Mason Jar Portable Bluetooth Speakers

I'm currently on a put-speakers-in-everything kick. I actually really like doing this because it seems to be less of a barrier to new speaker builders. There's minimal cutting and drilling and theres no worries about enclosure size.

This was actually one of the most fun builds I've done so far and I got to do a few fun new techniques.

There will be a link at the end of this instructable with FREE Build Plans for these portable bluetooth speakers.

Some of the components can be a little hard to get or to get just one of, so I have also made kits that include laser cut wood lids and all the hard to get components.

You can get the Build Kits HERE

More Speaker Building Videos HERE

You can find Mason Jars at craft store and most grocery stores. Just make sure they are the "wide mouth" type. These have a 3" opening that will facilitate the speaker and electrical components.

Not everything linked here are the exact components I used in my build. If you want to use the same electronics I used, get my kit HERE.

Materials Needed

Bluetooth Amp - http://amzn.to/2giwHdi

Speakers - http://amzn.to/2fhYLc8

Mason Jars - http://amzn.to/2f5EKb5

Wire - http://amzn.to/2f5EKb5

Switch - http://amzn.to/2f5EKb5

Battery Charging Board - http://amzn.to/2f5EKb5

Batteries - http://amzn.to/2f5EKb5

Step Up Board - http://amzn.to/2f5EKb5

Drill - http://amzn.to/2eRpm3r

Hole Saw - http://amzn.to/2f5EKb5

Hole Saw - http://amzn.to/2f5EKb5

Drill Bit Set - http://amzn.to/2f5EKb5

Center Punch - http://amzn.to/2f5EKb5

Poly Fil - http://amzn.to/2f5EKb5

Soldering Iron - http://amzn.to/2f5EKb5

Glue Gun - http://amzn.to/2f5EKb5

You can finish your jars however you'd like. I pained the inside of my jars, but you could also spray paint the outside of the jars.

I poured a pretty good blob of paint inside the jars and swirled it around until it was entirely covered. I then let the excess paint drain back into the paint container and let them drip dry. I recommend using at least two coats of paint when using this method.

You can toss to the side the metal lid inserts that come with your jars. I made my new lids out of thin particle board. It was the kind that has one very smooth side and one textured side.

Using a 3 3/8" hole saw I cut out the new lids from the board. These were a little two large to fit in the lid caps, so I traced around the old metal insert and sanded the new lids down to the correct size.

I then cut a 2" hole, using a hole saw, into the center of the new lids. This allowed the speakers to fit perfectly into the holes from the back.

Make sure to use the correct measurements from the specific parts you're using if you're not building from my kit.

I next drilled holes for my switch, battery charging board, and holes to allow the connection wires to the second speaker to fit through.

I placed the speakers on the lids and marked and drilled holes for the mounting screws.

I added some fabric over the speaker then placed the lids on top of the fabric. The speakers I used have a lip around the outside (surround) of the speaker that holds the fabric off the speaker cone.

I then screwed in small screws from the front. My screws were too long to screw them in from the back, so I added hot glue to the threads to act as nuts to hold the speaker in place.

This is a pretty simple wire job. I made a diagram to help you lay out your parts.

Basically, the battery(s) are wired to the charging board with a switch between, then the step-up board is wired to the charging board, and the amp is wired to the step-up board.

Once the battery is connected and charged, use a small screwdriver to turn the potentiometer on the step-up board until it reads 5v on your multimeter.

Add your switch to the main lid and glue in your charging board with hot glue.

I soldered on the connection cable to the terminals of the main speaker and fed them through the hole I cut in the wood lid.

I then hot glued all the electrical components to the inside of the main jar and added poly fill to each jar. Place the speaker lid and screw on the lid cap.

Make sure to add the second lid cap onto the connection cable in the correct orientation before threading the wires through he second wood lid and soldering them to the second speaker terminals.

Screw on the second lid cap and your all done! Easy Peasy!

Thanks so much for reading my instructable! And good luck on your build!

Get the free downloadable build plans HERE

Get the Build Kit HERE

And watch more speaker building videos HERE

Thanks again!

-Kirby