Speaker grilles

[Joe Schmoe]

Has anyone here made their own speaker grilles? How hard is it to do?
(I ask because I think I could do better, looks-wise, than the ones that came with my speakers.)

 

[TLS Guy]

Has anyone here made their own speaker grilles? How hard is it to do?
(I ask because I think I could do better, looks-wise, than the ones that came with my speakers.)

It is not difficult, at all.

You can make a frame from 3/8 ply. Make it the shape you want, and cut the hole with a rip saw or router.

Make the holes for the mounting hardware. Align this carefully.

Paint the frame with mat black, black board paint.

Place the mounting hardware after the frame has dried well.

Cut the cloth oversize. Then start on the long side of the frame stapling the cloth to the back of the frame. Do the opposing side, getting sensible tension, you don't want slack cloth, but do not over tension. Do the other two sides. You are done.

You can get the cloth and mounting hardware from Madisound. I have lots of black and brown. I could send you some if you want.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Cool! I may try it. I will look for silver cloth.
My old Primus 250s were recently returned to me (by a friend who I gave them to 2 years ago, because he bought new speakers recently.) I never liked the black grilles, and I have seen the new 252s with silver grilles that look cool. That is what I want to emulate. (Of course, they have to attach to the speakers with pegs.)

 

[TLS Guy]

Cool! I may try it. I will look for silver cloth.
My old Primus 250s were recently returned to me (by a friend who I gave them to 2 years ago, because he bought new speakers recently.) I never liked the black grilles, and I have seen the new 252s with silver grilles that look cool. That is what I want to emulate. (Of course, they have to attach to the speakers with pegs.)

You may have trouble with the silver cloth. For DIY your choice is pretty much black or brown.

However if you have a large fabric store you may be able to find a cloth that will work. Your need a cloth with some stetchyness to it, so it will hold tension. The most important property is low resistance to air flow. The best way to tell that is the "Carter Blow Test."

You stretch the fabric and put it up to your mouth and blow through it. There should be minimal resistance to air flow. You can get an idea of the correct resistance by doing it on the grilles you have.

You might get an assistant come up to you and ask you "what the hell are you doing?" though. It has happened to me.