How do you get that smoke smell out of speaker drivers?

pmlewis

Has anyone had any luck de-odorizing drivers? I got a pair of SDA's last October. Unfortunately, the previous owner was a teenage chain smoker. These speakers smelled so bad I had to open all the windows in the SUV to keep from puking. I immediately took the drivers and crossovers out of the cabinets and got rid of all the grill cloth. I left the cabinets in the garage until April, and left the drivers on a table in the basement. The cabinets aired out pretty well, and with a shot of Ozium on the inside, they smell ok now. The drivers on the other hand still reek! When I hooked the drivers up to test them I was just about knocked out by the smell. I really want to avoid spraying anything on them. Is there some other way to get the smell out. I was thinking of putting them in a closed box with some baking soda or something to try and soak up the odor. Do you think that will work? I'd hate to have to buy a new set of drivers.

Thanks

billbillw

Are the drivers poly or doped paper? If they are poly, I would try spraying a cloth with Febreeze (or equivalent) and gently wiping the cones. If paper, I don't know what to recommend.

steveinaz

I dunno, as soon as I stop smoking, I'll try to help your speakers out....:D

hotwheelman

Try putting them in boxes with lots of newspaper around them, it works for getting rid of musty smells in a closet so why not smoke smell?

dkg999

Go to Sam's Club and get two 20lb bags of charcoal, and then go to a big box home improvement store and get some fairly heavy plastic drop clothes. Slit open the bags of charcoal, and wrap the bags of charcoal and the smelly items up so it's as airtight as possible. Come back a week later and the smell should be gone. UV light from direct sunlight helps speed up the process. This will usually even save the speaker grill cloth.

Airplay355

would the uv light from a blacklight work?

baking soda might work too....its supposed to be an odor absorber.

dkg999

I've never tried a blacklight, however I know that direct sunlight does speed up the process. You have to be sure the heat from the sun won't damage anything as it can get pretty hot inside the plastic enclosure.

F1nut

Lots of options.....

1. Put two pointed wood sticks up your nose.

2. Hang some pine trees inside the grills.

3. Sell them and buy something else.

4. Don't stick your face so close to the speakers, you should be at least 6 feet away.

5. Get over it and enjoy the music.

MSALLA

Originally posted by dkg999
Go to Sam's Club and get two 20lb bags of charcoal, and then go to a big box home improvement store and get some fairly heavy plastic drop clothes. Slit open the bags of charcoal, and wrap the bags of charcoal and the smelly items up so it's as airtight as possible. Come back a week later and the smell should be gone. UV light from direct sunlight helps speed up the process. This will usually even save the speaker grill cloth.

I use charcole filters in my work to rmove tobacco oders from buildings. This option will work.

pmlewis

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Three of the drivers that came with the speaker turned out to be non-functional so I plan on doing some testing with those first. I think I will try the charcoal first. I’ll let you know in a week or so if it was successful.

Thanks again!

Willow

Originally posted by F1nut
Lots of options.....

1. Put two pointed wood sticks up your nose.

2. Hang some pine trees inside the grills.

3. Sell them and buy something else.

4. Don't stick your face so close to the speakers, you should be at least 6 feet away.

5. Get over it and enjoy the music.

Here is #6

Start smoking !:D

opus

pm,

I work for a large restoration company that specializes in fire/water damage and emergency services. We are really good at what we do. If you need help deodorizing these speaks let me know.
It will require a little bit of travel and a little bit of time but the price will be right ( $0).:) I am in Peoria.

You can post here or pm if interested.

This is a no bulls*hit offer. We can fix the problem if you want.

kevin

Tony M

I too bought a set of chain smokers speakers and I too about hurled before I got them home. I found out years ago that formula 409 disolves nicotine residue almost instantly!!!! .....I sprayed my grill cloths with it twice ,each time followed by a light spraying with a garden hose. Pretty much eliminated the smell on them . The cabinets (RS MACH-1s) took almost a whole roll of papper towels to get them where I couldn't remove anymore residue. NO RINSING ON THE CABINETS . You,all should try 409 on mini blinds (out side of course) and watch the residue run off. But you do have to follow with that water rinse before some of it redries where it might settle on edges.IT'S AMAZING

Just wipe the drivers carefully with a saturated paper-towel and watch magic happen. The center dust caps are in need of the other cures mentioned before Good luck with yours.
P.S mine had a very slight oder for a little while but I forgot about it quickly. I don't smoke since 98 Now I spend my cigarette money on speakers, Electronics and woodworking stuff. Great trade off if I say so myself!!!