Re-finishing Loudspeakers

[Fatman2]

Hi all

I fancy changing the finish of my speakers to gloss black/piano and was wondering if anyone had tried this before?

I've read on the internet that people have tried painting but this seems like too much hard work and I don't really have the facilities. I could take my cabinets to the bodyshop but am thinking this is a little OTT (although probably the best finish-wise).

Another, more appealing method looks to be buying veneer or sheet and then bonding/trimming but this would require some careful finishing to look 100%.

One thing that came up on Google was self adhesive vinyl wrap for cars and this looks a great solution as I could remove it if I became tired of the gloss look. It would also require some careful trimming but this seems to be the safest and most cost effective option. Does anyone know if this is feasible on wood veneered cabinets?

Thanks

[Crackie]

Hi ~ I think it would be time consuming ( costly ) to achieve black piano finish on a cabinet already finished in veneer. I'm not sure how deep it is but the texture of the current veneer grain is likely to be visible unless it is sanded back to smooth or a gap filling primer coat is used before the black and multiple lacquer coats are added.

High gloss laminates are likely to cost much less but may not achieve a edge and corner finish that is as good as you want.

http://www.formica.co.uk/publish/site/eu/uk/en/hom...

Have a search for videos showing you how to finish laminate edges; that should tell you if the process is as good as you would like.

[Fatman2]

Thanks Crackie

Yeah I think you're right about the grain. It's not particularly deep but a wrap will likely show so is probably a bad idea.

I reckon the formica veneer is probably the best option if I can get the edges right, athough this may be doubtful. I managed to finish the edges on the kitchen worktop fine but there's a world of difference between a kitched worktop and my loudspeakers.

Needs some more thought methinks although I may get some sheet and practise on some blocks of wood first.

Cheers

[TonyRPH]

You also need to bear in mind that many speakers below £600 (ish) are usually vinyl wrap that looks like veneer.

[Fatman2]

They're definitely real wood veneers, which makes covering them up a bit of a shame but maple is not the most universal shade.

I did think of replacing them (ProAc Studio 125s) but they still sound great and I don't fancy forking out £2k just because they won't suit the new decor

My ultimate would be a pair of Martin Logan's but then I'd have to buy everything else (amp, CD, turntable) so is a definite no-no just now as I'm trying to buy a house first.

[Crackie]

Hi Fatman2 - I like the Proacs . I think http://www.wilmslow-audio.co.uk/ will be able to stain the pale maple veneer to a much darker finish for you; certainly worth talking to them.

I visited them recently to see the quality of their cabinet work and to see their finish options first hand; I was impressed. Imho it would be a real shame to cover quality Proac cabinetwork with paint or laminate if they could be darkened sufficeintly by someone like Wilmslow.

[allgonepetetong]

Surely anyone competent could apply a stain, how difficult can that be?

[Crackie]

allgonepetetong said:

Surely anyone competent could apply a stain, how difficult can that be?

Applying the stain isn't hard and removing the lacquer finish that will on the veneer now won't be too bad if you're very patient or have the right sanding gear but spraying a new coat of lacquer on, once the new stain has been applied, is best left to someone experienced. Its not quite as easy as slapping some Ronseal onto a garden fence.

[TonyRPH]

You would also want to remove all the drive units before applying any kind of varnish / lacquer.

Because the fumes that these give off can attack the adhesives on the speaker cones, and in rare cases even the cones themselves.