Foam repair question

[Shintsu]

I recently found the Infinity Sterling Video center for cheap and it's in mostly good condition, however on one of the drivers the foam around the bottom feels very thin when compared to the rest of the surround and when compared to the other driver. I pushed on it just a bit and I can see where the foam is trying to form a tear and it has formed a hairline crack along the bottom (Probably 1/4" or less). I'm pretty sure this material is foam by examining it, so what can I do to reinforce that bottom section since most of it hasn't torn but it feels very thin and weak?

Something I'm curious of, but what does having tears in that surround do when they're that tiny? Hamper the speaker's performance or distort the sound? I feel as though this driver can be saved since so little of it is damaged - please advise as I've never had any speakers that needed repair before (Ironic that I have a pair of Infinity's from the 70's that have very good surrounds on them and one of their speakers from '95 has some early tearing).

 

[TLS Guy]

I recently found the Infinity Sterling Video center for cheap and it's in mostly good condition, however on one of the drivers the foam around the bottom feels very thin when compared to the rest of the surround and when compared to the other driver. I pushed on it just a bit and I can see where the foam is trying to form a tear and it has formed a hairline crack along the bottom (Probably 1/4" or less). I'm pretty sure this material is foam by examining it, so what can I do to reinforce that bottom section since most of it hasn't torn but it feels very thin and weak?

Something I'm curious of, but what does having tears in that surround do when they're that tiny? Hamper the speaker's performance or distort the sound? I feel as though this driver can be saved since so little of it is damaged - please advise as I've never had any speakers that needed repair before (Ironic that I have a pair of Infinity's from the 70's that have very good surrounds on them and one of their speakers from '95 has some early tearing).

You need to buy a refoaming kit for that driver. Trying to repair that surround will fail. It is usually UV light that hastens the damage, and different foams have different susceptibility for foam rot.

If you don't feel competent to refoam the driver, then send it somewhere like Orange County speaker and have them do it.

 

[Exit]

Here is a place that sells surround repair kits and they seem like they will work with you on an individual basis to find a kit that fits your particular speaker. It looks like most of the kits are in the $25 to $100 range and I believe the kits are for pairs of speakers. The small speakers are on the lower price range.

http://www.simplyspeakers.com/

I have not purchased from this company though so you might want to check them out first.

 

[j_garcia]

www.madisound.com , www.speakerrepair.com and www.partsexpress.com should all have refoam kits as well.

 

[joebob]

I just refoamed an old pair of JBL's with a kit I bought on ebay. It was pretty easy to do, and the speakers now look and sound as new.

I would wait until it tears all the way through before doing anything.

 

[Shintsu]

Doing a little looking around online, I discovered a solution to the problem with stuff I already have. RTV Silicone. The kind I have in particular is made for doors and windows so it's extremely flexible but long lasting. I very lightly applied it to the back of the surround and a bit on the front as well (the tears were small). I also reinforced the small area that was weak. I'm not going to spend $25 or something to have the surrounds repaired on a speaker that's not even top of the line or anything rare. And while the kits are $10 or so it sounds like a PITA to do (Spoke with a friend who's done it a few times) and I discovered a tiny tear in the other driver's surround so that would've actually been two kits.

Thanks for all the links though, I'll keep those on hand if I happen into some rare speakers that need the surrounds redone.

 

[j_garcia]

They sell a tape that works for repairing them as well; I've used it in a pinch, but the best way is to ultimately replace the whole thing. RTV should get the job done for now while and work well enough like you said. Plus you already had it