Next SDA Upgrade

Mikey081057

Putting new walnut laminate on the tops..Bottoms are fine. Has anyone find the stain and finish combination that matches the original stain color? I want to use tung oil as the finish as I like the texture... but would a stain be required to get a close match?

Got the materials for about a hundy, and it appears to be enough to do 4 speaker tops...

Mikey081057

After putting the band on, and roughing the top on.

Mikey081057

I trimmed the top with the trimmer tool.

Mikey081057

Cheap simple tool makes it easy

Mikey081057

Minimal sanding to do and this one will be ready for finish.

TNHNDYMAN

Looks nice. Good luck with your project.

Faustin

Shweet.

PolkieMan

Nice!
Mikey
Could you please tell us exactly what all you ordered (links) and used to do this project?
Do they ship quickly?

F1nut

You'll never get a color match unless you bleach the new walnut first and even then you won't find an exact match in a can of stain. I suggest you reveneer the bottoms as well.

Mike Reeter

Lookin' good Mikey, I would think the project would be a little easier if you removed the tops from the cabinets though.

drumiv

Take a piece of scrap and hit with the Tung oil, and see what you get. The Tung oil has a warm, gold finish to it, so you might get lucky. Otherwise, as stated above, do the bottoms as well. You've got enough to do 4, right? Good luck, looks good so far.

Mikey081057

Ordered all products from Band-it prods. http://band-itproducts.com/

walnut veneer sheet 24x96 and edge banding 2"

it Irons on and really sticks nice ... no bubbles.

I applied it with a teflon iron, and a cheap plastic spackling spatula.

it really takes about 10-15 minutes per top. I thought about removing the top, but then had nothing to hold it in place... so i did it in place, and it worked out fine.

GospelTruth

I'll have to do this someday on some 3.1s and I have no experience with veneering. What exact type did you get, the pre-glued or the PSA? I have no idea what type works with the iron method you used.

Mikey081057

GospelTruth wrote: »

I'll have to do this someday on some 3.1s and I have no experience with veneering. What exact type did you get, the pre-glued or the PSA? I have no idea what type works with the iron method you used.

Preglued...

GospelTruth

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Preglued...

Perfect. Thanks! Don't know when I'll get to this, but I've saved off that link you posted so that I'll know what to get when the time comes. By the way, your end caps look nice... and they aren't even finished yet.

Mikey081057

After 2 coats sanded in between. ! more coat will do it.

GospelTruth

That looks very nice! I like the walnut way better than the oak. Thanks for posting this. It will help when I get to the point of doing this myself in the next year or so.

F1nut

After 2 coats sanded in between. ! more coat will do it.

Did you reveneer the bottom caps as well?

Mikey081057

F1nut wrote: »

Did you reveneer the bottom caps as well?

Not yet pretty close match tho...

F1nut

If you say so......LOL

Mikey081057

So the next phase of my SDA upgrades is underway.

Drivers have been dampened with Dynamat Extreme.

Cabinets have dampened with Sonic barrier.

Larry's Rings installed.

Replaced crumbling driver gaskets with Armaflex.

Woodwork is being finished on tops and bottoms.

Grills and side fabric have been cleaned with upholstery extractor (they look like new. The amount of dirt pulled out of them was disgusting/amazing).

Trey (VR3) is making new crossovers with full Gimpod/Inductors/Binding plate/interconnect mods.

I am confident that all these improvements albeit expensive and time consuming will result a very high ROI.

BTW I have leftover Dynamat Extreme for anyone who anyone who is in need... PM me if you need some for your vintage polk project.

Mike Reeter

Mikey, looks like your taking the high road on the mods, fun process but hard on the bank account! N'joy

Mikey081057

Mike Reeter wrote: »

Mikey, looks like your taking the high road on the mods, fun process but hard on the bank account! N'joy

I think when all is said and done I will have a pair of speakers that sound better than what I have invested in them. I don't think I would ever sell them as they represent a nostalgic time for me ( the 80's). I think they will be good(great) for another 30 years!!! I think I will look to stockpile a couple of extra drivers for future replacement if needed as i am sure they will become rare.

Mike Reeter

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Mike Reeter wrote: »

Mikey, looks like your taking the high road on the mods, fun process but hard on the bank account! N'joy

I think when all is said and done I will have a pair of speakers that sound better than what I have invested in them. I don't think I would ever sell them as they represent a nostalgic time for me ( the 80's). I think they will be good(great) for another 30 years!!! I think I will look to stockpile a couple of extra drivers for future replacement if needed as i am sure they will become rare.

You are absolutely right in your assumptions, I'm quite happy with my ole SDA's!

I was surprised when I ordered one of the Do-nut drivers for a former pair of 2.3's, Polk has a good number of them in stock (new replacement) that looked VERY close to the original driver, more so than the new replacement MWxxxx drivers.

Mikey081057

I already replace the the sl2000's with RDo-194's

So if i am correct, there are 6513's (donuts) 6510's and 6511's in the 2.3's and Polk CS has replacements you say for all of these?

Mike Reeter

Mikey081057 wrote: »

I already replace the the sl2000's with RDo-194's

So if i am correct, there are 6513's (donuts) 6510's and 6511's in the 2.3's and Polk CS has replacements you say for all of these?

For sure on the 6513's, this is unless, someone has bought a 150+ in the past few months!

When I ordered they had over 150 in stock.

Mike Reeter

Mike Reeter wrote: »

Mikey081057 wrote: »

I already replace the the sl2000's with RDo-194's

So if i am correct, there are 6513's (donuts) 6510's and 6511's in the 2.3's and Polk CS has replacements you say for all of these?

For sure on the 6513's, this is unless, someone has bought a 150+ in the past few months!

When I ordered they had over 150 in stock.

I take this back, when I purchased one in Jan. '14 they had 84 in stock, so my guess is they would still have some in stock....wouldn't cost much to give CS a call!

BKphoto

looks nice...good job..

Mikey081057

OK so far to date...

Replace SL2000's with RD0-194's Check
Dynamat xtreme driver baskets Check
Sonic Barrier cab interiors Check
Larrys Rings Check
Final finish on tops & bottoms Check
Cleaned Grills and Side Panels Check
Replaced Driver gaskets Check
Deoxit speaker terminals Check

Re assembled with old xovers and terminal cups...for now anxiously awaiting VR3 crossovers, inductors, plates, interconnect and wiring harnesses... (final phase)...


My observations so far... They look nice... sound great can't wait to crank'em tomorrow...bass is warmer and tighter by far... sound is more balanced even at low volume...

markamerica

Looking good, Mikey! Hopefully, with the crossover mods, you'll be in SDA heaven.

Mark

TNTsTunes

How much Sonic Barrier did you use on the cabinets interior and where???