grill cloth

[rmay]

What is the best way to put new grill cloth on old speakers? If adhesive is the best way to go, what is the best adhesive?

[bking]

Generally speaking, I've had good success with 3M #77 spray. BUT...I found with a pair of black lacquer cabinets, out gassing of the solvent-based #77 partially scars the lacquer finish. So next time, I'm going to use water-based contact cement. Don't know if it's available in an aerosol but I doubt it. If you're really a glutton for punishment and like to get burned, you can try hot melt adhesive.

[johnastockman]

> What is the best way to put new grill cloth
> on old speakers? If adhesive is the best way
> to go, what is the best adhesive?

I use contact cement, also. I've brushed it on from a can and used the spray. Either one works well. I saw some posts a while back about using some screen spline in a 1/8" groove on the back-side of the grill (can't recall who it was)...that looked really nice and less messy and smelly than contact cement. I think I'll get some of the water-based...and try the spline method.

John A.

[cmac]

I don't recall who either, but I seem to remember that they used some component screen frame product that is available at Lowe's. Made for a very simple, clean grill frame if I remember correctly. Was always going to look for this product but I've probably been there 3-4 times and never remember to look.

> I use contact cement, also. I've brushed it
> on from a can and used the spray. Either one
> works well. I saw some posts a while back
> about using some screen spline in a
> 1/8" groove on the back-side of the
> grill (can't recall who it was)...that
> looked really nice and less messy and smelly
> than contact cement. I think I'll get some
> of the water-based...and try the spline
> method.

> John A.

[billschu]

I usually use a hot glue gun on the back of the frame. Doesn't look as pretty from behind but works well and the glue acts as a dampener.

Somebody had suggested window screen frames but the thought of an aluminum frame made me wince for some reason.

A take-off on this idea is to just saw a channel into the back of the frame and use the screen spline to hold it in. The channel would weaken the frame so, for those who usually use 1/4" like me, it's not really an option.

Bill

> I use contact cement, also. I've brushed it
> on from a can and used the spray. Either one
> works well. I saw some posts a while back
> about using some screen spline in a
> 1/8" groove on the back-side of the
> grill (can't recall who it was)...that
> looked really nice and less messy and smelly
> than contact cement. I think I'll get some
> of the water-based...and try the spline
> method.

> John A.

[Jeff B.]

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n70/jeffbagby/Pic01.jpg


> I usually use a hot glue gun on the back of
> the frame. Doesn't look as pretty from
> behind but works well and the glue acts as a
> dampener.

> Somebody had suggested window screen frames
> but the thought of an aluminum frame made me
> wince for some reason.

> A take-off on this idea is to just saw a
> channel into the back of the frame and use
> the screen spline to hold it in. The channel
> would weaken the frame so, for those who
> usually use 1/4" like me, it's not
> really an option.

> Bill

My "David" towers use screen spline for grills. I used a table saw to cut grooves in the grill frame, painted it, then wrapped the cloth around it, and finally rolled the screen spline into the groove. It worked great. It's been six years now, and the cloth is still tight.

[billschu]

Glad to see it works. Nice work. Is that 1/2" MDF? I am trying to decide on the best grill format for some line arrays.

Bill

> My "David" towers use screen
> spline for grills. I used a table saw to cut
> grooves in the grill frame, painted it, then
> wrapped the cloth around it, and finally
> rolled the screen spline into the groove. It
> worked great. It's been six years now, and
> the cloth is still tight.

[Jeff B.]

> Glad to see it works. Nice work. Is that
> 1/2" MDF? I am trying to decide on the
> best grill format for some line arrays.

> Bill

Yes. A word of advice - do some testing with the cloth and the screen spline on scrap material before you cut the grooves on your grill frame to make sure you have the right size blade. The first time I did it I thought the groove was the right width until I got the cloth in there with the rubber spline. When I rolled the spline in the interference fit from the compression was enough that it broke the corners off of my grill frame outside where the cuts intersected. Once I got the right size blade it worked like a charm, and there is no mess, which was why I went this way to begin with instead of using glue. I was sure I was going to get glue all over everything ;- )