Acrylic, PVC, ABS or HDPE Plastic? Which for CAR AUDIO?

In car audio we can use plastic for speaker adapters, subwoofer boxes, mounting brackets, beauty panels, inserts and more. Which plastic is best? Let's find out!
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[@RockyXTV]

I use ABS and Cellular PVC in the majority of my installs. Great video!

[@lampinlance]

Thanks for covering this topic! I have been bouncing all over trying to figure out what material to use for different applications.

[@johngenovese6911]

Thank you as always you are pushing my custom builds to the next level

[@stevej6824]

Great video. One of the other things I’ve always liked about using acrylic (clear) is the ability to paint the back side with your color of choice. Essentially turning the clear acrylic into a colored mirror.

[@psementalist]

Mark you are way much more than just the car Audio Fab Kitchen to me a very wise man of wisdom knowledge and education

[@teamletteracing]

Great video. Very helpful.

[@JacobFrey]

Heck yeah, Mark! Thanks a lot!

[@lunchboxbailey]

FAB KITCHEN FOR THE WIN!! Thanks Mark! Great video!

[@SparkedEd]

Great vid. There are different grades to each material. Acrylic bought in home improvement stores is usually extruded and thus very brittle so it does not cut or machine well. Cast acrylic machines very nicely. Also, HDPE is different consistencies depending on color. HDPE marine board is the harder, more dense type and is better for machining than other types.

[@jacobparker4727]

Another informative banger from the fab kitchen Love the content thank you mark

[@thetoolwallchannel]

Excellent info! Exactly what I was looking for.

[@danloyol]

I came across your channel and just want to say that I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy watching your videos. I have learned a lot and am continually learning from you. Thanks very much for sharing your great talent, your knowledge and excellent working skills with us. Sincerely appreciated. Dan

[@russellborrego1689]

Cellular PVC? Very cool. I don't even work in audio anymore, but cellular PVC will come in handy for other projects. Thanks!

[@exclusiveservice]

Спасибо хорошо обяснил, чётко и доходчево

[@Motocue912]

I built vary highend pool cues for over 20 years and also been into car audio all my life. I’ve seen a change In The last 10 years with new Materials such as Elforyn an Ivory Substitute it machines so beautifully and other new Material plastics called Juma . I know u won’t be using these in car audio , but I do love machining these Materials as there easy on tooling and cost Affective. Keep up the good work and new ideas as u help others with there audio builds.

[@KarKraftsman]

Fantastic info as always

[@coltonfrazier7364]

You can "weld" ABS together with MEK (Methyl Ethel Ketone) it does the same thing it melds the 2 pices together just apply it with a paint brush.

[@richardmartin6533]

I actually built an HDPE "Starboard" - king plastics (3/4" thick) subwoofer box for my JL Audio 8W7AE. I used 125 deck screws, and a roll of thin and wide weather stripping to seal my ported box. the bass hits hard and is very tight. I used 9 cut pieces in all for assembly. Just because they said it couldn't be done.

[@LifeSized101]

I'm using cut pvc blue pipe on my a pillar build to get a round shape to fiberglass over .

[@1rexrex]

Love me some Knukonceptz. I use the Krux Kable rca's for my home equipment. Definitely tell the difference from $3 rca's.

[@inkdreaper874]

CarAudioFabrication Dude, I just found this channel about a week ago and I've been binge watching like it's the Walking Dead 😂. Your work is so clean and satisfying to watch and your videos are informative and comprehensive. I've added so many tools and materials to my Amazon cart since I started watching your channel. I'm planning on doing a new install for my truck shortly and your videos have helped alot and given me a ton of ideas. Thanks Mark

[@chrisnas1483]

Ooooh yea.. this man.. know his sh*t... 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@dankeeler2061]

Great video!!

[@5thgearouttahere]

This is exactly what I want to see. Thanks heaps mate

[@flgfish]

Do you have a video about working with plastics on a router table, perchance?

[@estebanvelazquez161]

But great review had us all of them as well they all work great

[@alanworks4354]

You can also bond or laminate CPVC using regular PVC cement that you can find in the plumbing section. I once laminated 3pcs of 3/4" CPVC to make Bose-style speaker cubes.

