Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Doc Thirst on November 30, 2005, 12:34:50 pm

Title: Speaker Covers/Grilles
Post by: Doc Thirst on November 30, 2005, 12:34:50 pm
As my cab nears completion so does my wife's patients with the amount of money I've spent.  So I'm trying to cut all the corners I can without sacrificing quality.  I'm sure many of you can sympathise with this. 

So I was kicking around the idea of using (computer) fan grills as speaker covers.  They make some really sharp ones these days (comic themed etc.) for less then traditional speaker covers.  I'm using a 3 piece comp. speaker set so I don't have regular speakers, just holes.  Anyone else go this route?  Pitfalls to avoid?  Plug for your favorite fan grille retailer?
Title: Re: Speaker Covers/Grilles
Post by: RetroACTIVE on November 30, 2005, 01:09:06 pm
I used fan grills for speaker grills on my cabinet... It worked great!

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=43594.0

I routed out the wood around the perimeter of the speaker hole, enough for the grill to set flush with the wood, then I placed (with epoxy) them between the laminate and wood panel.

They ended up flush with the laminate because the circular (fan section of the grill) is raised.
Title: Re: Speaker Covers/Grilles
Post by: Doc Thirst on November 30, 2005, 01:20:29 pm
Awesome!  Thanks for the link

Nice cab as well!
Title: Re: Speaker Covers/Grilles
Post by: RayB on November 30, 2005, 01:21:56 pm
As my cab nears completion so does my wife's patients with the amount of money I've spent.
Title: Re: Speaker Covers/Grilles
Post by: Doc Thirst on November 30, 2005, 03:48:44 pm
Hehe, spellcheck seems to be working fine, how about that stupidcheck, can we expect it anytime soon?
Title: Re: Speaker Covers/Grilles
Post by: Bones on November 30, 2005, 04:58:42 pm
I made my own grills from MDF & speaker fabric (I am sure any black fabric would be suitable). Cost would be less than $5.00 and you could probably put them together from scrap wood.
(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=35285.0;id=20115;image)
Title: Re: Speaker Covers/Grilles
Post by: Negativecreep0 on December 01, 2005, 11:41:27 am
i'm a perfectionist and im getting near my speaker area on my showcase cabinet. I want it to be made of hard iron wire like the real showcase cabinets, how can i do this? i thought about aluminum window screening but taht stuff is see through? not to hijack the thread or anything but any ideas.
Title: Re: Speaker Covers/Grilles
Post by: Doc Thirst on December 01, 2005, 12:00:21 pm
You might want to do a google search for fan filters.  Depsite being in the computer biz for years now, I only saw these for the first time a few days ago.  Simple idea behind it, keep the dust bunnies out.  They are rigid screens that go over the top of your PC fans.  Might do the trick, and they come in a variety of colors.  You could put some cloth behind them and they should allow sound but block sight.