I was thinking about having my scratched-up 511B's powder coated to restore their factory appearance and I would like to preserve the original decals if possible. Is it fine to just use a heat gun to loosen the adhesive and lift it off?
Thanks
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I was thinking about having my scratched-up 511B's powder coated to restore their factory appearance and I would like to preserve the original decals if possible. Is it fine to just use a heat gun to loosen the adhesive and lift it off?
Thanks
Why bother?Quote:
I would like to preserve the original decals if possible.
New finish deserves new decals.
ALTEC 511B & 811B Loudspeaker Driver Horn "DECAL" New! | eBay
https://www.hostboard.com/forums/hbm...2021/08/10.jpg
I've seen those. I'd get them if I ended mucking up the original pair, but they're not a perfect replica as they're not embossed.
To answer your question, IMHO&E the heat gun is a bit overkill. If you must use it, keep in mind how thin the foilcal is and how fast it will heat up once free of the horn's cooling mass.
If available, use a blow dryer with selectable heat range. Start out low and increase the heat gradually to the point where it softens the adhesive enough to let go
OK, good idea. I'll try that first. I assume the printing was done by silk screen?Quote:
Originally Posted by bowtie427ss
I managed to remove the labels using a hair dryer as recommended, and by carefully peeling them little by little with a razor blade while applying constant heat. They put up a helluva fight but they came up without too many new wrinkles. The corners on the first label were already missing...
Attachment 4237
I'll take the horns into my local powder coat shop on Monday. Come to think of it, this might be a good opportunity to send the drivers into GPA to have them remagnetized and have radial waveguides installed...
I just had a nice phone conversation with Bill at GPA, therein he essentially talked me out of sending the drivers in and "wasting my money". I learned that a vast majority of drivers that pass through GPA need no regaussing, and unless I have reason to suspect otherwise (I don't), mine are no exception. I also learned that my 802-Cs would not accept the GPA radial waveguide as the pole piece would have to be changed. Bill went on to explain that the tangerines made only a tiny improvement in the high frequencies, and would not improve the directivity (or enlarge the "sweet spot") as I had first believed it would. I thanked him for the consultation, and before hanging up I mentioned I was delighted to see my A7's featured in the GPA homepage banner (the second photo, of the A7s with 811 horns...I think the pic was from my restoration thread either here or on AK).
The 511's should be getting coated soon. I chose a matte finish that's applied in one coat...the other options entailed multiple coats and looked too glossy or too blotchy.
I'll post photos when they're back home.
I got a good giggle out of the notion that you were going to have tangerines installed in an annular phased Altec driver. :)Quote:
I just had a nice phone conversation with Bill at GPA, therein he essentially talked me out of sending the drivers in and "wasting my money". I learned that a vast majority of drivers that pass through GPA need no regaussing, and unless I have reason to suspect otherwise (I don't), mine are no exception. I also learned that my 802-Cs would not accept the GPA radial waveguide as the pole piece would have to be changed. Bill went on to explain that the tangerines made only a tiny improvement in the high frequencies, and would not improve the directivity (or enlarge the "sweet spot") as I had first believed it would.
We have discussed phase plugs here ad nauseum in the past. Common knowledge among seasoned Altec enthusiasts is that the tangerine was a cost cutting measure. It's a cheap, injection molded piece of plastic versus a precision machined piece of steel, pennies to produce versus tens of dollars for the metal version.
What Bill may not have told you since you have not mentioned it is that the tangerine pretty much destroys the small format drivers' ability to play well in the 500 - 800 hz range. Kinda sad because the alnico drivers that came with tangerines also featured other changes which were genuine improvements. Most notably the 1 piece cast steel magnetic return pot which offers a more uniform magnetic circuit than the welded pipe and plate construction of the annular phased drivers.
Acoustically, the biggest improvement it offers is that you can wring a few more db out of it before you encounter driver cry in a high output pro application.
Mythically, tangerine drivers are supremely valuable, and will outperform any other driver at any cost which makes them easily inserted into the uninformed.
The small format drivers will only require re-magging if they have been shocked/dropped significantly(enough to shift the pole piece usually), or if you have taken the motor assembly apart.
Thanks for the education. I've personally encountered a range of opinions about the tangerines, even among other Altec users. Well I've probably embarrassed myself, haven't I...
I picked up the horns today and I couldn't be happier with how they turned out. :biggrin2:
Before:
Attachment 4242
After:
Attachment 4243
Attachment 4244
The bill came out $75 less than what was originally quoted, a very welcome surprise.
I purchased the above replica decals as I don't think I'll be able to re-apply the old ones without them looking wrinkled. Hopefully my local engraving and sign shop has a way to emboss them...I'll find out Monday.
That looks really nice.
Thanks, Phil. I wish my phone camera could do them more justice.
New decals arrived. The printing closely matches the originals, however I misunderstood the description and thought they were constructed of a similar foil. The stickers are WAY too thin and unfortunately the seller doesn't accept returns...I'm going to explore other avenues to have them reproduced. At a glance, it looks like there are several companies that will produce screen printed aluminum decals for nameplates and the like. I might try my luck with my local sign shop, or possibly American Nameplate next.
finding the embossed foilcals will be difficult. If you do find them there will may people wanting them.
If I can find someplace that will produce the labels to the original specs I'll have them crank out a batch and make them available here or on ebay.
My concern is the legality of reproducing the labels, as sign and nameplate shops will be very sensitive to copyrighting. Altec Lansing is of course still a registered trademark, but according to USPTO (ALTEC LANSING - Altec Lansing, A Division Of Plantronics, Inc. Trademark Registration) the trademark within the decal (with the copperplate typeface) has been cancelled or abandoned. From what I've read, this doesn't necessarily mean that the trademark is unprotected...however as evidenced by the reprinted decals abundant on ebay, the AL company as it currently exists doesn't have much interest in going after label makers. Are there any lawyers in the house that can shed some light on the subject?
I'm coordinating with a nameplate manufacturer who say they can produce the foil decals, adhesive-backed and with embossing, exactly matching the decals I've pictured in this thread, the only difference being the originals are roughly .010 thick and my reproductions will be .018. I'll start with a run of 50 or so.
They won't be cheap to produce. I estimate sale price will be somewhere between $25 to 35 a pop. I plan to offer serial number stamping.
Stay tuned...
you'll spend than i do on ammo.
