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cleaning speakers [message #22891]

Thu, 07 May 2015 17:56

Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014

Senior Member

Just got my blue 3-15's bass cabinet. Was disappointed because Guitar Center told me the speakers had the aluminum dust caps on them. He was half right, they were CTS but no aluminum dust caps. Cabinet itself is in remarkably good shape with a small tear on the side and a hole in the grille cloth. Bass ports were disappointing since the chrome plating has pretty much disintegrated, but surprise, the handles are all intact and all casters still roll.

My question is how can I clean the speakers? They look pretty dirty and not just dust. Also, I was thinking about trying to paint the speaker basket as well since they look to be tarnished also.

This really isn't the cabinet I was expecting so figure I will clean it up, replace the grille cloth and repair the tear before it gets worse and then look for a K-250 head or K-200 in blue and sell it as a package.

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22899 is a reply to message #22891]

Thu, 07 May 2015 21:11

riverboat
Messages: 49
Registered: November 2014
Location: United States

Member

I have used a soft paint brush and a little compressed air to clean the cone.

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22900 is a reply to message #22891]

Thu, 07 May 2015 22:03

Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014

Senior Member

Does anyone know of a cleaner or conditioner for speakers?

Turns out some idiot spray painted the bass ports with silver paint. What a dork! Kind of like a 2-15's with horns and they had sprayed the horns red.

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22901 is a reply to message #22900]

Thu, 07 May 2015 22:14

oren hudson
Messages: 274
Registered: March 2008
Location: Gastonia, NC

Senior Member

Vacuum your speakers to remove as much dust etc. as possible. Then take some black shoe polish and apply an even coat. Use a newspaper or something like that on another hard surface to get the polish flowing. Use a toothbrush to get in ridges and around the dust cover. Works like a charm. I've done this for years and I'm always amazed at good the cones look afterward.

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22902 is a reply to message #22891]

Fri, 08 May 2015 01:07

Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014

Senior Member

I see that Parts Express has something that makes the speakers look wet but also weather proofs them. Anyone ever tried this?

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22903 is a reply to message #22891]

Fri, 08 May 2015 06:16

stevem
Messages: 4775
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

That wet look stuff is basically a more thined down version of what the manufacturers put on the surround area to make it more flexible and less likely to crack.
Why there is a need for shinny black cones I can not figure out, I also can not see how the stuff will not have some effect on the sound!

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22904 is a reply to message #22891]

Fri, 08 May 2015 10:58

Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014

Senior Member

Looks like shoe polish is my only option then. This cabinet probably has seen a lot of bars or the guy who owned it was a chain smoker. Funny how the insulation doesn't smell. Thanks for all the feed back guys.

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22911 is a reply to message #22891]

Tue, 12 May 2015 01:53

Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014

Senior Member

Was cleaning the last speaker tonight and notice a small tear in the paper. Looks like a finger nail or at least something rounded. I was able to push it back smooth again but am afraid with playing the cabinet the speaker will eventually tear all the way. Can super glue be use to mend the tear? Its barely noticeable.

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22912 is a reply to message #22891]

Tue, 12 May 2015 04:16

riverboat
Messages: 49
Registered: November 2014
Location: United States

Member

For years I have repaired torn speaker cones with Elmer's glue or woodworker's glue and a small cloth patch on the back side. When this kind of glue is dry it still has a bit of flex. You can "clamp it with a small piece of foam rubber and a piece of wax paper (so the glue doesn't stick to the foam rubber) I would not use super glue. Good Luck.

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22913 is a reply to message #22912]

Tue, 12 May 2015 08:25

C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...

Senior Member

Black RTV works perfectly. It stays flexible and is hardly noticeable. Do both sides.
Conrad

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22914 is a reply to message #22891]

Tue, 12 May 2015 11:28

Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014

Senior Member

The black RTV sounds like the best option since the cone needs to stay flexible. Thanks guys for the feedback.

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22915 is a reply to message #22891]

Tue, 12 May 2015 11:51

chicagobill
Messages: 2006
Registered: April 2003

Senior Member

I've used all types of glues to fix small tears, but the type I finally settled on is PVA, which is used in bookbinding. It is similar to the Elmer's glue that Riverboat suggested.

The black RTV is great for coating surrounds, but it is hard to apply in small amounts in a clean fashion. At least I have problems with getting it to look good. And it tends to be very shiny looking when it dries.

Try and get the paper back into its' original position and just use the glue to connect the ends of the tears.

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22916 is a reply to message #22915]

Tue, 12 May 2015 16:14

Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014

Senior Member

I would think that Elmers would dry too ridge and would eventual pull loose with vibration. Thinking since it is such a small tear that I would only apply it to the back side of the cone and that it would fill in on the front and not be noticeable for the most part especially with a coat of black shoe polish added.

Keep hearing the words of wisdom of Red Green......if the women don't find you handsome they should at least find you handy. Smile

Smile

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22919 is a reply to message #22916]

Tue, 12 May 2015 23:49

Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN

Senior Member

Get in touch with a recone company on the net and they sell glue just for that purpose. It goes on Gray and turns black. It is also used when re-coning speakers. I have some here, but it just comes in a plain unmarked bottle. It is flexible and tough as heck too. I get my stuff from this place, http://reconekits.com/

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Re: cleaning speakers [message #22920 is a reply to message #22891]

Wed, 13 May 2015 08:58

Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014

Senior Member

Thanks......I'll check it out.

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