Tannoy Westminster Build.

[simonms]

Hi Wammers,

I thought I would start a thread for anyone interested in my latest build.
After finishing some big heritage Klipsch using my originals as a source for a direct copy I went about looking for another project and ran across a few threads on Westminsters so started drawing up a battle plan.
Forty sheets of A1 tracing paper later I had my plans fine tuned and a cut list-
3 sheets of 26mm and 4 sheets of 18mm 8x4!

It arrived and I began cutting to size with the Felder table saw.A day later all home to my studio for veneering (workshop was a little too cold for the veneer glue).

Here are some veneered panels.


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I did not want anything too flashy for the veneer so went with a good quality crown cut oak and went about researching the finishing products from oils to waxes too water based polys and came across Osmo polyx, a natural oil/wax that dries very hard so very protective. It will have a satin finish when polished. I am not really a fan of highly polished speakers so this was perfect. It was not cheap though.

After a lot of vacuum pressing veneer-a lot of the panels need to be veneered on both sides as the back loaded horn design meant they would be visable without the grills, even 6mm of overlap was done-I just veneered the entire side to keep measurement absolutely plumb.


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Here are the Drive units-3836's that will be converted to 3839's by the ever helpful Lockwood.


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I want these speakers to be built with no expense spared so all internal bracing is solid oak baton with brass countersunk screws. Accurate measurements needed for mm perfect joins.


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Here is the top bottom and internal sides dry fitted-not small-


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After more researched I asked Nick Gorham to build the external cross overs so built solid oak boxes with 6mm brass tops...they are with Nick at the moment so will post some pics on there return.
I have put one of two coats of polyx oil on to all external panels.

Tops-

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With and without finish-


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Lots of parts-


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So this is where I am at present, I will continue to post as i build. I hope to have all panels back in the workshop on Saturday to begin domino jointing and routing the driver ports which could be tricky as they have a bevel at about 40 degrees and are not perfectly circular.

Thanks for looking Si.
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[mjd]

The thread looks very interesting but non of the picture links are working. but the links on PFM do work

Mike

[bigdur]

Shame, working pics would make this post epic.

[MF 1000]

Im keen to see the finish from the osmo polx ...got some veneering to do in the near future so looking at finishing oils

[simonms]

Pics sorted-sorry folks!

[bigdur]

Could you not post with the IMG code please?

[BobC]

Looking good Simon, am glad you decided to go ahead with this, an epic build awaits. But the results will be well worth it.

Post the IMG codes, makes life so much easier. On Flikr, just open the pic, go to share, highlight the BB code button, set to large, copy the code and then post in the Wam.

nearly forgot to ask, what glue did you use for the veneer in the vacuum press? Titebond Cold Press?

[falcoron]

where did you get the veneer? looking for some american walnut

[BobC]

where did you get the veneer? looking for some american walnut

You have pm

[simonms]

Looking good Simon, am glad you decided to go ahead with this, an epic build awaits. But the results will be well worth it.

Post the IMG codes, makes life so much easier. On Flikr, just open the pic, go to share, highlight the BB code button, set to large, copy the code and then post in the Wam.

nearly forgot to ask, what glue did you use for the veneer in the vacuum press? Titebond Cold Press?

Thanks Bob,
First time posting pics so hope that they are now good-sorry about the faff. I used a glue by Henkel, we use it at work so will check the precise product, i think its mixed with a glue size as well. Nice to see your projects progressing-looks good.

Falcoron-i get my veneer from http://www.veneerworkshop.co.uk/.

[BobC]

Thanks Simon, much appreciated on the glue front.

[bigdur]

Great project. Look forward to seeing it develop.

[simonms]

Hi folks,

Here is an update of my build for all who may be interested. All panels now in the workshop and weather is more favorable so internal panels all routed out-lots of jigs and prep. Biscuits were easily strong enough for the joining the channels and the front baffle has been cut and will be beveled at 11 degrees to offer itself into the front horn.
All internal parts are now fixed and i am glad i veneered the large panels forming the horn channels as it looks a lot neater.(a lot of extra veneering but looks nice).
The baffle boards are built with 3 separately routed pieces-the back craddles the driver and built from 9mm mdf and cut to the full diameter of the driver, the middle piece is 4mm birch and used to raise the front 19mm veneered mdf above the rubber surround of the driver. The driver will be held in place with 4 M8 screw nuts that will channel into the front horn.

There are still a lot of panels to be attached to this already heavy speaker so they are not going to be light! The careful choice of veneer is paying off as each speaker looks very similar in appearance- the trick will be in book matching the front horn but i will cross that bridge when i come to it.

Time for a beer!


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[simonms]

Continued


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[BobC]

truly nice work, these are going to be fantastic.

[robin]

very interesting, top job

[v1nn1e]

I can see why speakers like this would cost so much! <¬O

[THOMO]

I have been tempted to build some of these myself but always felt a scale model would be the best way of understanding the cabinet complexities.Something in perspex would be great.
I am sure many people would be interested in buying such a model.

[simonms]

Thanks for the comments folks-Thomo, this is the only pair i will be building and the cabinet is not that complex after spending some time familiarizing oneself with the design-i have built two different constructions for the back loaded horn, one is a diagonal panel basically and the other is a sort of letter box which is the same as the original design and is of a more vertical channel to see what sounds best to me as i have read much about the cabinets contributing to the sound which i obviously want to tame if possible.
I had a pair of Shahinian Obelisks before i began diy'ing which were the most money i have spent on a pair of speakers and the cost of these is substantially less, I found myself finding it hard to enjoy what i was listening to with the obelisks, big Pass amps and my wt tt in front of me screaming £££ and i am not a well off person...sounded very very good though and Pass amps are great and deserve more plaudits, i will be moving in to valve territory with these so have got hold of a Leak for starters and will get a Croft pre which seems a good match and there is also a very kind Wammer who I may ask to build a turbo charged grounded grid.

looks like you all had a great day at Scalford by the way-really enjoyed looking through the threads and pics-thanks.

Bob-speakers look top dollar and am sure they sound it too,

Cheers Si.

[i_should_coco]

Seriously impressive project! Top job.