BASIC TOOLS ONLY! Subwoofer Box Build - Step by Step

So you want to build your own subwoofer box for your vehicle, but maybe you don’t have access to some of the specialized tools like router or table saw. Not to worry my friends because with some basic tools and outside the box thinking we can build an amazing enclosure. In this video Im going to use a drill, jig saw and circular saw and Im going to show you some cool techniques we can use to make due with what we have and make this cost effective box build.
▼ Tools and Materials:
Subwoofer Box Design Blueprints: goo.gl/hQ8HKH
Circular Saw: ~$35 amzn.to/2vEnm3Q
Jig Saw: ~$35 amzn.to/2wZBXGe
Drill: ~$30 amzn.to/2uECYa0
Chip Brushes: amzn.to/2vyx2hK
Upholstery Adhesive: amzn.to/2vE7dv4
Sub Box Carpet: amzn.to/2uE0nsq
Vinyl: amzn.to/2vDLpQj
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
🔊 Want more? Check out these links:
✅Car Audio Tutorial Library: bit.ly/CAFlearn
✅ FREE weekly training program: bit.ly/CAFlist
✅ Box Designs, BUILD YOUR OWN BOX!: bit.ly/CAFdesigns
✅Join the CAF Patreon Member Team: bit.ly/CAFpatreon
🔊🔊🔊 FULL VIDEO SERIES PLAYLISTS:🔊🔊🔊
- Ported Downfiring Subwoofer Build: bit.ly/CAFdown...
- Dad's Sound Quality Daily Driver Build: bit.ly/CAFdadsSQ
- SEMA F150 Subwoofer Box Build: bit.ly/CAFf150
- LOUD Wrangler Build - bit.ly/CAFloud...
- SQ Grand Cherokee Build - bit.ly/CAFgran...
- Stealth Hidden Bass SQ Build - bit.ly/CAFstea...
Here at Car Audio Fabrication I teach you how to Master Car Audio in an effort to Design, Build, and Install your ideal car audio system. Whether you are a hardcore basshead or a HiFi focused audiophile I would love to have you subscribe and join our community!
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-FULL VIDEO SERIES-
Simple Door Pods [VIDEO] Series: goo.gl/jPpKGB
Custom Sub Box [VIDEO] Series: goo.gl/bzZPwl
Underseat Fiberglass Sub Box [VIDEO] Series: goo.gl/OBbUwH
Fiberglass Door Pods [VIDEO] Series: goo.gl/oAdrx1
Music:
Dark Lotus Sting - KZbin Audio Library
Switch It Up - KZbin Audio Library
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
Car Audio Fabrication - Master Car Audio - Design, Build, Install

[@mrrob516]

More of this simple tools builds please!

[@22h4wk]

Title of the video: Mark Zuckerberg teaching to do a make subwoofer box! hahah

[@TacticalBuffoonary]

Wow!! You designed, cut and assembled a subwoofer box in 1 video, Doug would have drawn this out for 2 f'n weeks! Nice job Mark!

[@dantepaperinosky25]

You're really good to explian, thanks at all from Italy. Hope you still grew in your jobs. Excuse my english that's so perfect

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Your English is great! Thanks!

[@llblueli9080]

Finally someone who does tools that many people have thank you very much bro i appreciate it alot

[@480ctownaz]

Agree 👍 💯

[@HifiVega]

Great video! It's nice to have something more basic every now and again. I'd love to see you tackle a console build as I am working on one myself.

[@TheBrokenLife]

Make a box the will rock like it's 1899. Only human powered tools! ...then challenge Soundman to do it. Doug's too in love with his CNC.

[@bedema2483]

This is the best video I found so far on youtube! More on this cheap way to build car audio please

[@2101nick]

Out of all of CAF videos I've watched. This is the best one by far.

[@gizmoochi]

Amazing video Mark. It's as if you actually read the answers to the survey I filled out! Keep up the good work. Can't wait for the next video.

[@Avaddon911]

If you can't afford a 40$ speaker terminal you can just get the nuts and bolts from your local hardware store and drill appropriately sized holes for them, small enough that you can thread them through... Put a little wood glue on them and you're golden.

[@Avaddon911]

Had22s Well the SMD terminals are an exception I'd say, they're not your average terminal. But at whatever price it's not going to be cheaper than 2 bolts lol

[@MrSavedasupra]

$40?! $20?! What ever happened to the terminal cups that were round and $5? Seal the cup with silicone directly to the wood.... Never had a leak issue....

