Has anyone ever used fabric paint on a speaker cover to give it a richer black look?

dewey79
dewey79 Posts: 17
edited April 2012 in Speakers
I was thinking about using some on my polk monitors. When I clean them off with a wet towel, the cover looked really nice and dark until it dried. I thought maybe there might be way to do this permanently with some black fabric pain.
Post edited by dewey79 on

Comments

  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2012
    Good chance you'll ruin the sound of the speaker with the grills on.

    How about dying it?
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • dewey79
    dewey79 Posts: 17
    edited April 2012
    There is no way to put the cover in a washing machine.
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,464
    edited April 2012
    Take the grills to a local car stereo shop and ask them to recover them for you. I would suggest doing it yourself, but if you think painting them or putting them in the washing machine would work, I think it safe to say that you would be better served by having a professional do this.


    I should ask what monitors you have. If they are the old wooden framed ones (particle board actually) or the plastic framed ones. If they are wood, follow the above and if they are plastic, call Polk Customer service for replacements.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • dewey79
    dewey79 Posts: 17
    edited April 2012
    Take the grills to a local car stereo shop and ask them to recover them for you. I would suggest doing it yourself, but if you think painting them or putting them in the washing machine would work, I think it safe to say that you would be better served by having a professional do this.


    I should ask what monitors you have. If they are the old wooden framed ones (particle board actually) or the plastic framed ones. If they are wood, follow the above and if they are plastic, call Polk Customer service for replacements.

    I was thinking about trying this product, but I'm not sure what the fabric is made out of to know if it will work well. I think I try it on a small spot and see how it turns out.

    http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=378675&catid=184420&aid=338666&aparam=378675
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited April 2012
    How about a marker?

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • rebuy
    rebuy Posts: 695
    edited April 2012
    If they are ruined, go to a fabric store and find a acoustic transparent fabric and install with a hot glue gun on you're grill frames.
  • maximillian
    maximillian Posts: 2,144
    edited April 2012
    It's far easier to just buy speaker cloth and recover. Paint will only clog up the small gaps in the fabric and will kill your sound.
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2012
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
  • SDA1C
    SDA1C Posts: 2,072
    edited April 2012
    Face wrote: »

    I was so thinking the same thing FACE ahaha. The cloth is a snap to replace.
    Too much **** to list....
  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited April 2012
    Got stapler ?? Go to Parts Express. Simple.
  • dewey79
    dewey79 Posts: 17
    edited April 2012
    I did it. I used fabric spray. Took me about 10 minutes to do all 5 covers. After I did my speaker cover, I went back and did my sub-woofer cover. I put the cover on a piece of card board in the garage and sprayed it.

    I seem to be having trouble posting the images.

    Before

    IMG_0373.jpg


    After: Got rid of that cheep purplish look.

    IMG_0412.jpg
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,464
    edited April 2012
    I don't see a difference. I would have just called Polk and got new ones for those speakers.

    I am also confused by seeking advice that you have no intention of following, but then again they are your speakers and you are perfectly free to F@$K them up if you wish.


    They must sound like you are listening to them with cotton stuffed in your ears.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • wolfman1138
    wolfman1138 Posts: 49
    edited April 2012
    Did you use the paint or the dye? Any reduction in sound? I am under the same impression as Face and maximillian that paint would really kill the sound.
    My Home Theater:
    Mains: polkaudio RTi150
    Center: polkaudio CS350LS (modified)
    Side: polkaudio 65-RT
    Back: polkaudio RC85i Rear
    Sub: SVS SB13-Plus
    Receiver: Denon 4311ci
    Sony VPL-VW60 on a 92" Draper Premier screen
    Sony 52" XBR2
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,464
    edited April 2012
    Even using dye would add mass to the grill cloth, and I don't think dye would work well on the meterial it is made out of. This is one material that should be replaced when it is worn out.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
  • dewey79
    dewey79 Posts: 17
    edited April 2012
    I used fabric spray, it did not affect the sound.
    IMG_0415.jpg


    Here is a better before after. The covers are a faded purplish color in the before picture.

    BEFORE
    IMG_0256.jpg


    AFTER
    IMG_0412.jpg