Making custom speaker rings can be a quick way to save some money if you are willing to spend a little time setting up.
In this guide I will explain the process to making a basic ring as well as a recessed ring.
Before you start, you need to make yourself a guide tool.
You can free-hand cut your rings but for the most professional results you need a guide.
The guide is just a piece of stock aluminum with the Roto-zip mounted on one side with staggered holes drilled down its length.
If you do not have a Roto-Zip you can do the same with a jig saw.
For the first cut you will cut out a large circle in MDF.
For a basic mounting ring for a subwoofer or any other speaker, you need to make the circle at least one inch larger than the largest part of your speaker.
For a 12" sub woofer you need to cut out a 13" circle.
This means you will use the hole in the tool that is 6 1/2" from the bit.
Once you have your distances checked put a small screw through the correct hole leaving enough of the screw out to allow the cutting jig to freely spin.
The next step, is to make the inside cut.
This cut needs to be at least the size of the speakers basket.
For a 12" speaker this is usually about 11", meaning you set your guide at 5.
5" and repeat the steps above.
If you are making basic mounting rings for something like kick-pods or deck speakers you are done.
However in some instances such as spare wheel well mounting, a flush fit is needed.
For that you need to cut a second ring.
The inside cut will be the size of the speaker and the outside cut should be ~1" larger than the outside cut on the previous ring.
So in this example the second ring has an inside dimension of 12" and an outside dimension of14" Once you are sure all of your measurements were correct, sand down any rough or high spots on your rings.
If you are using T-nuts to hold your speaker now is the time to install them.
With your two rings cleaned up, now is the time to assemble them.
Apply wood glue around the entire ring before you nail them together.
Using a very fine finishing nailer or finish nails, nail the piece together in 6-8 places.
The nails are used to keep the piece from shifting until the glue has a chance to dry.
Finally, check the fit of your speaker.
If slight adjustments need to be made it is easy to do so at this time.
Sandpaper will enlarge the hole slightly if you mis-measured.
In this guide I will explain the process to making a basic ring as well as a recessed ring.
Before you start, you need to make yourself a guide tool.
You can free-hand cut your rings but for the most professional results you need a guide.
The guide is just a piece of stock aluminum with the Roto-zip mounted on one side with staggered holes drilled down its length.
If you do not have a Roto-Zip you can do the same with a jig saw.
For the first cut you will cut out a large circle in MDF.
For a basic mounting ring for a subwoofer or any other speaker, you need to make the circle at least one inch larger than the largest part of your speaker.
For a 12" sub woofer you need to cut out a 13" circle.
This means you will use the hole in the tool that is 6 1/2" from the bit.
Once you have your distances checked put a small screw through the correct hole leaving enough of the screw out to allow the cutting jig to freely spin.
The next step, is to make the inside cut.
This cut needs to be at least the size of the speakers basket.
For a 12" speaker this is usually about 11", meaning you set your guide at 5.
5" and repeat the steps above.
If you are making basic mounting rings for something like kick-pods or deck speakers you are done.
However in some instances such as spare wheel well mounting, a flush fit is needed.
For that you need to cut a second ring.
The inside cut will be the size of the speaker and the outside cut should be ~1" larger than the outside cut on the previous ring.
So in this example the second ring has an inside dimension of 12" and an outside dimension of14" Once you are sure all of your measurements were correct, sand down any rough or high spots on your rings.
If you are using T-nuts to hold your speaker now is the time to install them.
With your two rings cleaned up, now is the time to assemble them.
Apply wood glue around the entire ring before you nail them together.
Using a very fine finishing nailer or finish nails, nail the piece together in 6-8 places.
The nails are used to keep the piece from shifting until the glue has a chance to dry.
Finally, check the fit of your speaker.
If slight adjustments need to be made it is easy to do so at this time.
Sandpaper will enlarge the hole slightly if you mis-measured.
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