Regarding LSi Side panels

Joey_V
Joey_V Posts: 8,583
edited July 2004 in Speakers
Can I remove the ebony stain and restain the wood side panel a different color? Is this difficult to do?

What materials do I need to do this?

Thanks people!:D
Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited July 2004
    No you cannot. They are bonded in place. The side panels are there to help reduce cabinet resonance, along with the ARC ports.
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,583
    edited July 2004
    i didnt mean "remove" the side panels.. i just meant if i could remove the ebony stain and restain it with another color.
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited July 2004
    Using a bleaching agent would be your best bet.

    I would look at trying to put together a trade since removing the stain would be such a chore.

    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited July 2004
    I now see that you are in the "looking for" stage of your Lsi's.

    I would look for the preferred stain on my first buy. Don't forget that there is some difference in stain tones in the most recent cherry models from earlier runs.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • Tomasz
    Tomasz Posts: 56
    edited July 2004
    Well you CAN remove them but I wouldn't recomend it unless you really don't mind hurting them a little bit. Unfortunetly, depending on what model you have and when you bought them since they have gone though and about 4 different generations (Lsi15 for example) the way you take them off is different. I just removed on of them here at work and it took some time, pressure and patience. But I also did damage it a little bit. It's on the bottom back of tehe side panel, not noticible for most people but you will know it's their. I would NOT recommend it and POLK does not either. But if you really really want to knkow how it's done then I might post some pics and descriptions on how to do it. For starters if you have one of the first generations you should try on the 15 and 25 to push up on the side panels really really hard and they might pop off. Sometime it takes a good amount of pressure, but if you feel they might not be going anywhere then don't bother they are probably bonded. The Lsi9 and 7s are a differents story.


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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited July 2004
    Originally posted by Joey_V
    i didnt mean "remove" the side panels.. i just meant if i could remove the ebony stain and restain it with another color.

    On all of my LSi speakers, the side panels were a thin wood veneer over MDF. I would not advise stripping/sanding/restaining this thin veneer. I don't know if any LSi models ever used solid wood side panels. I doubt it. The panels are there for acoustic damping and real wood has inconsistent sonic properties from sample to sample. Ken Swauger in Polk Customer service can tell you more.

    Even if your side panels are solid wood, you risk serious damage to the gloss black finish by doing refinishing work on the wood panels. The side panels are attached using an extremely tough double-sided tape. Of course, they can be pulled off, but you will probably pull some cabinet material off too.
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,774
    edited July 2004
    All of the LSi use a veneer, MDF with a veneer - no solid wood.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,583
    edited July 2004
    thanks guys.. i guess i would have to live with the ebony, not that it aint nice!

    but sometimes i look online and the cherry veneer looks so classy and nice - but i bet it wouldnt match my computer setup, black (or really greyish brown in this case) is a better match i feel. i guess the cherry is the better looking speaker, but the ebony makes for a better looking setup.

    i just wished polk made some true black oak ones. ;)
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,729
    edited July 2004
    You want to make them blacker...no problem, it's easy. First remove all drivers, tape off everything except the panels with blue 7 day release tape, scuff sand the panels in the direction of the grain with 320 grit serated sand paper, apply a black glaze, let dry for 15 minutes then wipe off excess, let dry for 2 hours, next mix in 2oz. of Black Solar-Lux dye to one quart of satin lacquer cut 50% with lacquer thinner, place speakers in spray booth and apply at least two full coats. Remove tape and let cure for at least a week, then rub out to the desired sheen.

    Since you probably don't have any idea what I'm talking about, my suggestion would be to leave them alone or take them to a refinishing shop, show them this and say how much? If they don't know what I'm talking about.....RUN! Then find another guy who does.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,583
    edited July 2004
    f1,

    u got me all confused there.. and leary of even trying to blacken my lsi7... :( .
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,729
    edited July 2004
    Joey, it's a basic step by step guide to "blacken" the side panels as I would do it in my shop and just to show that you don't have to strip the finish or remove the panels to darken them. Any "good" shop should be able to do that for you.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • salty-skin
    salty-skin Posts: 7
    edited July 2004
    Hi
    If the panels are adhered with a "double sided tape" I'd try to reduce the temperature of the speakers and then put a constant shear load onto the panels. I don't know at what temp the speaker drivers themselves might be damaged but it must be below zero if they are shipped in the winter to Montana. So I'd put them into a cabinet freezer, with weight applied overnight. In the morning they probably will come apart more easily w/o damaging the main cabinet.
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