Lexan as a front face for my sub box?

[CrazyKenKid 64]

So to start here is my sub box

so as you can see my box will be made of 3/4 mdf and nothing will be visible the only think ppl will see are 2-6inch ports and 1 slot! now let's say I replaced the front piece with a piece of lexan or Acrylic Plexiglas (racecar stuff I think...) that way ppl could see a side profile of the subs and then I could use some LED's and have a sexy light show lol!

now more info that sub box is ~7cubi and 6.1 after all displacement the subs are NS v1 15inch subs, this is a TOTAL in the trunk enclosure.

so my questions are:

1. will Lexan work

2. what is Acrylic Plexiglas

a. how does it compare to lexan

I am currently searching Google and I will report my findings but on first attempt i am coming up blank. to power the subs I will be using either saz2000/or saz2500 not 100% sure but nearly 5krms says 150db~~~~ around that, will the lexan hold up will Acrylic Plexiglas be as good.

I have ZERO experience with each of those types of plastic and any and all help is very welcomed!

p/s I will be using 1/2 thread rod to brace it all 2 from front to back and 2 from top to bottom idea, also if you think this is a dumb idea please feel free to say so.

[CrazyKenKid 64]

also more info if it helps

2-nsb 90's

1-h/o alt

current potention 300-400amps~

anything else that can help please ask!

[nem 2,019]

Lexan is used for safety guarding in industry, acrylic and plexi are used for everything else. Either will work for your need, make sure to use care in cutting.

[Kanaworm$ 292]

Unless you can find someone with extra or scrap expect to dish out some $$$.

Also you will want to go as thick as your mdf for thickness.

Now you know we will require pics for this setup right? ....

[CrazyKenKid 64]

I got a reply back from a plexy guy and he told me to stick with acrylic as it will not cost me 100$ / sheet like lexan does lol. so with your guys recommondations complied with his reply I will be using 1inch acrylic which will run me 50-70$~ around there

and yes oldschool for sure you will get some pics lol one i get the nice weather and fak'in school is out llol! it is going to be a crazy build with a bunch of bracing and the bracing will be special as everything has to be compact and flush!

Sub box bracing - SSA Car Audio Forum

and thanks nem and oldschool for your help!

1 more question since we will be able to see into my box should i put a mirror on the inside or no mirror i am not sure what kind a effect this would achieve.

[Kanaworm$ 292]

I got a reply back from a plexy guy and he told me to stick with acrylic as it will not cost me 100$ / sheet like lexan does lol. so with your guys recommondations complied with his reply I will be using 1inch acrylic which will run me 50-70$~ around there

and yes oldschool for sure you will get some pics lol one i get the nice weather and fak'in school is out llol! it is going to be a crazy build with a bunch of bracing and the bracing will be special as everything has to be compact and flush!

Sub box bracing - SSA Car Audio Forum

and thanks nem and oldschool for your help!

1 more question since we will be able to see into my box should i put a mirror on the inside or no mirror i am not sure what kind a effect this would achieve.

Look for some 1/4" mirrored plexi and put it on the back wall of the enclosure. It gives the impression of a lot of woofers.

[CrazyKenKid 64]

mirrored plexy eh... not glass? and yes more subs is the effect i was looking for! lol!

[CadillacMatt 31]

Lexan is top notch, when I worked for my old composite company we used to build aircraft shower doors out of the stuff (The technical difference - Lexan is GE's trade name for its polycarbonate product, whereas Plexi is acrylic like you mentioned)

However it is much more expensive so Plexi should be fine as OldSkool said.

[CrazyKenKid 64]

umm i c! thanks i will look into some prices on polycarbonate rather then lexan as lexan is a brand, nad all this time i thought it was a type lol!

thank you for the info Matt!

[Kanaworm$ 292]

Lexan is a type! Just more expensive than acryllic.

[CadillacMatt 31]

Right, technically Plexiglass is a brand moniker too, but not to confuse anyone too much... most people refer to acrylic glass as Plexiglass and polycarbonate as Lexan, I feel like I'm piggybacking on OldSkool's post again but he is right about the price point, Plexi is a perfect budget-friendly alternative to Lexan as long as you allow plenty of thickness

Whew!

[CrazyKenKid 64]

umm i c! thanks guys!

so here is the price break down, lexan is 100$/ square foot (so 12x12x1)

and the other stuff acrylic is 130 for the piece i need cut to size (1x36x18)

so it looks like i am spending 130$ bones lol!! o well it will look sick when it is all done!!

thanks everyone for your input and the mirror glass idea! thanks again!

[CrazyKenKid 64]

hey guys another question about LED placement? where would i put them? infront or behind the acrylic?

or better question how do you mount LED's so you cna see the entire inside of the box? plus will the mirror have any negative effect with the leds?

[CrazyKenKid 64]

so here is my new idea!

1inch acrylic

NO mirror

inside of the box painted WHITE

and a strip of this since it cna change colors at will!!

thoughts commmonts? idea's? i have till apr/may before anything is set in stone lol

[CadillacMatt 31]

If you want to achieve a really clean look with the LED's (i.e. make them non-visible but still project a good amount of light) I would incorporate a lip of MDF about 1" around the plexi, and mount the LED's directly behind the lip (if that makes any sense!) so when people look through the "window" of the box, they see it lit up but they won't see the source of the light... again, if that makes any sense.. lol

[The enD 467]

umm i c! thanks guys!

so here is the price break down, lexan is 100$/ square foot (so 12x12x1)

and the other stuff acrylic is 130 for the piece i need cut to size (1x36x18)

so it looks like i am spending 130$ bones lol!! o well it will look sick when it is all done!!

thanks everyone for your input and the mirror glass idea! thanks again!

130? That's too much man. Why don't you go with MDF and make a big window in it, not just the whole front side of the box from plexy.

hey guys another question about LED placement? where would i put them? infront or behind the acrylic?

or better question how do you mount LED's so you cna see the entire inside of the box? plus will the mirror have any negative effect with the leds?

One trick you can do with LED's is you can frost them with sand paper. That way the light is not like a beam but like a glow. And better put them in the box a way that they cannot be seen, only the light from em.

so here is my new idea!

1inch acrylic

NO mirror

inside of the box painted WHITE

and a strip of this since it cna change colors at will!!

thoughts commmonts? idea's? i have till apr/may before anything is set in stone lol

If it was me I would go with something not so colorful. Simple sometimes is better. You can go with blue, baby blue, white and so on. I am not a fan of all these different light at the same time, like a Christmas tree.

[CrazyKenKid 64]

umm i c i like the window idea i will play around with that idea...

as for hiding the LEDs behind a 1inch lip so basically making a boarder now that is also a good idea!

thanks guys you have given me something to consider over the very days!

the reason why i went with the million lights is becase it comes with an adjuster so i can switch the color to whatever i wnat it to me! so i can use a solid color your have like a christmas tree lol!!

thansk agian guys! i will keep you all in the loop with what i decide!

[CadillacMatt 31]

Wherever you put them just make sure they are mounted securely

Or you might have some floating lights inside your box lol