Vintage HiFi Audio Forum

Audio Discussion => List your system => Topic started by: OldiesButGoodies on June 01, 2012, 09:03:53 PM

Title: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on June 01, 2012, 09:03:53 PM
Now to wait wait a couple of weeks of burn-in before judging (but they sound pretty damn good already!).  Going t work on the grills now (second attempt - first one was negatively impacted by the Lagunitas beer,  decided to redo it):

(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l538/namikis/Ref3axoverrestore2.jpg)

(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l538/namikis/Ref3axoverrestore3.jpg)

(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l538/namikis/Ref3axoverrestore4.jpg)

(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l538/namikis/Ref3axoverrestore5.jpg)

(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l538/namikis/Ref3axoverrestore6.jpg)

Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: schwarcw on June 01, 2012, 09:52:21 PM
Nice PePe!  Where did you get the Jantzen caps?  Inquiring minds want to know ;D
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on June 01, 2012, 11:10:39 PM
Parts Express,  and they were reasonable about price too.  for $40 bucks I had all 6 parts delivered in 3 days.
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: gdv on June 02, 2012, 07:55:25 AM
Nice job Pepe...

I love Parts Express...  Sometimes I feel like I have STOCK in their company with all the purchases I've made over the years!   :o

George
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> Veneering Speaker Cabinets - Tips
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on June 02, 2012, 09:02:09 AM
Thanks all - I am looking to veneer the sides and tops of these monitors. I can give them to a cabinet builder to do but that will be expensive,  so still weighing doing it my self.  I did do a pair of Epis once before and the main problem was trimming the edges.  I bought a tool/special knife at Home Depot,  but either it was (1) dull from the factory or (2) I used it without examining the grain properly. So:


Thanks for your help - if you type the response here it will be recorded for internet eternity to be found by Google et al to help other geeks seeking to re-veneer their vintage cabinets.

OBG
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on June 09, 2012, 10:58:44 PM

Now in the veering process... will paint tomorrow...
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8159/7171096007_8c60f93829.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsifontes/7171096007/)
3as veneer (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsifontes/7171096007/#) by JSifontes (http://www.flickr.com/people/jsifontes/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: MacGeek on June 10, 2012, 06:50:50 AM
Where do you get the veneer material?
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on June 10, 2012, 08:05:56 AM
MacG:

I could be patient and get it from the somewhere in the internet (Woodcraft.com),   but patience is not a strength.  Lowe's usually has a small amount of stock at their stores (Hone Depot does not).    It is iron-on red oak from Band-It.  I supplement the iron on stuff with contact cement.

Ppe
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: bmwr75 on June 10, 2012, 11:14:02 AM
I need to learn how to veneer.

My tube amp restoration skills are going downhill  evidently.
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: Reverend on June 10, 2012, 11:33:48 AM
Very nice work Pepe.  :o
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on June 10, 2012, 12:01:31 PM
Came out really nice, if I do say so myself,  better than the EPIs I did a year back  Will post high res pics later today after they dry.  Thanks to Shawn for his advice on how to do this.  A key difference this time around: I used a router and a straight flust trim bit.  The router was not that expensive (I bought a 'flush trim' version at Harbor Freight for next to nothing),  but I did spend a few bucks for a high quality flust trim bit (not from Harbor Freight!). The router approach makes this almost stupid proof -  just make sure you protect the area where the bit roller will ride with masking tape (I did not on one pass - learned the hard way) And this time around I did not attempt to stain the red oak,  just went straight to spray lacquer (again, Shawn's advice - he is d man). 

On the down side,  the 3As are looking great,  new x-over, grills, etc. - so nothing else to update.  Need to find a new project!  Rev, bring me your grills,  I will git em looking new again!

Pepe
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: Reverend on June 10, 2012, 12:48:12 PM
Got the speaker grills and the glue you recommended, might give it a shot today.  Would be nice to redue the crossovers on my ALiii's.  Feel like giving that a shot?   ;D
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on June 10, 2012, 01:11:29 PM
Serious - if you need help screwing up the grill work I will gladly join you and bring my trusty 3 foot aluminum ruler and a brand new single edge razor.  Just feed me any IPA beer you have and I am a re-grilling machine.