[@alanworks4354]

And just to reiterate, good ole Oatey PVC primer and cement works fine on PVC trim boards, you will just have to sand off the purple stain if you want to paint it...or just wrap it in vinyl.

[@patrickhall782]

Very informative. A guy made my speaker adapters from cellular pvc for me and I was wondering if it would be good for an amp rack. I know now.

[@brendanrandle]

pet shops that build their own fish tanks will sometimes sell you acrylic usually at a good price

[@DeVilleL13]

Acetone and cut up Hot Glue stucks in a bowl on a electric element to melt down the glue sticks to make an adhesive for HDPE to be coated with to allow paint/contact glue/etc..

[@VanDamArtisan]

Thanks, as always, for the extremely informative videos Mark. I do have a question though. My second generation Dodge ram has abs plastic for the dash and it's notoriously brittle after years in the sun. In your experience, which plastics resist sun corrosion best?

[@lansonfloyd4687]

Knu Konceptz definitely has the best battery terminals, best CLD (deadener) for the buck, but I find their RCA's and speaker wire to be non-optimal. I've got a stack of their RCA cables where the ends have come off, and I'm now just using that cable for its parts. Also many of the distribution blocks are frustrating. But they still get a deadener and terminal order from me routinely.

[@Crushonius]

have you tried delrin when machining complicated or moving parts on the cnc its really good and well it should be its kinda made for machining and its not cheap either

[@garageworker]

Thanks for the knowledge bomb

[@jase1911]

Great video mark but you forgot about UHMW very versatile and easy to work with...

[@jeffreycarroll9956]

Always enjoy learning new applications and techniques. Keep up the great content. I now use my router constantly in my enclosure builds. My boxes sound better and look better since I've been watching your videos. I've been into car audio since 1992. Thanks for restoring my passion for the hobby!

[@isaacfernandez3585]

.

[@januarymorris9087]

Great info, now how about one on batteries and caps

[@montanaplease]

Back in 1993 I knew someone big into SQ car audio that woukd use 1/2" Corian plastic for his enclosures and amp racks. He claimed it was denser and stronger that 3/4" MDF. He was the only one I ever knew they used it and I have not seen it sense so who knows. In case you don't know what material that is check out your local McDonald's countertops that they use near the cash register's. If I remember right it only comes half-inch thick however I think it's extremely easy and strong to glue plus sanding makes it to where it's very hard to even see the seams afterwards . I'm betting it comes in at least 150 colors and patterns.

[@xaytana]

Corian is just an acrylic polymer with alumina trihydrate, it also comes in roughly quarter, half, and three quarter inch, as it's actually sold in metric thicknesses. In the end, it's just another acrylic. Can you make acrylic denser than MDF? Possibly, but I doubt it'd have the same acoustic "deadness" to it like MDF does. Strength is also questionable. Without scientific evidence to back his claims, he's just selling snake oil. As for colors, it can basically come in anything, including patterns, DuPont/Corian also sells color-matched acrylic glue for 'seamless' installations. Corian is also the original brand name for acrylic-alumina trihydrate, and similar, plastics. It's also common in signage and is easily thermoformed. This also makes me wonder how other counter top materials would fair as enclosures. I don't think I've ever seen the acoustic qualities of stone tested.

[@StupidEarthlings]

Cool!..🎉

[@justingardner4555]

Hey Mark! Can we use CA glue to bond ABS to PVC? In an old video you used it to bond ABS to HDPE. How durable was that connection?

[@KerryLNeely]

I liked but have you ever thought about making a video about atarter tools a beginning fabricator will require for the diffrent aspecta of fabrication. Basic woodworking - fiberglass - fabric wrapping - electrical - ect. With links to videos where you have used these materials?

[@sniperkthewizardwarrior]

the previous owner of my car had an after market radio in the dash hooked up to the original radio into the trunk. would there be a reson y ? would I be able to use my stem without the two being connected to one another

[@parmveer040]

Good, sir please tell that 6"*9" ovel focal speakers make good sound in box or on parcel tray? I have Alto 800 car India.. If box then pls advice what measurements of box.

[@ctcgator1]

Mark , I am building a 79 bronco. I have the sound system layout and would like your opinion as to what material to build the door panels out of? Doors will have 2 6.5in midbass stacked vertically. This truck will be driven ,so it needs to be tough. Thanks for a great channel and any info will be very helpful.

