Smoke1 Messages: 107 Registered: September 2003 Location: Southern Maryland Solomon...
Senior Member
Is there any Cleaner, sprays or jel lubricants to put onto Old CTS speaker paper cones outside or inside as a preservative or is reconing and re-foaming the only answer to save these old workhorses?
I believe my 69-70's speakers will all be dead in the next few years. Smoke1
Smoke1 Plays Kustom Amps & Old Tube Amps Loud in S. Maryland
stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
Hi, parts express sells a brush on clear or black polymer coating that will stop any continuing dry rot from taking its toll on the cone, its part number 340-510 cost about 13 bucks. If you have 12 or 15 cts speakers the frame is nice and open so you can do the back and front of the cones. If the surround of the cone is also drying out do not coat it with the parts express protectant, go to a auto parts store and get a tube of silicone dieletric grease in clear not white, and put a film on the surround area. You will only beable to do the face but thats OK, but just wipe off as much of whatever dust you can with a old damp cloth. Also using a autobody painters tack rag will get rid of all the loose dust with out getting it up your nose.
Smoke1 Messages: 107 Registered: September 2003 Location: Southern Maryland Solomon...
Senior Member
Got the dielectric gease at Napa auto parts for $9 beans and just recieved the 2 pints of the speaker paint from Parts Express for $24 included shipping . I used the grease on my 2 65' 10 inch Jensens and it seems to look like it will lube up the speaker surrounds pretty good I used an old soft toothbrush to work it in. Will let you know what I think of the speaker paint after application to the Old Smoke Speakers.
Smoke1 Plays Kustom Amps & Old Tube Amps Loud in S. Maryland
stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
One thing you might note, is the fact that the poly coating will give the speaker cone a gloss not a flat finish like stock so you may or may not want or like that. One thing that I have done with a different brand of poly coat is mix in some matte medium from a arts and craft store to kill off some of the gloss. It should work OK in your brand also since it too can be cleanded up with water, but I would try it first on some black note book divider paper, about 20 to 25% matte to poly ratio should work.
Smoke1 Messages: 107 Registered: September 2003 Location: Southern Maryland Solomon...
Senior Member
Bring on the shine I'm wearin' Shades Berber 8)You would be proud I got this 1977 K 1-B Bass amp in very good shape and this amp head inside was all but spotless inside and only one crack on the cab tolex from shipping. The controls are static free and the speaker and outside grill cover is primo. Logo still perfect. I put 4 new cab chrome front corners on last night and did a complete inside and out cleaning last week and gave it all new wires. This is a keeper for sure. Nobody bought my K200B-5 or my China Quad 100 so I guess my studio is still full of great toys. I got one of those Epiphone Jr Tube Heads last month and man is it ever the best $100 amp you can buy. Also got a 1950's McGohan tube head modified for guitar and it is my new live head. Kustoms Rule but Tubes still can't be beat? Smoke1 Sends
Smoke1 Plays Kustom Amps & Old Tube Amps Loud in S. Maryland
Smoke1 Messages: 107 Registered: September 2003 Location: Southern Maryland Solomon...
Senior Member
All, I finally finished painting All of my my old 60's & 70's CTS, Randall, and other 10, 12, & 15 inch speakers this past weekend. This stuff works great so far. Some of these 30 year old speakers were like almost so thin and fragile that their lifespan was almost over. Now with this new speaker paint coating I believe these may last another 10 years or even more. Only time will tell. I like the Gloss finish it leaves. The coating seems to seal and cover the paper cones very well. I only used one coat on the better speaker cones and put two coats on the worst ones. This sealer also repairs small scratches, foam seal mating edges and even seals small tears in the paper. Thanks Again to Steve for the great advise. I was out of commision the last 3 weeks almost had a heart attach, got a Stent put in RH Heart artery and had my gall bladder removed all within 2 weeks of each other but I'm back up full round now and jammin' again.
Smoke1 Plays Kustom Amps & Old Tube Amps Loud in S. Maryland
Smoke1 Messages: 107 Registered: September 2003 Location: Southern Maryland Solomon...
Senior Member
Yo Merry Christmas Everybody & You too Ed!!!!
Just an update on the Parts Express PN: 340-510 polymer coating Steve mentioned. I've been thru a full can and a half over the last year + and using this on all my 70's CTS and other old speakers the verdict is in with positive results. The stuff is money. I have not lost one speaker cone since applying this liquid gold. I have also recently found that the new Locktite Super glue and this combined can be used to repair paper cone tears. Yes it works, yes if you have 30+ year old speakers like I know most of you here do you might want to consider start painting on this goop or when those CTS's blow your toast and hurting the wallet for new speaks!!!
Jingle Bells in G C D playin it Loud
Smoke1
Smoke1 Plays Kustom Amps & Old Tube Amps Loud in S. Maryland