[@l34052]

I used a pair of terminal pins I got on ebay for £5, cheap, effective and they look classy.

[@lorinlewis23]

Great video. That's how I started years ago. Just a suggestion, when you are mating your edges of the carpet it is better to mate them in the middle of a flat panel such as the bottom or rear panels. This will make your carpet joints more durable than if you meet them at where two main panels intersect. I find in my experience that over time due to movement, that is where the carpet will start to separate at those corner joints. Keep the great videos coming

[@Chris-B-Bassin]

I know this video is 5 yrs old, but it is exactly what I was looking for! Thanks Mark you're awesome bro 👊

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Glad it helped! Thanks for being part of the community

[@randallklicka9509]

If you would show us how to build a table for a hand held router that works best for our common application that would be helpful and much appreciated. Keep up the great work CAF Team I'm learning so much in tbe way of custom car audio and it's all thanks to you.

[@OlympusHeavyCavalry]

You're spot with music, as is Wesley Snipes in his movie, "White Men Can't Jump", where he compares "Listening" and "Hearing" Jimi Hendrix. Clarity and smoothness will always beat the Doof Doof and high SPL bullshit for me everytime.

[@TheHandsomeMatt]

Taking me back to high school and my first audio install with this video!

[@ridinsaved]

Hey Mark. Out of all your videos I've yet to see a video on how to do a stack chamfer to get that deep effect. Love your videos my the way lol

[@paulw7491]

Could you make a very basic video about the components of a car audio system? Like how do you wire an Amp but keep it basic because you have in depth videos anyway. That would really help. And awesome video btw.

[@kevinlivingston9563]

Paul Winkler learning how to wire an amp needs to be detailed. You can burn your car down if you don't know what you're doing. And your insurance company won't pay for it.

[@paulw7491]

Kevin Livingston well you are probably right. Was just an example. I should have written that I'm just confused a lot of the time about when I think about car audio systems and that maybe a few kinda beginners guides would help.

[@Des420]

I think he (Paul), is asking about having the basics covered in the same way Mark did this video: More of a quality DIY build than a professional installation. Most viewers will never do more than just a small driveway install, so I think those viewers want more of just the absolute bare bones of installing stuff safely and correctly from closer to their own likely experience, but without all the extra finishing touches like beauty panels and flush mount amps, and wiring distribution centers, and fiberglass door pods, etc.

[@paulw7491]

Des420 exactly. Especially for the beginning. Later on when I know how to do stuff I would like to build my system as good as I can but it doesn't really help to start with a beaty panel and LEDs when I dont even know the basics. There are still so many terms that I don't know. For example what is crossover?

[@Des420]

Hopefully Mark will be able to produce more videos like this one that will tackle that topic. It would be nice to have a range of difficulty of installation to match the range of experience in viewers. A "crossover" is just a fancy term for something that blocks or allows only certain frequencies, so your subs get just the bass, your tweeters get just the highs and your mids get a little of both.

[@jtf78]

Customer dust cap or are you making your own line of subs?

[@69_MK]

u make wood working look very easy

[@bensumner3284]

Think outside the cabinet!! Looking great as always, Mark. Now just make one with a butterknife on a tailgate and challenge Doug!

[@januarymorris9087]

That t-square homemade was awesome! I have a project with a router coming up that I have every intention of doing the same thing with. If you have any tips for beginners with routers. I'd be up for watching a video on that

[@alphaomega8373]

Great show one for the amateur guy :D Thank you!

[@arthurhughlett2292]

Best car audio channel on the net. When I want true knowledge about car audio I come here.

[@broncoramfan]

Where were you when I started doing this. Very good video very informative but not overwhelming. Good job as always

[@krkan77]

from the start to the end perfect training video m8 :) ps. no insulating material?

[@brodylewis8157]

i recently made myself a box for 1$ , i only had to buy a glass bowl to flare my abs aeroport. everything else was scrap i had laying around and i am very proud of it

[@ady7204]

Hello Mark! My name is Adrian. I'm from Romania, Europe. I love your channel and I want to ask you: When will you make a video tutorial about fiberglass subwoofer boxes? I think that video will help a lot af your subscribers. Thank you a lot and I hope you'll read my comment :)

[@justinherrin735]

Glad to see you're a fan of smd! That guy is one hard working dude!

[@stefanov92]

THE BEST GUIDE EVER ON YOU TUBE

[@R3MIXMODZ]

How do you calculate how much volume you need for your box? And another idea is if you could do a video explaining what all of the different letters mean like spl or something and how you read the db graphs.