[@deathbusa]

Grainger or McMaster are a good place for plastics

[@rhkips]

Just for fun, I may build a little subwoofer enclosure out of all four materials, including an actual cutting board! The "handle" can serve as the port area. :D

[@rhkips]

There are epoxies that will bond HDPE (TAP Poly-Weld), but it's bonding it to other materials that'll be difficult. More than likely, I'd go with mechanical, gasketed fastening for simplicity's sake. :)

[@georgeowen2083]

I wanna see where you are getting a 2’x8’ foot sheet for 30 dollars.

[@ElectroG33k]

I find 4x8 sheets of cellular pvc around me for 35 all day long

[@wokinit]

not any more. I think all plastic prices have gone nuts @@ElectroG33k

[@ryanquick6979]

What thickness would you prefer for an amp rack? Which material?

[@sanjayheaven5230]

do a video on how to find the thiele small parameters if your subwoofer doesn't come with any please

[@orglynmolock7111]

Can you design a 08 cobalt??

[@kenworth3236]

Can it be painted? if so what grit sand paper would You use? an I'm guessing wet n dry with soapy water.. Thanks Mark Big Help all around

[@alego9469]

In my experience, i used a 1/8” plate of abs to mount a headunit, and with the 100+ degree hot weather, the abs became super malleable. With the weight of the radio it bent, so i had to redo it with aluminum. Not sure if it was a cheap piece or if anyone else has encountered that problem?

[@TommyTrentonJr]

how thick is that piece of abs you were holding?

[@christopher2102]

Lol you heard me thinking about the enclosure

[@danabee698]

I'd like to know who sells the circle templates for speaker holes.....

[@tankdog03ify]

You have any audio control discount codes? I'm going to be purchasing a dm608 or dm810 very soon, or do u know where I can find one for a good price, I font really like to purchase used stuff, but maybe an open box discount

[@orglynmolock7111]

My 08 cobalt leaks thru the doors any advise??

[@ElEsJuan-wn3pl]

Anyone can give me an idea on what I should go with? I want to make an amp rack and I’m Indecisive on ABS & HPDE, it will be on the back behind a seat on an 05 Silverado extended cab. Any input help and thank you CAF on making this video, it helped me narrow it down to 2.

[@ProfessorOzone]

Excellent, but you should have mentioned the difference between cast and extruded acrylic, too.

[@jeremys8360]

Could you do a video on subwoofer box materials? Mdf, plywood, fiberglass, so on and so forth. Ie, why shouldn’t I use plywood vs mdf

[@xaytana]

Tldr: MDF is dense and acoustically 'dead', making it a superior material. There's more to it, but doesn't really matter to anyone outside of audio engineers. Acoustic qualities and material qualities factor into how an enclosure is manufactured. In enclosures for anything but subs, this doesn't really matter, as those speakers aren't designed to push a large amount of air; subs, however, push a lot of air with a lot of force, meaning you need stronger materials to avoid enclosure flex. Desirable material qualities are having the material be as thin, light, and cost effective as possible; for a rough comparison compare MDF to cardboard, you'd need an exponential amount of cardboard to match what MDF can do, so MDF is better in this case. As for acoustic properties, each material will produce a different sound, the material itself has it's own resonance where it'll produce noise at certain frequencies, this is caused by material flexing, and there's also the issue of how a material reflects and absorbs sound. It gets more complicated, with surface area vs volume (a sphere would technically be the best enclosure), complexity of surface area (internal bracing, stuffing, etc.), and the physics of soundwaves themselves, both inside and outside the enclosure. In MDF vs ply, you have to remember that ply is natural wood and MDF is basically sawdust and glue, MDF is much denser and more acoustically 'dead'. Between both qualities, and the price, MDF is the best, and is why the loudspeaker industry uses it as much as it does; if a better material existed, you'd see the industry switch to it. There's also the choice of SQ vs SPL. In SPL you don't care about sound reproduction, but you care about how loud it is, so material choice isn't as important; SQ is the opposite where material choice does matter. Fiberglass is a tricky subject. Its less of a comparison of material choice, but more of how it's used; typically it's a very complex shape made to fit a complex space. It can be made to sound decent, but, in a 1:1 comparison to a MDF enclosure of the same properties, it won't sound as good, but will be cheaper and easier to manufacture.

