I've been to Home Depot and Lowes, but they only carry 3/4". Does anyone know where I would get it (I live in NY)?

Also, I heard on the board about someone using 1/4 super strong MDF. Does anyone have experiance with this? I want minimal weight added to my Max and the amp rack I'm building is very simple (basically a carpeted triangle).

Thanks!

 

1/2 inch MDF does exist. But I have never seen it in person. It will likely be difficult to find from a normal retailer. Mail order and internet places stock it. But for the amp rack and for weight savings I would not use MDF at all. Try a wood with grain for the amp rack. It will hold the screws better. And a thin plywood will be stiffer than thin MDF. If you can find baltic birch, I am useing 3/8 inch for my amp racks and false floor.

 

our Home Depot had it here... strange..

 

Is baltic birch better than plywood as far as knots and imperfections? I've used carpeted plywood previously for a shelf on top of my bandpass box in a truck, but I was looking for something a little smoother.

Do you think a lumber yard would have it? I would have checked but they were all closed on Sunday and after normal business hours during the week.

Thanks.

 

Baltic birch is certified void free. Void free is the only type of plywood recommended for speaker enclosures. Some lumber yards have it. I had to make several calls to find it 40 miles west of D.C. But I found it 10 - 15 minutes from my house. It's sold in exterior grade and interior grade finishes. The exterior uses a waterproof glue to laminate the layers together. The interior uses a normal grade laminateing glue.

One side will likely have no visible blemishes. The other side will have football shaped pieces of birch inserted in all the places where a knot was located. You can choose the side you want to be visible. Both sides will be quite smooth, but could benefit from a little more sanding if useing for furniture.

Also, BB will cost 2 - 3 times as much as MDF. 3/8 inch locally is $20 for a 5' X 5' sheet. And the measurements are actually metric. 9mm thick, 1.5 meters square.

 

I would just use 1/2 or 3/4 inch particle board for the amp rack. You can get a quarter sheet for like $10 at Home Depot. It has a smooth surface and takes carpet very well. I wouldn't use it for a box but an amp rack, Yes! Just my $.02....

 

Some would use it. Others place more value on strength, durability and space saveings.

 

Particle board is really heavy. I think they might be even heavier than MDF. Plywood would save you some weight. I'm plan on using 1/2" Birch plywood for my flase floor.

 

They sell it at the my local Homedepot...but in the form of pre cut shelves...that means that they are 1/2" thick, but only about 1.5 ft wide by 8ft long.

 

...'cause I found it at the Home Depot last night! It was 1/2" MDF in a 2' x 4' sheet (estimating) for under $4. I would really like to get 1/4" if it would be strong enough, but the 1/2" is good for now.

One other thing, does anyone else have trouble finding metric bolts? I checked 2 home depots and they only carry standard. Not such a big deal, but I would prefer to keep the car all metric. As it is now I can take it apart with a 10mm wrench and a #2 phillips

 

Metric bolts? Steel, aluminum, titanium, nickel plated stainless, brass or composite?

Mcmaster.com has all of the standard andmany of the better materials. For aluminum or titanium there are a couple others I have used.

 

Lowes have better selection when it comes to metric bolts/nuts.

 

I will check them this weekend, thanks.

Jmax - that site is crazy! Unfortunatly it seems like they only sell in bulk

 

It would be kinda ridiculous to pay a couple dollars for UPS shipping if you got less than 25 of most of the hardware that they have. Ace hardware here in Manassas has a better selection of individual nuts and bolts than either home depot or lowes.