Hard Plastic Box -> Git Build?

Posted by Andy Busch on January 20, 2017 at 2:48pm

I got a small Bluetooth speaker for my b-day.  It came in a clear hard plastic box.  I think it has possibilities for a build.

1.)  I would need to drill and saw on it to fit parts, and use screws.  I speculate that cracking and breakage might be a risk.  How can I do the work on it and minimize the risk of crack and breaks to the plastic "body"?

2.)  It's about 5 1/2 inches tall, 4 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches deep.  I think.  (It's at home and I'm at work.)  A uke?  A two or three-string git?  A "strum stick"-type thing? 

3.)  I'm thinking something with nylon strings might work best.  Or...are there any other possibilities?

Thanks!

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Replies

  • Order99 January 21, 2017 at 8:28pm

      Since you're using screws, I recommend using plastic or nylon flat washers to minimize breakage-If you  can find a glue that works i'd recommend gluing those washers to the hole as well.

     While i'm on the subject of glue-if you find one that glues/welds plastic to plastic that would open the door to using bracing to critical areas as if you were working with wood...

  • the anonymous pick January 20, 2017 at 4:56pm

    i used a plastic  kleen-X  box cover  for my  "keeper of the crystal skulls  "  diddly bow . due to its high " crackability " , to make the hole for the pole neck,  i   heated  up a hole cutter  on the stove  .  and then  grabbed it with vice grips and basically   pushed  and twisted  it through  easy as  pie  . Don't be slow about it tho,  or it will wanna weld  to the plastic ..   keep  it  moving  get it in and get out  . 

    306603563?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    • Andy Busch > the anonymous pick January 24, 2017 at 10:17am

      Dang, AP!  That Crystal Skull diddley bow is flippin' WILD!  I took a closer look:  It looks like there are three homemade single-coil pickups on there, with three different buttons.  Gosh, I don't have the patience or dexterity to make my own pickups!

      Where did you find the clear acrylic dowel/rod/neck?  That ramps up the cool factor BIG!

      And...I'd love to hear a sound file or watch a vid of you playing that.

      I'm having trouble deciding if I want to make a uke or a diddley bow out of the acrylic speaker box.  We'll see.

    • the anonymous pick > Andy Busch January 24, 2017 at 9:59pm

      you  give  me too much credit on this one  andy  .  it  is a pretty old build  . and  although  i  have done multi pickup/ switches  guits   in the past   . this one  is more " decor"   keeping in theme  with the cryatals .  the  "pickups" are just  quartz points with  speaker wire wrapped  around them to resemble  crude  pickups  . the   buttons  are off a phone to  enhance the  belieavability  of the  fake  pickups   ;-)  the  "volume button"  is a  smelted quartz diamond . the  bridge  base  is real jade  ,  the real  pickup is a bar piezo   tucked  between the  bar and  body  . 

      i couldnt find a sturdy  acrylic  neck / bar  . so  i  looked  on ebay  and found that one , its actually  off a high end towel rack  ;-)

      this guit sounded  ok  . but never did get a  good recoreding  worth reposting  .  hope that  helps  ;-)  

        

    • Andy Busch > the anonymous pick January 25, 2017 at 10:44am

      Well, then, I give you credit for playfulness and creativity!  Still a very cool build.

      I was wondering if a towel rack bar or something similar is what you used.

      Peace!

    • Thomas "Duck" Petry > the anonymous pick January 20, 2017 at 5:30pm

      You could always just use a small drill to get the hole started and hog it out with a dremel or round file Mr Pick.  all it takes is patience and a  steady hand. :)>

    • the anonymous pick > Thomas "Duck" Petry January 20, 2017 at 6:48pm

      yup , i recon . ;-)

  • Thomas "Duck" Petry January 20, 2017 at 3:13pm

    These drills   http://www.aircraftspruce.com/pages/to/drill_1drillbits/plexidrill.php   aren't cheap and with a little work you can grind your own, but  they help drilling plastic without breakage.  The other thing that helps is always back up the area you are drilling with a block of hard wood to keep the drill from digging in as it breaks out the back side.  Take your time and work slowly and it shouldn't be a problem.  I drilled holes in lots of expensive plastic windshields and such in my old life as an aircraft mechanic before I retired, go slow and don't use a lot of pressure and it works fine.  Too high speed on the drills will melt the plastic and cause problems, but backing up the material with the wood block is the best help I can offer.  Same thing goes for using a saw or file.  Support the area you are working on and go slow with light pressure and you shouldn't have any problems.

    Sounds like a cool build.  Small boxes can have great sound.  Post some pictures as you build it.

    • Andy Busch > Thomas "Duck" Petry January 20, 2017 at 3:18pm

      Thanks Duck!  That really helps!

      Now I just need to figure out just what I want to build!  :)

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