my monitor 4's veneer project.

wispolkboy · January 6

So I decided to remove the vinyl laminate on one of my sets of 4A’s and veneer them with cherry wood (paper backed).
I used a heat gun, razorblade and some gloves. I heated up about a 5”x5” area at time and just pulled. It was definitely a learning curve. I found that heating up as much area as possible worked the best and pulling from back to front because of the wrap around on the front edge. After I all vinyl was removed I checked for damaged corners and filled them with wood filler. The corners on my 4’s were not that bad considering their age. I have decided to use titebond original glue for the adhesion. I will apply the glue to both surfaces and let dry (x3) then position and use an iron to reconstitute the glue. I think this will give me the best opportunity to align the wood grain on sides and top. If anyone has done this method I would appreciate some feedback on it. the other thing I am considering is to make a rabbit cut on the front edge (where the black part meets the wood veneer) to allow for the thickness of the veneer. Help on this would also be appreciated. I was able to remove one of the polk audio badge without breaking it. the other badge, well the post that goes into the wood snapped off, looks like I will have to glue it on.

dromunds · January 6

Sweet. You gonna pop that binding post cup out and put in new caps and resistors?

wispolkboy · January 6

I already put in a new clarity cap... They did not have any resistors, just one capacitor. No new posts. These are just basement workroom speakers.
It's good experience in case I want to do the same to my 5s or 7s...

dromunds · January 6

I love the Monitor 4 Peerless. I need to re-do the crossovers on mine.

wispolkboy · January 6

What year? I will be interested to know what you have in them for the crossovers... I had 1, 5.8uf. I put in a 5.6 clarity. No resistors...

dromunds · January 7

I’ll have to take a look at the crossover, I have yet to open them up. Serial numbers 20279 and 20280

wispolkboy · January 7

I don't claim to be a finish Carpenter but I play one online... It's tedious but I am ok with my first go around on it. Front, one side and bottom guled up

Faustin · January 7

Looking good. Polk 4's with Peerless were my first veneer job. Have since done 7's and RTA 12c's.

wispolkboy · January 7

Faustin wrote: »

Looking good. Polk 4's with Peerless were my first veneer job. Have since done 7's and RTA 12c's.

Thanks... I don't know what to finish them with.... Any ideas? Tung oil?

wispolkboy · January 7

wispolkboy · January 7

Faustin wrote: »

Looking good. Polk 4's with Peerless were my first veneer job. Have since done 7's and RTA 12c's.

Did you use contact Cement or wood glue?

pitdogg2 · January 7

wispolkboy · January 7

Faustin · January 9

wispolkboy wrote: »

Faustin wrote: »

Looking good. Polk 4's with Peerless were my first veneer job. Have since done 7's and RTA 12c's.

Did you use contact Cement or wood glue?

I used PSA cherry veneer. If I remember correctly I used a natural stain and then applied several coats of hand rubbed satin polyurethane. Here is the thread:

https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/161050/4a-overhaul#latest

wispolkboy · January 9

Well they are done... It was a learning experience. Not sure if I would use cherry again, maybe mahganey for my other set of 4s

wispolkboy · January 9

Faustin wrote: »

wispolkboy wrote: »

Faustin wrote: »

Looking good. Polk 4's with Peerless were my first veneer job. Have since done 7's and RTA 12c's.

Did you use contact Cement or wood glue?

I used PSA cherry veneer. If I remember correctly I used a natural stain and then applied several coats of hand rubbed satin polyurethane. Here is the thread:

https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/161050/4a-overhaul#latest

When you veneered your 4's I noticed that the port tube is white or is that the polyfil?
Those look very nice!

JayMX · January 9

wispolkboy wrote: »

I noticed that the port tube is white or is that the polyfil?

I own two pairs of 4‘s with Peerless. One pair has a white PVC port with walnut vinyl outside. The other is black with rosewood vinyl. Both will be getting the same treatment you just gave yours. I’ll be doing black walnut. Excellent work!

wispolkboy · January 9

JayMX wrote: »

wispolkboy wrote: »

I noticed that the port tube is white or is that the polyfil?

I own two pairs of 4‘s with Peerless. One pair has a white PVC port with walnut vinyl outside. The other is black with rosewood vinyl. Both will be getting the same treatment you just gave yours. I’ll be doing black walnut. Excellent work!

I like the black walnut! What source are you using for your veneer

JayMX · January 9

wispolkboy wrote: »

What source are you using for your veneer

MacBeath has a location here in Utah but they will ship. The quality and selection is always good.
https://www.macbeath.com/

F1nut · January 9

wispolkboy wrote: »

Faustin wrote: »

Looking good. Polk 4's with Peerless were my first veneer job. Have since done 7's and RTA 12c's.

Thanks... I don't know what to finish them with.... Any ideas? Tung oil?

Sorry I didn't see this earlier. Cherry tends to show blotchy when dyed/stained or simply top coated. However, it looks better (IMO) with some color added, so adding a dye to a spray on clear coat gives the best result as the color and finish are on top of the wood, not in the wood.

Faustin · January 9

"When you veneered your 4's I noticed that the port tube is white or is that the polyfil?
Those look very nice!"

The white that you see in thee photo is polyfil.

F1nut · January 9

My previous post should have said, ....or simply top coated with oil.

wispolkboy · January 10

F1nut wrote: »

My previous post should have said, ....or simply top coated with oil.

That's what I ended up doing... Just minwax rubbing oil

wispolkboy · January 10

JayMX wrote: »

wispolkboy wrote: »

What source are you using for your veneer

MacBeath has a location here in Utah but they will ship. The quality and selection is always good.
https://www.macbeath.com/

Thanks for the link!

pelhamplace · January 10

They look great! Awesome job.

wispolkboy · January 11

@pelhamplace thank you, I appreciate it.

Gardenstater · January 11

I think cherry is a beautiful wood and you did a really nice job! What did you end up doing at the front edge; did you rabbet it on the table saw or a router table prior to applying veneer where it abuts the baffle? What method of adhesion did you use for the veneer?

As an aside, when I was a kid in high school I made a couple sand filled, cube shaped bookends out of 1/4" thick solid cherry (veneer lol?) over fir plywood, that the finish came out beautifully on. My 82 yr old mother has them in CO. I can't remember what stain I used but I do remember that the top coat was a satin lacquer, many coats.

wispolkboy · January 11

Gardenstater wrote: »

I think cherry is a beautiful wood and you did a really nice job! What did you end up doing at the front edge; did you rabbet it on the table saw or a router table prior to applying veneer where it abuts the baffle? What method of adhesion did you use for the veneer?

As an aside, when I was a kid in high school I made a couple sand filled, cube shaped bookends out of 1/4" thick solid cherry (veneer lol?) over fir plywood, that the finish came out beautifully on. My 82 yr old mother has them in CO. I can't remember what stain I used but I do remember that the top coat was a satin lacquer, many coats.

Thanks,
I used titebond type 2 for the glue. I applied to the veneer and speakers (one side at a time), let the glue dry and then used an iron.
For the front, since this was a very early speaker '82, it was a right angle, not the beveled that polk went to in the mid 80s. I started the veneer on the front face, cutting out all four and making sure that the 45s were as tight as I could get it. The veneer was very thin, I think 1/40th of an inch. So I just left it as is. It stands out a little proud but not noticeable.

my monitor 4's veneer project.

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