DIY Ground Box Thread

[EDhaenens]

@EDhaenens
Where did you buy your tourmaline powder? And did you buy the military grade graphite from Aliexpress like I did?

This is for the members that are in Europe or outside of US. Since you have tried the wraps, do you think it is worth the effort to source the minerals required to build the GBC Enhancement Wraps?

https://www.n-ion.com/e/product/tourmaline-stones-powder/tpd-1-s.html

It’s a japanese company but the tourmaline is brazilian and they ship to europe.
The graphite powder is also AliExpress.

I think it’s worth it the buy the minerals, absolutely. The combination of ground boxes and wraps is priceless. The possibilities are endless. The system improvement you have from the boxes and wraps surpasses everything.

 

[Dandoudou]

This is the cheapest place in Europe I have found.
https://materiamadre.it/shop/restauro-e-bricolage/41-sale-di-rochelle-1-kg-8054806582637.html

Thank you for the link.

I found this Tourmaline powder on Ali:
https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005...sea!FR!3824346391!&curPageLogUid=i52OwRHezVza

Does anyone have a good link for High grade Graphite?

 

[EDhaenens]

The AliExpress HKAFEI military grade graphite powder is not available anymore. We’ll have to try something new.
The AliExpress tourmaline powder can’t be confirmed to be pure or even real. The n-ion tourmaline powder comes with a data sheet with molecular info and comes from a company that takes stuff seriously. With shipment i payed about 110 euros. You probably won’t buy another bag, with 1kg you you will have enough for your whole system, ground boxes and wraps.

 

[cdacosta]

https://www.n-ion.com/e/product/tourmaline-stones-powder/tpd-1-s.html

It’s a japanese company but the tourmaline is brazilian and they ship to europe.
The graphite powder is also AliExpress.

I think it’s worth it the buy the minerals, absolutely. The combination of ground boxes and wraps is priceless. The possibilities are endless. The system improvement you have from the boxes and wraps surpasses everything.

That is excellent that you benefited that much from the combo, makes all that 2 finger typing worth it! LOL. IIRC you have 6 of the DIY boxes. Two questions:

* Did you install the wraps on all 6 boxes or still the 3?

* On my system, to my ears, installing a wrap seems to improve performance of the ground box about 40% to 50%. What do the wraps do in your system?

 

[Boodle]

GBC Enhancement Wrap - Parts list, Construction

Parts list:

There is not much minerals used, it is not needed. Actually using more has a negative effect. Here is what you will need:

* Cling wrap or Glad wrap, see pic for this household item. You will know what this is. I am using 12" wide version.
* Velcro
* Scissors to cut the Velcro
* Plastic spoon to measure minerals (my favorite measuring tool LOL)
* Magnetite
* Rochelle Salt
* High grade Graphite
* Tourmaline powder (I am using Brazilian Tourmaline powder)
* Vinyl if you want to wrap it like I did for esthetics. I will show you what I got and from where. I recommend a thin black vinyl, one that you can remove the backing. With the backing on it added a dielectric that had a audible negative effect. Once I removed the white backing, which just pealed off, the vinyl itself did not have a audible effect.


Construction:

STEP 1) You are going lay a piece of the cling wrap of about 13" long on a desk or table. Exact length is not critical, you just need it long enough. I used about 13" in my three final wraps. See 2nd pic.

STEP 2) Start laying the following ingredients in the order listed and the amounts listed length wise like in the pics. Once you have all the minerals placed on top of the cling wrap lightly mix the minerals. When laying out the minerals on the cling wrap do it slowly so you do not create dust you will be inhaling. See pic 3.

* Magnetite - 5 parts (5 parts= one flat spoon full)
* Rochelle Salt - 1.5 parts
* High grade Graphite - 1.5 parts
* Tourmaline powder (I am using Brazilian Tourmaline powder) - 2 parts

STEP 3) Lightly mix minerals. Keep in the same area you see in pic 3, you will be wrapping all the minerals together like a burrito next.

