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In Reply to: Re: A case for reptisand filled crossover enclosures posted by Peter Gunn on April 21, 2007 at 09:35:34:
It was on my original 'to do' list, but it was to be the *last* step. I'm not done yet, and I'm still on the fence over the sand idea. Jeff at Sonic Craft suggested that I shouldn't mess with it.I'm assuming the sand you used was either dry or you took measures to dry it before dumping it in your boxes. How tightly packed was your sand?
As for its destructive powers, I always assumed a carpenter would be familiar with 'sand'paper! That's the one part of the concept that bugs me - sand is awfully abrasive. I've been wondering if other materials would work - how about diatomite ash? Can you imagine how messy that could get?
To be honest, I posted that message as a sort of tongue in cheek way of starting a dialog with a few people who have opinions to share on the topic. I’m curious.
Follow Ups:
Jeff is pretty wise, and I agree with him on this.It wasn't regular sand, it was the stupid "repti-sand" you buy at pet stores. This is what the people who practice this bizarre ritual use. (it isn't silica, it's fractured quartz crystals) I assume it was completely dry, and it seemed so. It is very fine and there is no need to pack it. I just filled the boxes with it.
I have never seen any grit of sandpaper as aggressive as this stuff. It is literally like little fractured glass knife edges, and with just some skin exposure it quickly becomes an irritant and leaves marks on your skin. It's sand from hell. If you put it in a sandblaster you could probably cut someone in half with it.
I have always seen and understood air is the best dielectric and I approach packing my boxes that way. I can very much recommend isolating the boxes afterwards with herbies iso dots.
he is also very nice and patiently answered each question I asked him. I highly recommend Sonic Craft for their combination of great prices and exemplary customer service.I knew it wasn't regular sand, and I was only making a joke at your expense with the 'sand'paper reference. I am sincerely curious about whether a different material might be acceptable.
Air is certainly the better dielectric, but it does nothing to damp mechanical vibrations. This is one of those arguments where both sides make a great deal of sense.
As my stand concept evolved, filling the boxes with sand took on a secondary function - counterweight (as well as just plain mass). After I completed the test project, I discovered that adding counterweight was unnecessary - they are completely stable without it.
Thanks for sharing your opinion.
The herbies iso dots damp the mechanical vibrations. It was quite simply amazing the difference it made using them, and they are a stock component of my stand mods.
R U shure, mate, you haven't been exceeding your weekly moonshine quota? :-))"Iso dots damp the mechanical vibrations"?? Pshwaaahh!! :-)) Why don't U try some "magic pebbles" ... or some Peter Belt products?? :-))
If you promise to do the comparison again when you're absolutely stone cold sober ... then I might believe ya! :-)) Then again, I might just think you're too far gone! :-))
Regards from downunder! :-))
Technically they are called grungebuster dots, and while I expect a measure of disbelief by some "people" here I must say this is a surprise coming from you!Go check them out yourself. I suppose all the reviews were by people on moonshine too :^ )
This was not even the product I was first interested in, but he steered me towards it (even though it cost less than what I had originally wanted) because he knows his products and said it would work better for this application. And using them is not like tube dampers or cable isolators which do work, but who's effects usually stand out in prolonged listening only. (unless you had a major issue they fixed) Sticking these dots under an XO box yields amazing results.
And I don't care to waste time figuring out why. You have all the fancy toys, you do it. That'll keep you off the beach and out of trouble too. :^ ) Try his iso-cups and ball footers too, you won't believe what a difference thay make. I agree a lot of the voodoo out there is a joke, this is not, trust me mate.
OK, in effect they're little "rubber" feet ... *that* I can understand. :-)) I thought they must've been like those (are they Varigo?) dots or the little dots made out of ebony? which are supposed to soak up vibration.I do similar things down here, 'xept I use 10mm thick Sorbothane.
Regards,
Ahhhh... but these are not sorbothane.Our Herbie came up with this material on his own, and it is not like sorbothane at all. That compresses, this stuff yields horizontally so that the mechanical energy hitting it gets dissipated in that plane and does not transmit thru it. Wacky crap that works like all heck.
Verrry interrresssting! :-))I might get hold of a sheet.
Regards,
I might make some small sand bags and try them, but I'm not expecting to hear much. Then again, I might be surprised.
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