisfied with what can be done with it.
Best and easiest basic gloss black I've done is Chalkboard spray paint finished with VHT Nite Eyes spray paint.
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Just can't beat old fashioned wet-sand and buff, though. Lots of elbow grease involved, and requires a very thick application of the basecoat due to how much is removed via the sanding process. Worth it in the end, I guess. I no longer do piano finishes because I am fairly lazy.
Oil based stuff has an easier time leveling out since they dry on continental drift timescale. But I imagine spraying is still pretty necessary when chasing a mirror-like finish. Otherwise there would probably be too much texture from brush or roll, and end up sanding through the top coat trying to get it back level again. Not that it is impossible... with enough skill and technique invested I bet someone could pull it off.
As far as interesting baffle finishes. I remember someone painted alternating color coats and deliberately sanded through to get a pretty wild pattern.
Butcher block type countertops are made to handle quite alot of moisture swings and abuse without splitting, but it is usually nice n thick material. Folks here seem to have issues with the 5/8" thick edge glued boards. That might just be too thin to resist tensile forces with so little material between the driver holes. Use a gasket and fastener attachment method to the rest of the enclosure and I imagine the thicker stuff should do fine IMO.
I have used the Menards 5/4" thick edge glued pine. I actually glued it to PE mdf flat pack towers (without using the original baffles). Outside was finished with water based poly. No finish on the inside of the ported enclosure. Been a few years in my father's condo without an issue yet.
https://i.imgur.com/XZNx55Q.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/gZ8UloG.jpg
Thx - This was spot on. A black stained box with black piano finish baffle looks great.