Ok so after getting jerked around by my local wood shop I finally received the box. Supposed to be done on 26Apr. Had to go with the wood shop as I am not a carpenter nor do I have the tools and I am sure after I purchased a table saw, router etc it would put me at the $360 dollars I spent on the unfinished box. First off the system. Pioneer Elite SC-05 Receiver to a Behringer MIC 2200 and the EP2500. I am using Mach 5 Audio's IXL 15.2.2, I decided to use 1" mdf for this build always told bigger was better. Unfortunetly I did not have enough room to build a box for an 18 or I would have gone that route. Ok the build I am almost to the point of painting. First off I read alot of articles on how to finish MDF and or to create a piano black finish. I am not going to create a piano black finish infact it will be Behr's Eggshell finish. So one step up from I think flat. So I first started with Minwax wood hardner 3 cans given the properties of MDF and absorbing water I thought this can't hurt. Coupled with that and the fact that I am currently in Hawaii and the salt content in the air cant be good for wood . The core of the MDF soaked this up like a sponge soaks up water so qudos there. Then to fill in the counter sunk screw and edges on the MDF I used Minwax wood filler. Nice stuff really enjoyed working with it. Next time though I am going to purchase a dedicated putty knife and not a plastic one. Once I sanded that down with 220grit sandpaper I used Fiberglass resin inside and out of the box. I read it helps with the rigidness of the box and sanding it creates a nice smooth finish. I was hoping to put on a coat of primer on tonight but for some reason the top side of the box when sanding it gunked up. I think I either failed to put enough hardner into the mix or something. So I took some 60 grit sand paper when through two sheets of it trying to sand the top down to a workable state so I could reapply a coat of Fiberglass resin. Which is where I sit now. I am going to let this dry over night as I am treating my pregnant wife to a meal of Osso Buco and Saffron Rissoto. So, the plan tomorrow I will be sanding the Fiberglass resin with 150 220 and 320 grit sand paper. putting the primer on sanding it down another coat of primer sanding pending on it I get any uneven spots I will put another one on. Once that is complete I will start with the "Beluga" black egg shell paint. with wet sanding in between with 400 and 600 grit. I hope this creates a nice finish. I am wondering if should put a cost of semi gloss poly acrylic on top my wife request that it be water glass ring proof, but given where it will be placed in the home I don't see this happening. I will post more as they come in.
Note: I did not enjoy working with Fiberglass Resin at all it was my first time working with it and nothing says fun on a project you are trying to make look nice like "hey buddy you have 15 minutes to work and in ten minutes im going to get really sticky have fun" NOT!
Box Design and yes the measurements are off I know
![]()
Box upon receipt tried to give perspective of how big the box actually is
![]()
![]()
with the wood hardener it did dye the wood a deeper color no worries
![]()
![]()
Beginning sanding of the wood filler
![]()
![]()
All sanded
![]()
![]()
![]()
With the fiberglass resin on
![]()
![]()
![]()
Note: I did not enjoy working with Fiberglass Resin at all it was my first time working with it and nothing says fun on a project you are trying to make look nice like "hey buddy you have 15 minutes to work and in ten minutes im going to get really sticky have fun" NOT!
Box Design and yes the measurements are off I know
Box upon receipt tried to give perspective of how big the box actually is
with the wood hardener it did dye the wood a deeper color no worries
Beginning sanding of the wood filler
All sanded
With the fiberglass resin on
