Enjoying seeing the 3 or 4 DIY examples posted here.
Your glue job and alignment is nice. The tendency is to over-clamp but it is not necessary as wood glue does not shrink as it dries so everything just needs to be solid but not jacked.
ANyway, run them over with an orbital sander on a medium speed with some 80 grit and then some 150 and you will be good to go. You can sand with finer grit but I am not sure how that will affect the birch absorbing stain. Will depend on the product you choose.
Birch ply stains splotchy sometimes, so prepare for that but the look of splotchy 'birchy-ness' is somewhat beautiful. It is, however, unlikely to look like that nice cutting board.
I have a similar enclosure that I did not stain but sanded and left natural. I did coat it with a satin poly, that brought out the grain and protects the cabs a bit.
Super fun.
To the potential DIY community:
I know a lot of folks want to talk about value propositions with DIY but I just don't see it that way anymore. (though I understand if you do & ASR is not a DIY site per say)
Going to DisneyLand costs $8k+ for a week. I'd rather spend that week free from working for money and instead make DIY speakers and other fun creative and interesting stuff. I'd actually rather make 8 pairs of speakers that I don't need vs going to Epcot center for a week. Don't get me started on $5k superbowl tickets and $20 Bud Lights. How is that fun? Anyway DIY is fun for the right folks. Money well spent.
So for the new DIY folks. If it sounds fun and you are pretty sure you are doing it for the interest, challenges, and learning and find that making something is fun ----> go for it!
If your main goal involves thinking of saving a bundle of cash or giving the middle finger to the man ------>STOP, DROP & ROLL! Put that fire out now. You will not likely be doing that. @least not with a kit. Yes a very advanced hobbyist can crush DIY with ground up designs... now do that as a newbie or novice?? Naw!
I don't go on bike rides or go golfing to save money anymore than I DIY speakers(or most DIY projects for that matter). You will not save money if you are 'charging' yourself for your time or in it to beat the latest REVEL and KEF clearance sale price.
Of course if you compare this CSS kit not to REVEL & KEF, but rather some 'boutique' brands.
Ones that also use nice drivers and really basic design elements(no waveguides, squared cabs) then the value is quite high. (of course we at ASR don't really do that
Harbeth $5k+USD
https://harbeth.co.uk/c7es-3-xd-loudspeaker-2/
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Trenner-Friedl $5k+USD
https://www.trenner-friedl.com/index.php?menu=product&sprache=en&second=art
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Dynaudio $7k+USD
https://dynaudio.com/home-audio/heritage/heritage-special
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Fritz LS7 $3800USD
https://www.fritzspeakers.com/sound.asp
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