[@StuTubed]

R3MIX MODZ He has videos on all of that. Check his playlists.

[@baptlfrt]

Check the subwoofer notice ! i know that focal put detailed volume for subwoofer box with or without vents !

[@Jeff-wu6wn]

Google the 12 volt

[@D4RKLORDPLUMBER]

Great video. Support this guy you won't regret it.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

+James Piworski thanks James!

[@RaymondUrias]

How do you not have 1 million subscribers?!

[@svitroful]

Doug is going to cry... you guys are funny!!!

[@frankbush8368]

8:46 The one thing I'm unsure about is how you keep the panels from wobbling around while you glue, drill, and sink the first couple screws... What's a good way to not mess up this part? Building my box today, hope luck and intuition is on my side : /

[@mrpotat680]

Apply hard pressure down against the wood into the workbench/table so if it slides it can only go backwards.(only works on slanted pieces)

[@frankbush8368]

@@mrpotat680 10-4.. Yeah i'm thinking more about the configuration he is doing at 8:46

[@480ctownaz]

Cool box! 🇺🇲 💯

[@tjablaj]

You could do something about the importance about the electrical system in a car. I see questions so often about capacitors, alternators, big three and batteries.

[@adriangutierrez9286]

Thank you so much I was wondering how to do the box and make it look good...

[@cowboyrome731]

Came back to watch this after you sent me a link for a comment I made on a new video! Nice and helpful. Thanks

[@BedfordJoshua]

A warning for many people: Many hardware stores can be up to 1/8" off on their cuts in-store! I've never had an accurate cut, so I always request it a little bigger or cut it myself. Just be careful as 1/8" adds up and can cause problems. @CarAudioFabrication have you had this problem?

[@CarAudioFabrication]

+Joshua Bedford depends on the guy, most times I end up with pretty close cuts if requested. You can tell them a larger measurement for a common width and then inset the sides like I did.

[@BedfordJoshua]

I personally just make the cuts myself for woodworking, but have friends who have done builds and not turned out quite as well due to store cuts. Thanks for the video! Just didn't want people getting something they don't expect due to a bad cut in-store.

[@Des420]

Learned that the hard way on my first box build. I figured it was a bargain to have all the cuts done there. Got home and started to work and discovered nothing fit together right so I ended up having to make all the cuts myself anyway, and a smaller box for my trouble.

[@richardcard9328]

Joshua Bedfor

[@TheRoss527]

measure it yourself at the store then tell dude to cut it on the line lol

[@danneh1982]

That simple t sqaure is genius!

[@lunissonpeixoto2247]

Parabéns pelo trabalho e pelas dicas

[@MikeCodere23]

Thank you for taking the time for us poor people. Lol

[@neilchetty4258]

High quality work Mark.

[@u9Nails]

Was that your very own logo on the dust coil cap!!!!? Sooooo sweet!

[@Moreno0101]

Great Video, Thanks!

[@BrianW2979]

You should challenge Doug to a box buildoff. Pick up a cheap sub and see who can build the better box. Tell him no cnc, all hand made. box quality, design, acoustic range, and completion time. then have the youtubers vote on whos is the best. Show him whats cookin in the Fabkitchen. :) It would be cool to see you down at his shop for the final bump off.

[@MatthewEmillio]

yessssss, thank you so much for this.

[@TheDannorris]

Love the videos man. Ide like to see some rew or rta videos and tuning or level matching an active system videos. Your videos are always well planned I can tell.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

+Dan Norris I have a few already! Be sure to check out the channel

[@ilovetoyotatrucks]

Fantastic....

[@ezequielparra1854]

Do a video on boom mat (those foam enclosures for speakers) and see if it helps on rear decks or just a myth and if open concept is better.

[@CrinosAD]

Great video Mark!

[@BigLove101]

good video Mark, nice looking box

[@coryscustominstalls7168]

hey man, thanks for doing these videos! it's amazing what you can accomplish in your builds you have to be one of the most artistic builders I have seen top notch work. you have convinced me to try vinyl and carpet again this time I will make sure I get a better contact cement and make sure I have some hard transition lines, do you have any tips on applying vinyl to say rounded pillar pods or is it better to keep straighter lines like in your pod trim rings? can you wrap a single vinyl piece on a round ball like your 3d printed pods?

[@MilovanLoon]

What is you preferred software for designing the boxes?

[@mrpotat680]

He uses paper and math

[@FightingIllini34]

Awesome video!

