Anyone with experience in installing vinyl laminate on speakers?

[kalrith]

Here's my situation (I'm an audio newb, so please bear with me). I have 2 Polk R50 for fronts that are in cherry. The center that timbre matches (CSi25) only comes in black. I was told that it came in cherry once, but I haven't seen one anywhere in the last 6 months that I've been searching. Also, I was going to buy 2 R15 for surrounds. I have seen these on eBay in cherry, but they go for about $100. Outpost.com runs deals every few months on the CSi25 for $60 plus shipping and a pair of R15 for $40 plus shipping, but they both come in black.

So, I am wondering how it would look to purchase the black speakers and put a cherry vinyl laminate like this on there. If it would look ok, then how do I go about installing it? Do I have to sand, strip, or remove the current laminate; or can I just stick it on there with no preparations?

The current-generation polk center that is the closest timbre match to the R50 is the CS1. The least expensive I've seen this in cherry is $159 shipped. That's how much it would cost for the CSi25, a pair of R15, and the laminate, so price is definitely influencing my decision. On top of that, my front sound stage still wouldn't blend as well as it would with the CSi25.

Thanks for the help!

 

[davlaf]

Here's my situation (I'm an audio newb, so please bear with me). I have 2 Polk R50 for fronts that are in cherry. The center that timbre matches (CSi25) only comes in black. I was told that it came in cherry once, but I haven't seen one anywhere in the last 6 months that I've been searching. Also, I was going to buy 2 R15 for surrounds. I have seen these on eBay in cherry, but they go for about $100. Outpost.com runs deals every few months on the CSi25 for $60 plus shipping and a pair of R15 for $40 plus shipping, but they both come in black.

So, I am wondering how it would look to purchase the black speakers and put a cherry vinyl laminate like this on there. If it would look ok, then how do I go about installing it? Do I have to sand, strip, or remove the current laminate; or can I just stick it on there with no preparations?

The current-generation polk center that is the closest timbre match to the R50 is the CS1. The least expensive I've seen this in cherry is $159 shipped. That's how much it would cost for the CSi25, a pair of R15, and the laminate, so price is definitely influencing my decision. On top of that, my front sound stage still wouldn't blend as well as it would with the CSi25.

Thanks for the help!

Hi,

I have the same problem. Me, I will remove the current laminate. After that I will sand. After that, I will clean with a dry cloth. Finally, I willl put the new laminate!

I don't know if that helped you alot but that's what I'll do.
David Lafleur

 

[kalrith]

Hi,

I have the same problem. Me, I will remove the current laminate. After that I will sand. After that, I will clean with a dry cloth. Finally, I willl put the new laminate!

I don't know if that helped you alot but that's what I'll do.
David Lafleur

That does help. Thanks!

Can you give me an update once you're done with the process and let me know how it went and how the end result looks?

I was able to snag a pair of cherry R15 from eBay for $75 shipped, but I still haven't bought the center channel.

 

[audiophiladelph]

I wouldn't bother removing the old laminate. If anything it will give you a nice smooth, flat surface with sharp corners to apply the new laminate to. If I were doing this, I would first remove all of the drivers, port tubes, and connection jacks. I then start at the middle of the bottom of the speaker and wrap the laminate around the side, top, other side and finish back in the middle of the bottom. I then take a razor blade and cut a straight line down the middle of the bottom and remove the excess. Then holding the razor at an angle, I trim all of the excess from the sides. Then I put the front and back on and trim the sides the same way. I then cut out the holes for the drivers, port tubes, and connection jacks. Then reinsert those components and you will have a nice cherry speaker. Maybe that will help also.

 

[T2T]

I've used the Parts Express laminate before. I've found that I like to use some supplimental adhesive - in addition to that which is pre-pasted on the vinyl. I've used the spray on stuff by Elmers that is sold at craft stores. This ensured that the laminate was going to stick for life.

I did refinish a cabinet of an old stereo receiver. I did sand the cabinet a bit to prep the surface by getting off any residue, wax, polish, etc. When I finished the sanding, I used a soft rag and wiped the cabinet with some paint thinner to remove any fine dust particles from the cabinet. Once the thinner dried, I went about the process of installing the laminate.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Resident Loser]

My advice...

