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Adapting a 12" driver to a 15" driver hole!

Urchinn

Urchinn

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
As is already documented in my Karlson thread (posted today), I have some home-made Karlson speakers which house a 15" woofer. I'm not sure that finding some 15" full-range or coaxial drivers is in my budget right now, but I do have some nice 12" Wolverine coaxials. Anybody have any cheap/practical way to adapt a 12" driver to a 15" hole? Thanks, ya'll....
 
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Easy because I've just done it.
Cut a new font baffle plate that can be screwed directly to the front of your speaker .
Cut a 12 inch hole in it screw it to the front and viola.
Under that 12 inch speaker is a 15 inch hole waiting patientlyimage.jpeg
 
Ps: I've also cut another plate that takes a 10 inch driver.
Tried the 10 in there but it was no where near the 12 but I'll keep it and try a different 10 inch one day
 
I've got a couple of cabinets that were custom built to resemble Altec Lagunas but shorter, and they had plywood or MDF plates routed out to adapt 12-14" driver to a 15" hole. screw holes to hold the drivers, other screw holes to attach to the original baffle.

Getting a good circle cut is the key, and a router with a circle cutter jig is the best way to do it.
 
cut a plywood ring that will fit in the 15" OD with a hole to fit the 12" woofer...not too tough if you have a scroll saw, band saw, jig saw, router or router table...
 
thomo57 said:
Easy because I've just done it.
Cut a new font baffle plate that can be screwed directly to the front of your speaker .
Cut a 12 inch hole in it screw it to the front and viola.
Under that 12 inch speaker is a 15 inch hole waiting patientlyView attachment 704363
Click to expand...


This!
Tony, I have a hole cutting jig and a router. If you can get some panels cut to size, you can bring them over and I can measure and cut the hole for you within 1/16" with the router.
 
Thanks for the offer, Baco! There are a lot of irons in the fire right now. Who know, I might take you up on this.
 
The storied JE Labs OB page includes "plans".
http://jelabsarch.blogspot.com/2012/06/open-baffle.html

OBplan.jpg


AK's and MA/NH's own, irrepressible Markus was (presumably still is) a proponent of these and had a set of rings for his :- )
 
Mine were cut with a jigsaw.
Just make sure you have the correct hole diameter because if your out by a millimeter or two it becomes a real chore:mad: (l know)
Mark your hole, drill a hole inside the hole large enough to take the jigsaw blade and start the cut.
Just take your time and don't force the blade and follow the line you will be OK.
Once the speaker is mounted any small flaws aren't visible
 
Dudes, FYI, if you have been using a jigsaw, grab an inexpensive router, a straight cutting bit, and a jasper jig. You will never use a jigsaw for this purpose again.
 
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heeeeeeeeeey thanks for the heads up mhardy :D . . . YES . . get a decent plunge router (pawn shops are cheap) and either a jasper jig or make your own like I did. They will come out looking really slick. All my remaining gear and carpentry tools are napping in a storage locker in western mass, but I am THIS CLOSE to building another pair of JE Labs OB's with 15 inch openings, and spacer rings to accept 12's, 10's, 8's, and probably some ovals fo the yummy isophon drivers . . .
 
baco99 said:
Dudes, FYI, if you have been using a jigsaw, grab an inexpensive router, a straight cutting bit, and a jasper jig. You will never use a jigsaw for this purpose again.
Click to expand...

QFT - Best. Tool. Evah. [for cutting round holes..)

P1011018.JPG
 
I have "reduced cut" many times. If you want a flush baffle that is a bit more difficult.

Assuming your current hole/ opening is 15". Cut a square piece of .75 thick by 17" square.
Next cut a center hole in this 17" square that fits your 12" woofer.
Down the middle of the 17" square, cut it in half- AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE!
Slip the two pieces of wood into the cabinet, push the two 45 degree angles together and cement everything into place, screw secure the two pieces to the inside of the cabinets, fitting around the opening evenly.
Once the glue has set you can now glue another round 15" circle into the old 15" hole, cut it out to fit your next driver, 12" or whatever

Hope this is esy to understand and help! I usually use Gorilla glue, it holds real well after dried.
DC
 
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