[@mr.cangieter8758]

I wonder if that PVC panel would hold up to the abuse kf being a front splitter? 🤔

[@rigormortis2814]

Great video! Mark, where do you get your MDF from? When I head to the department stores the MDF is usually bowed. Do people just pull out the sheets until they find a nice flat one?

[@markuffner7704]

yep

[@sebastianxbx]

Which material keeps out heat and keeps in cold air?

[@joshuas1767]

Got us a coupon code for knukoncepts? I’m doing an an overhaul on my 2011 Tacoma, and the only thing left to order is cables and wires. 6ch rca to dsp, 7ch rca out to 2 4ch amps. Then 1-0awg power back to fused distribution, 4awg out for amps. I’m thinking 12 or 14 gauge speaker wire- 2 7” woofers and 1” tweeters up front, 6.5” 2 way coaxial in back doors. 8” sub as well. Basically I need a lot of wires and cables. Help a brother out!

[@flgfish]

Also interested in how you would go about attaching an HPDE speaker ring to an ABS speaker ring. I did that this weekend, and CA glue just didn't work. I ended up drilling & tapping holes from the backside to attach the ring, and then using a CA glue fillet around the sides to hopefully "seal" it down. I saw you used CA glue in a previous video - wondering if you have any new advice.

[@dpgoverride]

There are specialty epoxies for HDPE, similar to something for King Starboard. I found a JB Weld plastics epoxy off the shelf works well. Check my KZbin out for the video.

[@xaytana]

You need a product that'll work on a low surface energy plastic, like what HPDE is. 3M and Loctite both make a variety of products for these kinds of plastics.

[@bournelucid]

Air

[@SonicOrbStudios]

cellular pvc here in SC is stupid expensive. 1/2" 48*96 is about $70

[@danielsudol3212]

Anyone try 3D printing a speaker bracket out of ABS? Any drawbacks?

[@fueledgaragetv1212]

Will staples go into HDPE if one wants to upholster it?

[@thehifiwifiguy]

Is there a plastic that just automatically cuts and molds itself to your project cause I'm just burned out working on my system LOL

[@nightmarecivic]

6:01 my gosh do I hate that style wire they sell. Everything else is awesome.

[@newvids603]

ABS is also great if you have a 3D printer!

[@ericspurlock7775]

Where are you located I would like you to build me a speaker box for my truck

[@Sc1Z]

So how would you recommend hooking up a sub in a car with a factory stereo that you don't want to change? I have a 2016 Fiesta ST, I know i can get a high power to RCA out, will this degrade much sound? What ones should I look for? Are there better ways to do this?

[@phizzle24]

Sc1Z AudioControl LC2i will accept speaker (hi level) inputs and convert to an RCA output to send to your amplifier for a sub with the added bonus of AccuBass. Alternatively, all underseat/compact active subs (ones with an internal amp) will accept speaker level inputs and add bass to a stock system without overpowering the car speakers

[@Sc1Z]

@@phizzle24 oh nice! I was looking them up at work and the videos I watched used a $17 part. Now, granted there are amazingly good cheap parts but, this seemed a little on the LOW side. I have always had a custom head unit, so my exp with high power outs is lacking. This is exactly what I needed, the GTO will also let me turn the amp on.

[@lansonfloyd4687]

Yeah in Vegas at least, Cellular PVC is nowhere to be found at the big box stores. I'm going to take a guess, and bet its because of the dry climate and extreme heat. Sucks for me.

[@dpgoverride]

How about a single 12” 1500w rms sub box from acrylic, Too much power?

[@joshuas1767]

dpgoverride I’d imagine it would work if it was thick enough... but hella costly.

[@dpgoverride]

@@joshuas1767 Good point, I imagine it wouldn't be cost effective. I'm planning my sealed box build for a Hotel Series 12, down-firing box, for my sisters system. Maybe I will just do an acrylic side window, I'd like the sub's movement to be visible.

[@xaytana]

​@@dpgoverride just use MDF, it'll be cheaper and have better audio characteristics.

[@lunchboxbailey]

dpgoverride when you start pricing 1” or even 3/4” acrylic you’ll agree that a window will work just fine. Acme Plastics has pretty good pricing but I’ve heard tale of somewhere else that was even cheaper. Siber Plastics maybe... good luck!

