re-building model 19 grills...need advice

[Russnohio]

Very frustrating experience.

Ok, so my brother gave me some model 19 lower grills he had no use for. The original cloth was stained and ragged looking but the frames were good......although I gave them some re-enforcement and replaced the center slats.

I removed the old cloth and tossed it......(but I DID keep the "Altec Lansing" badges)

I went to my local "Jo-Anne Fabric" store and picked up some black fabric which was as close to original as I could find. With the frames re-painted in flat black I went to work mounting up the new cloth with my staple gun using 3/8" staples.....a bit longer than the original staples, which.....BTW were MUCH smaller.

I began by stapling along the top of the frame.......a staple every half inch (again....more staples than Altec originally used).......then I pulled the cloth TIGHT for the bottom frame section and began stapling.....it was looking just fine.....beautiful in fact......... Then begins my problem.....As I start to work the cloth around the corners....it just will not lay flat. For the life of me I just cannot keep the cloth from wrinkling.....or from having a "fold" around the corners. Altec managed to keep the cloth nice flat and perfect around the corners and I just cannot do it.

I have three choices:

(A) Suck it up and accept "folds" around the corners and call it good.....
(B) Pull all the staples and start over.....
(C) Hire someone to do it for me.....

I'll post pics of my mess later. To frustrated right now to play with cameras.

Any advice out there on re-clothing a speaker frame?



Russ

[bowtie427ss]

Limited time so a fast post.

Start in the corners, do all four first.

Then each consecutive staple is used to divide the long straight segments approximately in half centering the slack and adding a hair of "stretch".

As you keep stapling in the center of each open segment, you will eventually end up with evenly spaced staples all the way around and no folds or concentrated areas of excess material.

It's a bit of an art, may take a bit of trial and error to find the right amount of stretch for the material you're using, but be persistent and by the time you do all four grills you'll be an expert.

[Altec Best]

+1 There are some threads on the forums too IIRC on lansing heritage on grill cloth installation. The B100 and the B200 is original grill cloth for the 19. Black & Brown.

http://www.acoustonegrillecloth.com/.../speaker-4.jpg

Acoustone Fabrics for Sound. Improve Quality of Sound When Covering Speakers or Surfaces.

[Russnohio]

I'm gonna try it again and post results this weekend.


Russ

[Russnohio]

It's a bit of an art, may take a bit of trial and error to find the right amount of stretch for the material you're using, but be persistent and by the time you do all four grills you'll be an expert.

Actually, I only have TWO grills to get done........only the bottoms. (thank goodness) I have no intention of covering up the horn section. My goal in this is to protect the woofers.
I always thought the 19 would look good with bottom grills only.


Russ

[Russnohio]

[Russnohio]

Ok in the above pics you see them re-done after pulling a gazillion staples. Not near factory but as good as its gonna get. This was NO labor-of-love. Not fun. This project sucked. I never want to re-cloth a speaker grill again.....ever.
If these ever need redone I'll hire a pro.

Russ

[Russnohio]

[Russnohio]

Now I need to decide if I want to risk ruining my work by installing these things. I guess I need to locate and punch a tiny hole.....or simply "press-fit" them into place.

[Russnohio]

Anyhow Bowtie.......thanks for the advice.

Russ