Message Thread:
Expensive wooden speaker has ding to lacquer - how to repair?
7/18/15
So I have this speaker that has a small 0.25" ding to the rear corner. It is a crack in the lacquer. The light makes it worse when coming from the rear of the speaker.
How I can fill in the minute cracks under the lacquer? Is there a thin viscosity CA glue that I can just drip from the perimeter and it would soak up into the cracks underneath and make it look less noticeable?
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7/18/15 #2: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
That should be a dead easy repair for any qualified touch-up tech.
Or you obtain products from Mohawk and do it yourself. Go on line, they have all kinds of videos to demonstrate step by step.
7/18/15 #3: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Hey Jim -
Thanks for the response!
But which of the mohawk products do I use and even if I try to find videos of how-to, I'm not even sure what to type or search... I'm getting a lot of "crack repair" videos, but this is not a crack or chip into the veneer but simply into the lacquer layers.
Thanks!
7/18/15 #4: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
If you know for sure that is the lacquer that is damaged
I would lightly sand with 320 or 220 and touch it up with a small artist brush with lacquer
Mohawk makes all kinds of touch up/repair
You can also get aerosol can of lacquer
CAB lacquer even precat
7/18/15 #5: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
What if it's just an undermining crack? Someone mentioned glue to fill the airspace?
7/18/15 #6: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Joey v
Email me your phone number and I can walk you through it. Don't want to type a book.......
Jimknowles00@gmail.com
just jim
7/19/15 #7: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Might be able to use a little lacquer thinner and a small brush. Lacquer melts easily with either thinner or more lacquer. But, unless you put on the lacquer in the first place, it can be pre catalyzed, or post catalyzed solvent based lacquer. Possibly even water based lacquer these days. If they are really expensive, hire the tech guy.
7/19/15 #8: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Jim
I will email you my number so we can talk tomorrow, thanks!
Rich
Only reason why I don't want to start messing with the finish by melting the lacquer etc is that I am an amateur and
The speakers cost a lot.
Retail on the speakers are 45,000. I can't screw this up.
7/19/15 #9: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
That looks like something was not sanded off the veneer before finish was applied.
It could have been wet sanded and blended in very carefully.
Does another speaker sit on top of this one?
7/19/15 #10: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Joey,
Finishing and touch-ups take a lot of knowledge and practice. If you don't want to risk making this worse, I'd recommend you find out who is the best touch-up person in your area and pay them to do it. Even among the people who advertise touch-up services there is a wide range of skill - just like every other profession.
7/19/15 #11: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Joey
Paul is exactly right, especially at the value of those speakers. You don't need to be learning on that project!
just jim/Las Vegas
7/19/15 #12: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Hey Ted,
No other speaker sits on top of it. It is very well finished. I did not buy it just yet, I want to be sure it is repairable before I purchase it. The ding is really small and I am sure after I buy it, I might just forget that it's there. Here is 1 speaker from the front. It is made in Italy.
I have included another stain the speaker comes in. Orange.
Trying to decide if it's worth the trouble to try to repair it or just wait and buy a ding-free speaker for a couple grand more.
Both are used by the way. Approx half of new retail price.
Btw, I emailed Jim so hopefully I get to speak to him today
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7/19/15 #13: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Here is the other stain...
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7/19/15 #14: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Honestly, I like either stain. But the orange is so classic. If I can find one that is ding-less... maybe that's the way to go.
Unless you guys think that this can be repaired to the point where you can't even tell despite knowing where the lacquer damage is.
I am very weary of refinishing the entire top of the speaker unless I can find a pro do it and guarantee that it will look pristine.
7/19/15 #15: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
joey, what is the speaker Brand, Id like to check out the specs.
7/19/15 #16: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Folks -
I spoke to Jim over the phone, we came to the conclusion given the depth of the coat and the expense of the speakers that this might be polyester and NOT lacquer. Which complicates things...
Robert -
The speaker is called the:
"Sonus Faber Stradivari"
Current production model.
Retail $45,000.
Considered by many as one of the best in the world.
Of course, while it is not the most expensive speaker in the Sonus Faber line up, it is one of the favorites. It is made in Italy.
