Introduction: Build a Speaker Box to Spruce Up Those Old Computer Speakers
About: I'm a computer engineer with a knack for mechanical things. I enjoy working on my truck, and rebuilding motorcycles. I also enjoy working on hardware and software designs, and building cool things.
Ok so first off, yeah this took a bit longer then I thought it would.
Second, this is my first instructable, it turned out to be pretty fun.
For the Box Challenge making something cool from holiday boxes that you happen to have laying around, I had an idea to change the look of the computer speakers at my desktop.
The nice thing is I don't actually dismantle and put the guts into a cardboard box, I simply built an enclosure to hold the speakers which had a little more purpose and took up just about the same footprint.
This would be a great way to turn those really old yellowing speakers that some have laying around into something more aesthetically pleasing.
Second, this is my first instructable, it turned out to be pretty fun.
For the Box Challenge making something cool from holiday boxes that you happen to have laying around, I had an idea to change the look of the computer speakers at my desktop.
The nice thing is I don't actually dismantle and put the guts into a cardboard box, I simply built an enclosure to hold the speakers which had a little more purpose and took up just about the same footprint.
This would be a great way to turn those really old yellowing speakers that some have laying around into something more aesthetically pleasing.
Step 1: Find Some Boxes
Located that stash of boxes you put away for just the right occasions.
If you're lucky you'll have just the right size box for what you need.
If not, I wasn't, you'll be hacking one together.
If you're lucky you'll have just the right size box for what you need.
If not, I wasn't, you'll be hacking one together.
Step 2: What You'll Need
Glue gun, or some other type of glue / adhesive.
I personally like the glue gun it sets up fast.
A razor blade.
Something the measure with, a square, ruler ect.
I decent Idea of what you wanna make it look like.
Since I didn't have any box quite the right size, I decided I'd cut some cardboard up and make one.
I attempted to make it so I could just cut out the outline, fold and have the right size box...it didn't quite work that way.
I personally like the glue gun it sets up fast.
A razor blade.
Something the measure with, a square, ruler ect.
I decent Idea of what you wanna make it look like.
Since I didn't have any box quite the right size, I decided I'd cut some cardboard up and make one.
I attempted to make it so I could just cut out the outline, fold and have the right size box...it didn't quite work that way.
Step 3: Getting Started
Started by measuring the speaker I wanted to enclose.
Made the base of the box by just cutting up some cardboard, and the sides.
I ended up making the sides in two pieces, simply because I didn't quite have enough cardboard box to do it nicely, and I happened to like the thicker cardboard for this application.
Cutting out the first side to make it bend right was a bit tricky...but with only cutting through half way I managed to make the bend where it needed to be.
Made the base of the box by just cutting up some cardboard, and the sides.
I ended up making the sides in two pieces, simply because I didn't quite have enough cardboard box to do it nicely, and I happened to like the thicker cardboard for this application.
Cutting out the first side to make it bend right was a bit tricky...but with only cutting through half way I managed to make the bend where it needed to be.
Step 4: Cutting Out the Front Panel With Flaps
So the next thing was to cut out the next set of sides, the front and the left side.
For this I wanted to add a little bit of accent to the front.
I decided on putting flaps in, not really useful but I think it work out.
First was to line up where I wanted the flaps to be located on the front, center'd it and cut away.
Once cut out, I re-enforced the pre-bent parts in the cardboard, on the inside of the box. Pic 2
Added some more re-enforcement to hold the flaps in. Pic 3
For this I wanted to add a little bit of accent to the front.
I decided on putting flaps in, not really useful but I think it work out.
First was to line up where I wanted the flaps to be located on the front, center'd it and cut away.
Once cut out, I re-enforced the pre-bent parts in the cardboard, on the inside of the box. Pic 2
Added some more re-enforcement to hold the flaps in. Pic 3
Step 5: Test Fit and Flaps
Now we need to test fit things, before we start glueing and putting it together.
I ran into some issues here...
First: I didn't quite get things square, not really an issue, just had to trim sides up a little bit.
Test fitting with the speaker, it seemed to fit in nicely, I did have to make sure though that the re-enforcement parts didn't interfere.
Cut out the flaps out of a little bit thicker 2-ply cardboard, it looked a little more substantial.
Adjusted the angle to see what looked nice before gluing in place.
I toyed with the idea of making these movable, but it seemed like overkill...not that the speaker box isn't already.
I ran into some issues here...
First: I didn't quite get things square, not really an issue, just had to trim sides up a little bit.
Test fitting with the speaker, it seemed to fit in nicely, I did have to make sure though that the re-enforcement parts didn't interfere.
Cut out the flaps out of a little bit thicker 2-ply cardboard, it looked a little more substantial.
Adjusted the angle to see what looked nice before gluing in place.
I toyed with the idea of making these movable, but it seemed like overkill...not that the speaker box isn't already.
Step 6: Putting It Together at Least Most of It
Getting the bottom and sides on nicely required a little more glue and some tabs to hold the walls to the base nicely.
It's starting to look like a box again...
It's starting to look like a box again...
Step 7: Finish Up the Box Figure Out the Top
To finish up the box, I added some more tabs, a lot of glue and sealed the sides up.
Since the box wasn't quite square, I laid out a piece of cardboard for the top, and traced it.
Then I cut it out.
Since the box wasn't quite square, I laid out a piece of cardboard for the top, and traced it.
Then I cut it out.
Step 8: Make It Look Nice
Grab some paint, I used just some rustoleum spray paint, gloss black and some pin stripe tape I had on hand.
Overall I think it looks unique...which is another way of saying it'll probably end up in the workshop area to protect the speaker from stuff getting on it.
Also one of the nice things with the enclosure, I have a horizontal area to stack some of the clutter on.
Now repeat for however many speakers you have to create a cool themed speaker system.
This was a nice way to spend an afternoon.
Also it gives me some ideas for cheap enclosures for various electronic projects I have going on.
Overall I think it looks unique...which is another way of saying it'll probably end up in the workshop area to protect the speaker from stuff getting on it.
Also one of the nice things with the enclosure, I have a horizontal area to stack some of the clutter on.
Now repeat for however many speakers you have to create a cool themed speaker system.
This was a nice way to spend an afternoon.
Also it gives me some ideas for cheap enclosures for various electronic projects I have going on.