[@CarAudioFabrication]

+FightingIllini34 thanks Grant

[@chacon1312]

what kind of wood did you use here? would regular plywood work ok for this? beginner here hoping to use this as a guide to my first install. Great video btw

[@isakerngren1703]

one tip for spreading out the glue is to use the threads of a bolt instaed of your finger

[@cristianoronaldog.o.a.t4590]

TIME TO BUILD MY BOX! wish me luck guys :) (i'm lowkey nervous af)

[@l34052]

Did you build your box in the end, how did it go? I've built sealed boxes before but I'm now about to build my first ported.

[@lll7535]

I know this is really late, but do you have any suggestions for cuts that are more than 45 degrees? I need to make a 58 degree angle for my box. I heard that I need a custom jig but that seems a little more complicated. Thanks

[@Aikidoman06]

If you are taking video requests I would like to see a very low profile box. I have a Jeep CJ5 and want to build a box under the rear seat. Its w32Xd15Xh4. its a tight space but I was thinking of building the speaker mount at an angle with a small low profile speaker (3 or 4 inch). just an idea. bet lots of people need to use small boxes under seats and in crevasses.

[@ExStaticBass]

One of the things I'd love to see is for someone to do a dual T-lin bandpass with one port tuned an octave above the driver and the other tuned an octave below. I'd also love to see what the sound curve is like on something like that. I built one using imperfect math and while it sounds good, it isn't as solid as I'd like it to be, sound wise...

[@mytruckinlifeace4047]

Nice job

[@goodtogaz]

What are your preferred screws for mounting the sub to the box? I bought a used sub with a box and will be rebuilding a more specially efficient and finished-looking replacement, I noticed the screws the previous owner used started to rust and chip and look pretty bad (I think they are not black and were never painted, either)

[@coolmasterlove377]

Great video!

[@darronnunn6566]

Hey Mark I want your Channel all the time I was wondering would you build a ported box with the tools you just use preferably a 12 inch sub

[@TheOrigonalTiny]

Ok Mark... I have a question i have a drill an impact drill bits jigsaw circular saw tape measure can i build a nice 6th order with just those and supplies?

[@implosionguy]

Hey Mark just wondering if you could please make a video showing how to make a plush upholstery for door pods or something like that?

[@miquelcarreras5089]

Do you apply sound deadening insithe the sealed box?

[@adriandiaz1381]

awesome video

[@K4Lku]

'Think outside the box' pun intended lol

[@lctachell]

Congrats on the 200k subscribers

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Thank you.

[@r-henry8452]

Hey mark I have a E 150 and I was planning to put in a 10 inch sub, not looking for a loud bass but a smooth bass. What wattage should I use? I was thinking about 1000 watts

[@callmedaz]

Probably the best sub box build on KZbin! Thanks!

[@AnthonySvt_]

Anyway that one could ingrate the amp with the box?

[@ryanmoore9877]

Wish I lived close to anyone like you...i can design systems but I never learned boxes....boise Idaho doesn't have any good shops for a box for my mach 1. Could use your help mark.

[@bearxbunny1835]

The only "tools" I used for mine was a $20 jig saw and an $18 drill. Screws, wood glue, 3/4 MDF and those 2 tools is it

[@480ctownaz]

3l4 MDF wood is perfect for the Job! 👍 💯

[@BIGTIMAH808]

I have a question. I want to build a box for a 2017 tacoma double cab to put it behind the seats. Since there is not much room behind there, can I just make the box to the dimensions that fit behind the seat. Or do I still have to make the box special according to the sub I decide to put inside?

[@jermaineburke5390]

Good job bro nice

[@JaMarvelousjmar]

Question, Would it hurt if I place one sub on the top and the other on the front of the box. Trying to keep them as far away from the port opening as possible. Have you ever tried it.

[@ALEXSOUND]

привет из России)))

[@jessiefrancis9630]

I've got a simple question. Just getting started in building sub boxes. Is it better to build a sealed box to manufacturer spec/optimal volume or build bigger for reaching lower frequency? I mainly listen to rock and want a good balance of spl and sql.

[@damianhgn]

Hard to say honestly. Most company recommended specs are made to be safe for the driver at rated power while achieving good results over the general usages they are likely to encounter. What size/type box you should build is really determined by the driver you're using and the goal you're trying to achieve. I know, usual general mumbo jumbo but in all fairness, it's true. I personally can't tell you what would be best as I don't have your info but if you were to give someone the specs of your driver and your goals, they could properly match you with the correct enclosure.