STEP 4) Take the cling wrap below (at bottom) the minerals and fold it over the minerals, pic 4. Then fold the mineral mix over two more times. You want the final burrito roll flexible so keep the width of the burrito about 1". Then fold the sides over so there is enough of the cling wrap you can double fold the sides. We want a thicker side to prevent breakage. see pic 5.

Now roll the burrito all the way until there is no more cling wrap. See pics 6-8 for clarification of what you want after the burrito is all wrapped up. If it is .5" shorter or longer is fine, do not sweat that detail.

Not sure how many pics I can put up so "STEP 5" in next post/to be continued.

Under construction “ Step 2 - Magnetite 5 parts ( 5 parts =one flat spoonful)”. Do you mean five flat spoonfuls?
thanks for clarification.

 

[cdacosta]

Under construction “ Step 2 - Magnetite 5 parts ( 5 parts =one flat spoonful)”. Do you mean five flat spoonfuls?
thanks for clarification.

One flat spoonful= 5 parts
The wrap consists of one flat spoonful of Magnetite.

 

[EDhaenens]

I am confused. I made the wrap with 5 flat spoons of magnetite, 1,5 spoon graphite, etc. How do you measure 1,5/5 or 2/5 of a spoon?

 

[cdacosta]

I am confused. I made the wrap with 5 flat spoons of magnetite, 1,5 spoon graphite, etc. How do you measure 1,5/5 or 2/5 of a spoon?

You could super size it like that I guess. Have not tried it with that much minerals. I would bet the effect will be slightly different.

 

[EDhaenens]

You could super size it like that I guess. Have not tried it with that much minerals. I would bet the effect will be slightly different.

So basically when I take the minerals from one of my wraps I have to devide it by 5 to get the amount of one of your wraps?

 

[cdacosta]

So basically when I take the minerals from one of my wraps I have to devide it by 5 to get the amount of one of your wraps?

Yep. LOL. But if it works well for you like it is, just leave it. Or make a few with different mineral volume, keeping the same mix portions and try it to compare. Maybe that is another way to tune and dial it in. I will try it, makes sense.

During the weeks of testing a large amount of any mineral sounds bad or off

 

[cdacosta]

In regards to the wraps and minerals… each of those minerals by themselves I found had negative effects. That particular combination together, in the amounts shared offered a very good sonic balance. Even though it takes a few days for it all to fully settle in, as soon as one wrap is installed it is audibly obvious.

 

[EDhaenens]

Ok so I weighed the minerals for 5 wraps total (using coffee spoon):
Magnetite 52 gram
Rochelle salt 5 gram
Graphite 3 gram
Tourmaline 8 gram

Total of 68 gram devided by five is about 13 gram mineral weight per wrap.

 

[EDhaenens]

This is my measured amount of mineral mix per wrap.

I see a lot more mineral mix on your pictures that is why I am confused.

 

[cdacosta]

Ok so I weighed the minerals for 5 wraps total (using coffee spoon):
Magnetite 52 gram
Rochelle salt 5 gram
Graphite 3 gram
Tourmaline 8 gram

Total of 68 gram devided by five is about 13 gram mineral weight per wrap.

When I measure is by mass or volume, not weight.

You see everybody has different taste and system needs. Your system could possibly be improved with bass weight and slam. The extra volume of the wrap could produce that. The mineral mix is still balanced so it does not throw the tonal balance off wack. This is one example. This is why I always have suggested DIY, so one can tune the box and possibly now the wrap to each owner’s taste.

I think trying different volumes of the mix is a great idea. I will give that a whirl later today when I get home. This is exactly what I was hoping for, a community that has a common interest that provide info that could lead to further developments or improvements.

 

[cdacosta]

This is my measured amount of mineral mix per wrap.


I see a lot more mineral mix on your pictures that is why I am confused.

Looks about the same