7/20/15 #17: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
I have extensive experience with polyester finishes. It is such a durable coating, that when it gets dinged, it usually will pop off the substrate, yet remain intact. When that happens, it turns white. Usually happens at the edges of furniture. I have fixed this many times by using an artist brush and naphtha. you can brush the naptha into the open area at the edge where the finish as popped. This will soak in and "wet" the wood turning it to its original color. Then use crazy glue to seal up the open edge so no air gets in to evaporate the naphtha. You gotta be quick doing this. Easy way to test it is to just brush naptha over the ding and see if it goes away. This sounds unorthodox I know, but I've done this many times.
7/20/15 #18: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Sean hello
I am glad to see your post. Jim and Paul were quick to point out that practicing on an expensive woodwork is probably not the best thing to do. Are you perhaps in Dallas or know someone good that can do what you do in Dallas area?
7/20/15 #19: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Unfortunately I am nowhere near dallas. I am in boise. There are other ways to fix that as well that are better than my original post. That was just the easiest, simplest way. It all depends on what you're after touch up wise. You could actually scuff the area, faux paint the touch up using 844 colorants (if you are skilled at that) then cover it with hi gloss lacquer and buff out. That way would look good but still leave a slight haze where the lacquer meets the poly aand of course the touch up would be easily scuff able being lacquer. Another way would be to VERY CAREFULLY chip the damaged poly out, then sand the area until the poly flows into the wood with a smooth transition (no ridge to flake off) then touch up the area color wise (again if you are skilled). Then mask off the piece leaving only the touch up area exposed. Then apply actual polyester using multiple coats until the area is fully filled and higher than surrounding finish. Unmask, sand the area back down to level using 500 grit. Then keep sanding through the grits up to 1200 removing scratches. Then re polish. Also an air polisher won't cut it. You need an electric polisher to heat poly up enough to shine. This way would be a solid touch up, but still leave a "ghost line" to the trained eye. It gets more complicated from there.
8/3/15 #20: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
if you have a high end furniture store or piano store in your area chances are they got a touch up whiz. I was pretty good in the day but worked with some guys that did magic. or spending full freight for a new flawless speaker. i did not know they made 45k speakers. but no matter how good the touch up your eye will always go to that spot. almost looks like somebody made a attempt a touching it already. like one guy said if you could rub some naptha on it to see if color surfaces would indicate a easier fix. if all else fails call Mohawk for a rep in your area for a recommendation of touch up guy.
8/3/15 #21: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
75% of the cost of those speakers has nothing to do with the components but in the fancy look and the shipping cost. Looking fancy has nothing to do with the reproduction or the clarity of the sound.
The factory specks for these aren't all that impressive for the price.
For a sampling of what wasted money means for a speaker check out Amazon for
Waterfall Audio " Niagra " Diamond Glass Floor Standing Speaker. $ 50,416.47
8/4/15 #22: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Robert,
The specs on the SF Strads are 20-20. That's a perfect full range speaker. Anything below that and you should really be augmenting with a subwoofer - a good one.
The Stradivari are regarded as one of those classic/living legends. I have heard it and it took what I thought was hi end audio and catapulted it several notches above what I already have.
8/4/15 #23: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Specs don't tell you the sound quality. That's like saying a girl is 5'7" and you automatically think that's a model.
By comparison, here is my current set of speakers - it will go to the game room and be displaced as the 2nd in line speakers.
Bowers And Wilkins 802 Diamond
http://www.soundstagexperience.com/index.php/equipment-menu/336-bowers-a-wilkins-8 02-diamond-loudspeakers
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8/4/15 #24: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
This paticular wood worker has had the foolish misfortune to have tinitus ( selfinflicted) so high end speakers are wasted dollars in my case. But for those who can, enjoy!
Simple foam ear plugs would have prevented nonstop 24 hour a day ringing ........I can't tell you how much I would like to have that time over again. .........
8/4/15 #25: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
Just like eyes see different colors...even the same color, hearing is subjective to each person. All I'm referencing to is the foo- foo. The foo-foo adds a tremendous amount of money to the cost and the foo-foo has no bearing on the sound that comes out of the speakers. Are they pretty? you betcha but the prettiness doesn't have anything to do with how they sound. As long as you like em, that's all that counts.
8/5/15 #26: Expensive wooden speaker has ding t ...
I was able to find the orange colored ones without a ding and am awaiting delivery... I think I made the right choice not getting the one with the ding.
This forum helped me realize the endeavor involved... So because of you guys I was able to make the right decision for me.
Thanks all!!
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