[@bryceschmitt8953]

Hey tried to message you but I'm not too savy with KZbin, I'm interested in building my own pa subwoofer but your videos are quite helpful as it's the same just on a smaller scale. Anyways I was wondering if two 18" subs at 400w or one 18" sub at 800w would be better? Assuming all parameters are the same would the dual subs give you more volume?

[@adaboy4z]

I used a jig saw, dremel and circular saw to build my first 2 boxes.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Cool, it honestly doesn't take much. It's all about progressing from there...

[@damianhgn]

Wish I had seen this video 1.5 years ago when I made my first box. I only had a jigsaw, drill and circular saw lol The box came out....ok....but it sounds great. It's a home audio setup using a B2 IS12

[@DR-ld4jn]

Damian Hogan How do you like the is12? I was thinking of getting one for my car

[@damianhgn]

Honestly, I believe it's well worth the money. At $160 (at least when I got it), it was an amazing value. The build quality is up there with B2's most expensive drivers, just scaled down to a 2.5" coil. I've been beating the crap out of mine for the past 1.5 years with no issues. I'm running it on a NU3000 bridged at 4ohm. It's in a 2.5ft3 box tuned to 26Hz. Their entire IS line are budget friendly drivers made with high quality parts and attention to detail. On top of that, they're from a company I can trust. I've met the owner a couple of times and have talked to him quite a bit and he is an upstanding, down to earth, person who really cares about his customers and people in general. That just makes everything better to me. If B2 has a product that fits someone's situation and needs, I will always recommend their products without hesitation.

[@ryandewji3649]

So I'm planning on running a 4 channel amp for my speakers at 93 watts rms, what gauge wire would I use from the head unit to the amp and from the amp to the speakers? Also what gauge should I use for power and ground for the amps and for connecting the subs to the mono amp? I had seen a video on KZbin about connecting subwoofers in series and parallel but I don't understand how the omhs works out. I have 2 12 inch subs each dual voice coil 4 ohms.

[@cochinoman7152]

Thank You DES

[@yevdaser]

Hello Mark! Why don't you talk about mounting of woofers? Usage of common screws is not a good idea when it comes to several cycles of mounting/dismounting of woofers (replacement or repair as an example). I found inner hex bolts and T nuts (furniture) nuts for myself and I was quite happy with such a method of wòofer mounting in my builds

[@ziyaaviary194]

Very nice.. sir no need of air hole??..

[@CarAudioFabrication]

This is a sealed enclosure, so no

[@gintasgintelis8331]

nice job . like

[@MrBoraki.]

clean !!

[@cgsingh1]

Thanks you

[@gabrielcuevas5837]

gracias!

[@AjayGupta-pw5hg]

Hey Buddy...I need help to build my sub box. I have an old skool sub Cliff Design CD120C, 1200 watts max and 600RMS , i dont know what size box i should use for this to make nicer sound. Also if you can suggest a good 5 channel amp. Thanks in Advance.

[@batvette]

I guess this video is helpful for folks that have no desire to own more tools but... if youre a guy and you plan to do any basic woodworking just buy a damn table saw. It has soooo many uses. You can get a serviceable saw for about $200, the dewalt contractor jobsite saws are around 350-400 and totally precision and fit in your trunk. Build a few boxes for friends it will pay for itself.

[@Ldavidable]

Please share the link of the carpet you used to build the box. Thanks

[@Barney-hk3es]

Could you please make a video on how to make a box with a slanted panel(truck box style) i have never been able to get front panel right. It is always just a tad short and does not line up the tops and bottoms. I can't figure the math out to get the cuts perfect for the life of me.

[@CarAudioFabrication]

Two options, either cut super precisely so that it is right, or intentionally cut too long. You can then use something like a router to flush trim the oversized panel to the panel adjacent to it.

[@Barney-hk3es]

CarAudioFabrication thanks for the reply

[@allofmeirl]

More videos like this!!!

[@cochinoman7152]

What would be the external dimensions of a sealed enclosure be if he internal volume is 1.70. The subs in question are NVX VCW 12's. I'm trying to fit them in a 2012 Dodge Durango behind the third row seat.

[@Des420]

16"x16"x16" external dimensions, using 3/4" wood gives you 1.76 internal cubic feet before woofer displacement and any bracing.

[@alexporzio4081]

Hey, I'm not sure if you guys have done this yet, but could you do a full car audio install? (Head unit, door speakers, deck speakers, amp/sub, sound damping, etc) If you've already done a video on this, could you link it please? Thanks in advance! And great videos, keep it up!

[@CarAudioFabrication]

+Alex Porzio watch my jeep build series

[@alexporzio4081]

Ok, thanks!