How to Make Bass Bins

By Richard May

Bass bins are large speakers designed to provide extra power for bass parts in music. Their large cabinets usually house one speaker driver and help boost the deep end frequencies. Despite their impressive sound, bass bins can be relatively cheap to build. If you have basic DIY skills, you should be able to make a well performing bass bin relatively easily.

Cut the plywood sheet into panels using the table saw. You need two panels measuring 30-by-18-inches for the front and back panels, two side panels of 30-by-13-inches and two 18-by-13 panels for the top and bottom.

Measure 17-inches along one of the 30-by-18-inch panels, and draw a horizontal line across the width. Measure 9-inches along this line, and mark the spot with a pencil. Place the speaker driver face down centered over the pencil spot. Draw around the speaker to mark out a circle. Draw a second circle 1-inch inside the first.

Drill a hole just inside the second circle using the 3/4-inch wood bit. Push the jig saw blade through the hole, and cut around the inner circle line. Test the speaker in the hole to ensure that it fits snugly. Remove the speaker and place it to one side.

Measure one-inch from the bottom of the panel, and draw a line across the width. Draw a line parallel to the first. Measure two inches from the end of each line, and join them to form a rectangle. Use the 3/4-inch wood drill bit, and drill a hole in one corner of the rectangle. Insert the jigsaw blade into the hole and cut along the lines of the pencil rectangle. Smooth any rough edges of the hole using fine grain sand paper.

Cut the 1-by-1 into four 28-inch lengths and four 11 1/2-inch lengths. Fix two 28-inch lengths along each 30-inch side of a 30-by 18-inch panel 3/4-inch from the outer edge. Secure in place with wood glue before screwing in place with 1 1/2-inch screws spaced at seven inch intervals. Fix the remaining two 28-inch pieces of 1-by-1 to the other 30-by 13-inch panel in the same way.

Glue two 11 1/2-inch pieces of 1-by-1 at each end of the 28-inch lengths to form a rectangle on each of the 30-by-18-inch panels. Fix in place with wood glue and three 1 1/2-inch screws evenly spaced.

Apply glue around the 1-by-1 rectangle frame on each 30-by 18-inch side panel. Each panel fixes to the frame so that its edge is flush with the surface of each other panel. Fit the top panel first, and use 1 1/2-inch self tapping screws to secure in place. Flip the cabinet over and fit the bottom 18-by-13 panel in the same way as the top panel.

Lay the speaker box on one of its open edges and fit the rear panel. Turn the box over and push the front panel in place. Secure both panels to the inner frames using 1 1/2-inch screws to complement the glue.

Lay the cabinet on its front and drill a hole in the center of the rear panel using the 3/4-inch wood bit. Turn the cabinet over, and install the speaker driver in the hole. Push the speaker wires through the opening and feed them through the drilled hole in the back panel. Set the speaker into the hole, and secure in place using the 1/8-inch self tapping screws through the speaker's mounting holes.

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