[@timburns1978]

So what's the difference in HDPE & UHMW? ( I've actually made a speaker box out of UHMW years ago. Worked great. )

[@_PsychoFish_]

So acrylic is stable -> full acrylic transparent subwoofer? =D

[@lunchboxbailey]

PsychoFish 💲💲💲💲💲

[@chrisdejesus6276]

Hey..what happened to using HDPE for amp racks..??

[@bobahaha]

What do you thing about speakerrings made from steel

[@jayryan7473]

No need to paint the edges of PVC that have been cut to fill in the porous edge, just wipe it with a rag dipped in acetone and it will give it a smooth edge.

[@beardedgaming3741]

where do you buy that pvc plastic these days?

[@wokinit]

I was thinking the same thing. Home Depot does not seem to carry the wider sheets anymore. They only have narrower pieces for trim. And they are WAY expensive.

[@Joe-cd1jx]

why not mention poly carbonate? aka lexon? Being its flexible and great for subwoofer windows? Problem with heating up and bending abs is it absorbs moisture and can bubble if you over heat it. HDPE and PVC will not. PVC though is highly toxic if it starts burning... You can find ABS smooth on both sides.

[@theale1]

I can't find any of these material in local hardware store.. i'm living quebec, canada, some one can help ?!

[@thefirst12lickit]

Company by the name Tap Plastic... You can order

[@theale1]

@@thefirst12lickit If they can ship to canada, tank you so much ! Ill be using for sure in the next project !

[@theale1]

@@lucdallaire9047 did not find any on google when i was searching !

[@genericdude6551]

WOW. 36 in. x 72 in. x 0.220 acrylic at HomeDepot costs $176!!

[@wokinit]

and that is .220 of an inch... that is not thick enough. I think plastics must have went up 5 fold in the last few years.

[@FaceYourFear.]

Can’t really find cellular PVC!

[@justingardner4555]

I found a sign shop in town that will sell me off cuts of the PVC for a fair price.

[@estebanvelazquez161]

Can't us PVC for sub box maybe u haven't done it , I build a ported box out of 3/4" PVC for a 12" Alpine type and been using it for 2 years now and still solid plus you can sand the edges and paint it even vynil wrap them

[@xaytana]

You can use PVC for an enclosure, but other materials will have better characteristics. Compare a box made from 3/4" of layered cardboard to 3/4" MDF, and see which is better; clearly the mdf would be better, and it's the same when comparing plastics, though the change isn't as drastic as cardboard vs MDF. The only reason people get away with using PVC pipe enclosures is the same reason people get away with using cylindrical concrete forms, tubes are structurally stronger and require less material, and the lower, more complex surface area produces less box noise, which means better audio; with equal volumes and equal area of the end caps, a cylinder has less surface area than a rectangular prism. This, however, does not apply to cubic boxes, sheets of PVC are much more porous than extruded tubes, and has worse audio quality when compared to other plastics. Plastics aren't even recommended for enclosures, MDF is the best material for audio quality while not being unreasonably expensive. Compare your setup in PVC and MDF, you'll see that MDF is far superior. Even in tube setups, layering MDF is superior than cardboard tubes and PVC tubes.

[@mase7207]

Great vid thanks for the info. I can never understand why people dislike vids like this. There always has to be an asshole.

[@markeysetheautotech3257]

I can't find Cellular PVC ANYWHERE in my area. Lowes or Home Depot. I've asked employees and everything!

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Find it on their website and ship to store.

[@ashtonharp8206]

I can’t either. Any luck?

[@sms9106]

Don't forget ABS is terrible to cut and machine as it will melt easily but very strong.

[@jayryan7473]

Use a new, sharp wood blade on slow speed and you'll change your mind.

[@kid_rajah]

I hate peeling the film off acrylic. Everything is going good until RRRRIIIIIIIPPPPP. Now you gotta fiddle with the thing like an old roll of clear scotch tape

[@depthsounderdave]

My thumbs are raw just reading this!

[@AcidDeathRitual]

Brah when you gonna CNC, JK, get a damn bandsaw though. Teach the kiddies the mo dangerous(professional) but right way.