Speaker Grill Cloth fixing question

[Radio Fixer]

Looked at you pics again Nick, hard to follow exactly what was done. In some sets the cloth is set back from the front slightly, guess that was for effect or to let the lady of the lady of the house brush out the edge. Maybe that was what the cork was for. Another possibility is maybe the cloth and ring were made up as an assembly externally first and then glued in position. Finally they stuck the felt on.

Think I would fix the cloth to the cabinet and when all dry and OK add whatever you intend to use as a spacer and air sealer over the top.

Gary

[pwdrive]

Don't use speaker cloth to try out the tech, use an old bit of calico or anything else that's hanging around  
Lawrence.

[SurreyNick]

OK. Tomorrow is grill cloth fixing day and I'm going to have a go using a technique suggested by a pal on the other forum. I'm not very confident in my ability to do the sticking bit-by-bit and he came up with a suggestion which negates the need. He suggested fixing the cloth into one of those circular embroidery hoops so it is nice and straight and taut. I gave this some thought and it occurred to me that from within the cabinet I can pencil the back of the cloth with a line where the fretwork is and in that way I can glue all parts where the cloth contacts the cabinet. As long as I then lower it in nice and straight I should be OK. It can then stay that way weighted down for 24 hours before I remove the loop.

I really can't see a downside to this.

Nick.
   

[Radio Fixer]

Most radios I have done wouldn't have room for the hoop ! Basically they are a square or rectangular box and the hoop would foul somewhere.

But if you can get it in in this case then go for it and I wish you success.

Gary

[Radio Fixer]

"Don't use speaker cloth to try out the tech, use an old bit of calico or anything else that's hanging around"

'Tis an idea Lawrence and I have thought of it and it will almost certainly go in perfectly and be so good you wont want to take it out !! But it then leaves you with a messy job of cleaning the cabinet of all the glue before doing it again with the real cloth. And you can bet with Sods Law that wont go in as great as the cheaper cloth. Why? well lots of reasons but among them is muslin has no pattern or distinct weft and warp lines, then the stretch of the real cloth may be a lot less, you maybe a bit more tense, the wife may have give you a bad time that morning for working on radios while the house is falling down etc.

For me I have tried every tech that I have read about and devised for myself probably doing over 50 radio cloths now. The reason for so many is that I have done some more than once not because I didn't get a good result first time but simply with hand sight it was a bad choice of cloth and I couldn't live with it. So I always, whatever the method, think it out and the chance of success and if its seems + then use 'proper' cloth. If it works first time then pour a beer but if not I have bought at least enough for another go.

Gary

[pwdrive]

If it were me I wouldn't try a new method using genuine speaker cloth as I've said before, I wouldn't try it in a speaker/radio cabinet either, any old piece of board with a cut out would be my choice for trying the unknown out. The last time I clothed up a speaker cabinet was on some homemade speaker cabinets to go with the home brew hifi I made for my Mum about 45 years ago.

Lawrence.

[Radio Fixer]

There is logic in what you say Lawrence but mock ups often work and then for some reason when you do the real thing it doesn't.  Better would be to make a piece of board, with cut outs and then build a cabinet sized box around it.  It is usually the confines of the box which brings about the failure.

Baffle boards are relatively easy and the method I outlined earlier in the thread is successful but others will have there way.  I didn't say this, and the purists wont like it, but often its possible to add a baffle board to a set that didn't have one !  Yes! in my earlier days where success and originality was less important I have done it.

Enough by me on this one.

Let us know how the Hoop works out Nick.

Gary

[SurreyNick]

At post #13 I mentioned a suggestion made by a colleague for using an embroidery hoop when attaching a circular speaker cloth directly to a cabinet or baffle. I couldn't see a downside to this method and as the hoops only cost £1.99 I decided to give it a go. I'm delighted to report the method works very well indeed. I have attached below the result having just done mine. It made it much easier to pre-stretch the cloth and to align it too. It's not perfect, but given that this is the first one I have ever done I was very happy with the outcome.

Nick
   

[pwdrive]

Glad the frame idea worked ok for you, looks ok to me.

Lawrence.

[Radio Fixer]

Yes! Looks OK to me too. I don't know how big it is so maybe there isn't too much area to sag anyway. More tricky when you have an 8 inch speaker hole. Interesting choice of cloth !
What adhesive did you use and I take it, it was applied all over and not just add the edges ?

Gary