Speakers stands: which material to use for the base? MDF too ugly, pine too light?

[Murloc]

I want to do the same thing this guy has done

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwROlDMjcwc

but mine are going to be way taller (160 cm) so I need the base to be quite heavy (I'm kinda set on 40 cm x 40 cm size), and I also don't want to paint them black (propose alternative colors that would look decent with white walls and wooden floor and furniture if you have any though) but want the wood to show (if there's no good alternative to black).

So what can I do?

I think I'm gonna have to go with MDF, it's the only material sold thick enough to make a heavy enough base it appears, and it's also high density unlike any other cheap options. It's cheap. But I hate how it looks naked.

Solid wood costs a lot more here than in the US and I haven't seen any 5 cm thick like the guide on tnt-audio uses (two 12 x 12 inches pieces of oak that thick, for 15$???? Not real).

I haven't seen anything like iron-on veneer in the shop and I'd prefer to keep it simple.

The shop sells veneered particle board but I think that's way too light and it's not sold thick.

I thought maybe I could use MDF for the base and leave the wood grain on view on the column, trouble is, how do I make the wood agree with a solid (matte or polish) finish? Are idea about colors/textures?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Micrornd]

Don't know what is available there, but -

If you use MDF, spray 2 coats of primer, let dry and sand between coats.
(it could take 3 coats, MDF sucks up paint)
This should give you a smooth surface for your choice of top coat color.
Be sure you use a primer compatible with your finish coat.

An alternative would be to veneer the MDF yourself, using glue or contact cement with a thin panel, such as a door skin (here in the US they are generally about 5mm) or a cheap piece on paneling (finished face towards the MDF exposing the backer wood on the normally hidden side).
Either would give you the grain you are looking for.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Speaker stands over 5 ft tall? I've never seen anything like that. That would be so top-heavy and downright dangerous, that I wouldn't want them out in a room. And if you place them against a wall, you may as well wall-mount the speakers.

 

[skyking]

Take a look around this site for veneers. Beware it is like wikipedia, you can get lost in there.
http://www.veneersupplies.com/products/AAA-Quilted-Maple-Veneer-Sheet--1125-x-6750.html
This site is the companion informative site for how to get good results. Great site.
http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/backed-veneer.htm

They have some beautiful wood there on clearance.
The sapele veneers are nice, I have worked with it in the past.

 

[vi edit]

I'd make the bottom essentially a box and fill it quickcrete. Instead of a flat bottom, use something like birch plywood for the top and bottom, then cut some 3" tall strips to use for the sides. Hide the butt joints to the back and then use a corner round or cove mold around the top and bottom of it for trim to hide the exposed plywood from the cuts.