Introduction

Cabinet Plans

Cabinet Assembly

Veneering

Finishing

Final Assembly

Grilles

Listening Impressions

Links

My cabinet design incorporates these features:

  • Double-thickness baffle (in case that clears up the minor midrange issues David Ellis noted in his original 1801F notes).
  • Double-thickness rear panel, for balance (so the cabinet is not too front-heavy).
  • Removable access panel. The crossover board and binding posts are attached to this panel for easy repair/adjustment. The access panel also enables some experimentation with cabinet stuffing.
  • Rabbeted front and rear panels formed by small inner panels glued to larger outer panels.
  • Dado-joint vertical brace, to further help align the cabinet.

Click the images below to see full-sized images, or view them in PDF format.


Overview Sheet Thumbnail

Overview sheet showing exploded cabinet views.



Panel Sheet Thumbnail

Panel dimensions sheet.



Cut Sheet Thumbnail

Cutting plan sheet.


Grille Frame Thumbnail

Grille frame detail sheet.

This cabinet design was influenced by several constraints.

  • I do not own a biscuit joiner (or the right slot-cutting bit to turn my router into one), so I tried to find a way to make the cabinet panels interlock to a degree without biscuits.
  • Despite my best efforts, I have a tough time making perfect cuts with my table saw. As a result, my plans call for oversized panels that are trimmed to size during assembly with a router and flush-trimming bit.
  • I drive a Honda Civic (and am too cheap to pay for delivery), so I can't transport large sheets of MDF. Therefore, my cut plans assume 48"x24" MDF pieces.

Important Note:

It's no longer possible to build an 1801F by following the above plans exactly. Some minor port-related changes are required.

When I built my 1801Fs, Dave Ellis was using a straight-sided port that was basically a 2 1/8" outside-diameter tube with a small flange. Since then, he switched a a port that is flared on both ends. The new port requires a much larger mounting hole on the rear panel and (I think) a larger hole in the center brace.

If I were to build another pair of 1801Fs, I think I would make all of the center brace holes the same diameter, and move the port hole on the rear panel up so it aligned with the bottom-most brace hole.

<Introduction  |  Cabinet Assembly>