Tweakers' Asylum

• I think the best way to use squash balls is: - ramw 01:47:45 02/13/04 (0)
  In Reply to: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. posted by ramw on February 10, 2004 at 12:18:29:

  Place them on rack, put an MDF platform on top, put player on top of platform.
  After a long night of experimenting, I think that's it.
  
  

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• Re: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. - Kyu 02:13:49 02/11/04 (0)
  In Reply to: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. posted by ramw on February 10, 2004 at 12:18:29:

  I have tried cutter but not satisfactory because of uneven edge. You may try to use scissor. However, I found squash ball not a good isolation device for my cdp.

  Happy listening!
  
  

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• A very sharp bread knife ain't bad. (nt) - Rob Thomas 22:27:47 02/10/04 (0)
  In Reply to: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. posted by ramw on February 10, 2004 at 12:18:29:

  nt
  
  

  
  
  

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• Re: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. - croft 19:08:03 02/10/04 (4)
  In Reply to: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. posted by ramw on February 10, 2004 at 12:18:29:

  Hi,
  you could try heating a blade over an oven hob etc,then it should slice through the rubber with ease.

  Or how about cheese wire?

  Hope this helps.

  Ian.
  
  

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  • Re: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. - ramw 03:10:36 02/11/04 (3)
    In Reply to: Re: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. posted by croft on February 10, 2004 at 19:08:03:

    Thanks,
    It is a good method to cut precisely, but the heat applied from the knife to the edges melts them, and as they cool they are stiffer than the original composition.
    
    

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    • Re: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. - croft 20:18:47 02/11/04 (2)
      In Reply to: Re: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. posted by ramw on February 11, 2004 at 03:10:36:

      Thanks,
      Great info,
      Great to know you tried the tweek.
      Another method of isolation is to use a bicycle inner tube underneath a base,then you can inflate the inner tube to whatever pressure you want.

      Hope this helps,
      Many thanks,
      Ian.
      
      

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      • Re: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. - JimBop 13:41:05 02/12/04 (0)
        In Reply to: Re: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. posted by croft on February 11, 2004 at 20:18:47:

        I've also had good luck using three small superballs cut in half. I place three half-balls on the rack shelf, place a sheet of MDF on top of these, place the other three half-balls on top of the MDF and then place my tube amp on top of the balls. For some reason, this combo is very effective.
        
        

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      • I know about this one, Tnx. nt. - ramw 04:03:45 02/12/04 (0)
        In Reply to: Re: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. posted by croft on February 11, 2004 at 20:18:47:

        
        
        

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• I just bite them in half. nt - Pjay 18:07:07 02/10/04 (0)
  In Reply to: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. posted by ramw on February 10, 2004 at 12:18:29:

  nt
  My speaker building site
  
  

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• I tried with limited success - Batman 17:47:00 02/10/04 (0)
  In Reply to: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. posted by ramw on February 10, 2004 at 12:18:29:

  Squash balls should be easy to cut in half becasue they have a molding line around their equator, right? I tried with a fine-toothed hacksaw and found it too diificult to hold the ball while cutting because they're molded from some really tough rubber.
  
  Next, I made a miter box exactly the size of the ball complete with a slot to guide the saw blade, close but no cigar. The ball rotated and I still got a crooked cut.
  
  My SWAG is that the best way to do this might be on a bandsaw with a very fine blade. I don't have access to one so I can't try it, but I bet it would work.
  
  Bill's Audio Cave
  
  

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• Re: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. - robertwb70 17:44:06 02/10/04 (0)
  In Reply to: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. posted by ramw on February 10, 2004 at 12:18:29:

  probably some kind of anvil type cutter -something like sears handicut

  or maybe a real sharp butcher knife-but this will take some skill
  
  

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• Are they solid or hollow? - JimBop 12:52:59 02/10/04 (3)
  In Reply to: Best method to cut evenly and smoothly squash balls? nt. posted by ramw on February 10, 2004 at 12:18:29:

  Either way, you'd want a very fine toothed saw. I have an "Exacto" modeler's kit that contains a thin saw with many small teeth. It works well for very fine cuts.

  I would draw a line around the ball, and then carefully follow the line - rotating the ball as you're cutting. I've done this with small super balls and it works well.
  
  

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  • Thanks everybody, For now I've.. - ramw 03:23:06 02/11/04 (2)
    In Reply to: Are they solid or hollow? posted by jimbop on February 10, 2004 at 12:52:59:

    placed the rugged edged halves under the player, To my ears sound is more shut in yet fuller and more forward.
    Before, when the player was placed on the bare MDF platform, the sound was more open and extended, but maybe a tad more harsh, so I can't really say if it is better with or without them squash balls.
    
    

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    • Re: Thanks everybody, For now I've.. - BobM 13:32:59 02/11/04 (1)
      In Reply to: Thanks everybody, For now I've.. posted by ramw on February 11, 2004 at 03:23:06:

      Not really surprising. Squishy things make things sound ... squishy (sometimes). Points make things sound ... pointy (sometimes). Why don't you try a slightly different DIY isolation design - DIY Rollerblocks. Isolation and coupling in one package.

      2 soup spoons (one top and one bottom, handles cut odd) with a chrome ball bearing (or marble for the first try-out) in the middle. Mount the spoons on small pieces of wood. Use 3 or 4 under the component.

      Enjoy,
      Bob
      
      

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      • Will try, Tnx. nt. - ramw 04:06:40 02/12/04 (0)
        In Reply to: Re: Thanks everybody, For now I've.. posted by BobM on February 11, 2004 at 13:32:59:

        
        
        

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