Will gladly redo the crossover caps in your ALs just let me know what caps you want from the PE repertoire (F1nut will not be happy if you chose Dayton audio, just so you know).

Pepe
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on June 10, 2012, 02:56:46 PM
Pictures after veneering.   The purple fringe in some of the pics is a camera defect of the Fuji X-10 (the orbs issue) - Fuji is recalling the sensors for replacement,  still waiting my turn to send it in.  Still have some work to do in the baffle-veneer interface,  it will probably look better if I paint the edge of the veneer black like the baffle:

(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l538/namikis/Reference3AMastersSerie1.jpg)

(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l538/namikis/Reference3AMastersSerie3.jpg)

(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l538/namikis/Reference3AMastersSerie4.jpg)

(http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l538/namikis/Reference3AMastersSerie2.jpg)
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: bmwr75 on June 10, 2012, 03:11:06 PM
Very nice Pepe!!
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: Slim-Shaddy on June 10, 2012, 03:17:02 PM
very nice indeed!
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: Slim-Shaddy on June 10, 2012, 03:24:55 PM
If it were me I'd go with a slightly darker stain. Maybe something similar to the color of your sub would look nice.
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: Reverend on June 10, 2012, 03:36:12 PM
Serious - if you need help screwing up the grill work I will gladly join you and bring my trusty 3 foot aluminum ruler and a brand new single edge razor.  Just feed me any IPA beer you have and I am a re-grilling machine.

Will gladly redo the crossover caps in your ALs just let me know what caps you want from the PE repertoire (F1nut will not be happy if you chose Dayton audio, just so you know).

Pepe

Jantzen would work.  I'll pull off the crossover and make a list of what's needed.
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: MasterBlaster on June 10, 2012, 04:36:46 PM
Terrific work Pepe!
Using a router to trim the edge was a good move.
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on June 10, 2012, 04:59:18 PM
Ed - I would have preferred a darker stain too,  but the forums on this and my own experience indicates that stains exaggerate any mistakes you make in prep ad sanding.  Then you have to be absolutely sure that the varnish chemicals will not offend the stain's.  Plus it takes longer,  so I went with Shawn's suggestion of using spray lacquer,  semi gloss (looks satin to me).  Anyway,  I like it.  If I had the patience (again,  not my strength) I would order the veneer from woodcraft and order it cherry wood so it would come out as you suggest without staining. 

I later did paint the edges black to match the baffle and now the cabinet looks finished. 

Rev - let me know what's needed....   8)

Now off to the gym to burn a few calories so I can take care of a couple of Titan IPAs while listening to Coltrane tonight...   :P :P :P :P

OBG
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: MasterBlaster on June 10, 2012, 06:05:07 PM
I recently used Danish oil on a project, and I was very pleased with the results.
It applies like a stain, is very easy to work with, and provides a durable satin finish.
Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: OldiesButGoodies on June 10, 2012, 09:09:58 PM
If I find a speaker cabinet with rounded edges (or round it off using a 1/2 radius router bit, another use for the nifty cheap router I got),  it would be cool to wrap it in this elm burr veneer:

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2004978/35/Elm-burl-Veneer-3-sq-ft-pack.aspx (http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2004978/35/Elm-burl-Veneer-3-sq-ft-pack.aspx)

Would look great.   8)

Title: Re: Reference 3a -> x-over recap
Post by: MasterBlaster on June 10, 2012, 09:44:16 PM
If I find a speaker cabinet with rounded edges (or round it off using a 1/2 radius router bit, another use for the nifty cheap router I got),  it would be cool to wrap it in this elm burr veneer:

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2004978/35/Elm-burl-Veneer-3-sq-ft-pack.aspx (http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2004978/35/Elm-burl-Veneer-3-sq-ft-pack.aspx)

Looks like the stuff Rev used on one of his tt projects. Very nice.

Would look great.   8)