...DO NOT REMOVE THE EXISTING LAMINATE...If it was applied correctly, they used a contact cement/industrial-grade adhesive both of which tend to have a tenacious grip...you most likely will damage the substrate and have a mess on your hands...

Prepare the surface with Murphys oil soap to remove any greasy contaminants...rinse and allow to air dry...If the old surface is vinyl sheet this cleanser will not attack it...if the old surface is a formica-like material. Isopropyl alcohol may be used...Really shiny surfaces may have to be scuffed, most are usually matte...Apply your vinyl and squeeze out the air-bubbles that might form...a rubber roller and a sharp hobby knife may be required...You probably will want to do one surface at a time using individual oversize pieces, trimming as required...Using a continuous piece may become problematic...any edge defects can easily be filled in with matching Minwax touch-up sticks available at most home centers.

I'd avoid using additional adhesives as they may interact badly with whatever the self-stick stuff is made of...plus mistakes may be easier to correct without the added glop...

As an aside, you can actually get paperbacked, real wood veneers...they do require use of solvent-based contact cements and must be stained and finished, but to this old woodworker it makes vinyl look like...well, vinyl.

jimHJJ(...just my .02...)

 

[kalrith]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the help! I think I will go this route so that I can get the CSi25, which is the only true timbre match for the R50 (besides the CSi20, but it's not as good of a speaker). I'll probably wait until Frys.com runs a deal again, but I'll keep my eye on eBay, the forums, audiogon, etc.

I have a question for T2T, or to anyone else who might have experience with specific laminates. Do you know how good of a match the Parts Express laminate is for the cherry on the Polk speakers? Does anyone else have another laminate to suggest?

I'll let you guys know once I've got the speaker and have the finished product, and I'll probably post pictures in case anyone else is wondering what it'll look like. It might be a while, because things have been really busy lately, and I have several other projects going on. I'll probably buy the speaker within the next month or two, and then do the laminate whenever I have the time.

Thanks again!

 

[abharj]

...DO NOT REMOVE THE EXISTING LAMINATE...If it was applied correctly, they used a contact cement/industrial-grade adhesive both of which tend to have a tenacious grip...you most likely will damage the substrate and have a mess on your hands...

Prepare the surface with Murphys oil soap to remove any greasy contaminants...rinse and allow to air dry...If the old surface is vinyl sheet this cleanser will not attack it...if the old surface is a formica-like material. Isopropyl alcohol may be used...Really shiny surfaces may have to be scuffed, most are usually matte...Apply your vinyl and squeeze out the air-bubbles that might form...a rubber roller and a sharp hobby knife may be required...You probably will want to do one surface at a time using individual oversize pieces, trimming as required...Using a continuous piece may become problematic...any edge defects can easily be filled in with matching Minwax touch-up sticks available at most home centers.

I'd avoid using additional adhesives as they may interact badly with whatever the self-stick stuff is made of...plus mistakes may be easier to correct without the added glop...

As an aside, you can actually get paperbacked, real wood veneers...they do require use of solvent-based contact cements and must be stained and finished, but to this old woodworker it makes vinyl look like...well, vinyl.

jimHJJ(...just my .02...)

I've got a Klipsch RS-52 surround speaker that has been damaged (some of the wood is showing through) I was looking for a way to make it look new again.

I was reading what you posted and you said not to remove the original vinyl but to place another vinyl sheet over it correct? I ordered the vinyl sheets from parts express and I am just about ready to go. If you have any tips for me I'd really appreciate it!

 

[abharj]

Here is a photo of what it looks like right now:

 

[Guiria]

Vinyl laminate does not cover imperfections well...the texture of the damaged corner will show right through the laminate. I would use some wood putty with a small spackle blade and make that corner as true to original as possible before applying the laminate. Which would probably involve removing the plastic baffles for easier access.

If the speaker is used as a surround and is mounted up high I'd use a sharpie on the wood and be done with it, no one will ever know...