Refoaming speakers

[SwampGas]

Anyone ever refoam a speaker? I have 2 pairs of legacy studio monitors (Altec Lansing Model Fifteen and Acoustic Research AR-3a). The Altec Lansing needs refoaming and I think the rest works. The AR-3as need to be completely rebuilt.

Um. Help?

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[Kijutsu]

> Um. Help?

I looked into that on a set of 12" Pioneers from '88. They had EXCELLENT sound, smooth bass. But the damn foam went to shit. I looked into the prices and said "New speakers are cheaper". The *CHEAPEST* refoaming kits I've seen were approximately $75 .. PER SPEAKER. You might be better off replacing them.

It's up to you.

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[SwampGas]

I just refoamed them. Total cost: $3. Takes a day for a pair. Altec Lansing Model Fifteens...they sound AMAZING.

Send me your speakers and I'll refoam them if you want. The kits are expensive because they give you shims, glue, dust cap, and foam...and then charge you 10 times what it's worth. I don't bother with the shims and dust cap..I align the cone by just feeling it and then running a 50hz test tone through it. Elmer's glue is fine.

Wish I had a camera...these speakers looked like ASS beforehand...now they look brand new.

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[Kijutsu]

> Send me your speakers and I'll refoam them if you want. The
> kits are expensive because they give you shims, glue, dust
> cap, and foam...and then charge you 10 times what it's
> worth. I don't bother with the shims and dust cap..I align
> the cone by just feeling it and then running a 50hz test
> tone through it. Elmer's glue is fine.

Doh... I just threw them speakers away a couple months ago. Couldn't find a cheap refoam kit that would work for it. Oh well. I was originally going to restore a set of Pioneer full range boxes. Then I opened it up, saw the wiring was shot. The crossover was burnt, and the tweaters were rotting all the way thru. Life's a bitch then you marry one... *shrugs* Thanks anyway.

BTW. Where do you get replacement foam so cheaply?

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[SwampGas]

> Couldn't find a cheap refoam kit that would work for it. Oh
> well. I was originally going to restore a set of Pioneer
> full range boxes. Then I opened it up, saw the wiring was
> shot. The crossover was burnt, and the tweaters were
> rotting all the way thru. Life's a bitch then you marry
> one... *shrugs* Thanks anyway.

I have another pair of Acoustic Research AR-3a to restore...the crossover is not just shot, but the entire internals AND speakers are fried. Apparently my grandpa wasn't paying attention and sent +120VAC through it...and a few years earlier, a lightning strike took them out. I have new factory replacement woofers (they're a weird size) since the voice coil melted, but the rest can be swapped out with equivalent parts and new capacitors/solenoids. Even have the original breathe-it-in-and-die fiberglass from the cabinets.

I also have some AR-2a and some Altec Lansing Design pairs....all need refoaming.

> BTW. Where do you get replacement foam so cheaply?

Any online retailer...most have like $25 order minimums though.

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[Kijutsu]

> Apparently my grandpa
> wasn't paying attention and sent +120VAC through it...and a
> few years earlier, a lightning strike took them out.


Hah. I had a Rockford Fosgate sub connected to an amp I was trying to fix.. something shorted while I was attempting to fix it and sent +120VAC to it. Fucker pounded for about 0.2 seconds. Then smokey.

I also have a couple of.. uhm.. elderly Kickers that need refoaming. The foam is dry rotted hardcore and doesn't support the cone like it should, so it rattles hard. They might become my test subjects. <img src=smilies/thumb.gif>

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[SwampGas]

> I also have a couple of.. uhm.. elderly Kickers that need
> refoaming. The foam is dry rotted hardcore and doesn't
> support the cone like it should, so it rattles hard. They
> might become my test subjects.

It's incredibly easy. Pick off the loose foam then run a razor around the cone to get the top layer of foam off, then run a razor around the basket. Spray Goo Gone on the basket and then wipe it clean, wipe it once with soapy water, then wipe it dry. Put the brush attachment on your vacuum and suck up all the loose foam giving a little scrubbing action to the cone to get off any other loose foam. Put a ring of Elmer's glue on the cone, put a ring on the foam piece, and then set it on the cone. Let it dry for about 10 or 15 mins for when it gets tacky, then press it down hard so it stays in place. Let dry for 2 hours. Spread a bead of Elmer's glue around the basket and mush it down. Bounce the cone up and down to make sure there's no coil rub...if there is, move the foam while the glue is squishy so it doesn't. You can either send a 10-50hz test tone through it or hookup a +9VDC battery to listen for coil rub. Every single time you come back to push down or adjust the foam piece, test for coil rub. Let it set for 2 hours....then glue the cork ring back on. Done. Saves you the trouble of using shims and replacing the dust cap.

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[Kijutsu]

> Saves you the trouble of using shims and
> replacing the dust cap.
>

Doesn't sound too hard.. .I might give it a shot. Thanks.

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[mFC]

if i ever remember where i put my dads old bookshelf speakers, i'll have to try that out. he bought them in like 1976 and the foam is a mess

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