How to repair lacerations of a speaker cone

ale29 · #1 08-10-2010, 08:34 AM

Hello, yesterday I went out and my mother came in my room and when she left she kept the door opened. My cat came in my room, and this is the result

[IMG]

The speaker is a B&C 12PZ32, 8ohm.
Is there any way to fix this without replacing the whole speaker?

BassmanPaul · #2 08-10-2010, 08:50 AM

Take the driver to a speaker guy and have him replace the dome. Should cost around $20.

Paul

KramerBassFan · #3 08-10-2010, 08:53 AM

What he said.

Be glad its just the cone, and not the surround.

christw · #4 08-10-2010, 08:59 AM

Well, if you're cheaper and have rubber cement around...

I repaired 4 stock SVT drivers with paper and rubber cement on both sides. I should've used something like dryer sheets that's a little more flexible. They've held up to an SVT-II pushed to distortion for 2 months and at least 200w RMS overdriven tube amp continuous abuse since.

ale29 · #5 08-10-2010, 09:01 AM

I was prepared to spend around 200$ to buy and mount a new cone, so a 20$ expense won't bother me much I think.
I wouldn't be able to fix this on my own anyway...

KramerBassFan · #6 08-10-2010, 09:06 AM

Honestly, as long as the scratches are only in the cone, you could probably get by using it as it is.

Chasarms · #7 08-10-2010, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KramerBassFan

Honestly, as long as the scratches are only in the cone, you could probably get by using it as it is.

Agreed. It looks like it's just the cover. I'd leave it.

The whole thing does beg the question: Why is there no grill on the cabinet?

ale29 · #8 08-10-2010, 09:10 AM

There's no grill because yesterday I was working on the cab, trying to fix another issue regarding the bass reflex =)
That's my bad if I didn't put the grill back while I went out.

BassmanPaul · #9 08-10-2010, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KramerBassFan

Honestly, as long as the scratches are only in the cone, you could probably get by using it as it is.

I'm guessing you meant dome not cone. If the dome has been holed it will allow dust into the voice coil gap eventually choking it. Result: a dead speaker.

Paul

62bass · #10 08-10-2010, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ale29

There's no grill because yesterday I was working on the cab, trying to fix another issue regarding the bass reflex =)
That's my bad if I didn't put the grill back while I went out.

Good on you for not blaming the cat. That's what cats do-just like they love to decimate the local bird population. Cats just have to scratch. Mine does a lot but I have managed to train her about wood. Anything with a finish on it is "furniture" and not to be scratched. Any unfinished wood is fair game. You should see the legs of my workbench in my basement.

You probably don't have to repair that but for only $20 it might be worth the peace of mind.

JimmyM · #11 08-10-2010, 10:28 AM

no reason not to repair it. you could even do it yourself if you can get a dome...just cut it out but leave enough paper to glue the new dome on, like 1/4" worth all the way around.

ale29 · #12 08-10-2010, 10:31 AM

Problem is: until september nobody here in Italy will fix the speaker. I've been suggested from various people to repair it by myself by gluing the parts and then the whole dome in order to avoid the propagation of the scratches.

delta7fred · #13 08-10-2010, 10:32 AM

I have heard that cat skin makes a pretty good dust cap

No but seriously

Quote:

Originally Posted by KramerBassFan

Honestly, as long as the scratches are only in the cone, you could probably get by using it as it is.

I agree with KramerBassFan, as long as there are no big holes in the dust cap then use it as it is. I have used some pretty tatty speakers especially when I was first starting playing. I very much doubt if the damage will spread.

JimmyM · #14 08-10-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ale29

Problem is: until september nobody here in Italy will fix the speaker. I've been suggested from various people to repair it by myself by gluing the parts and then the whole dome in order to avoid the propagation of the scratches.

ya, i'd at least do that. it will probably be ok just leaving it, but if it were me i'd have to seal the holes at least.

synaesthesia · #15 08-10-2010, 10:39 AM

A. Buy new dust cap, get some PVA glue.
B. Cut the damaged dust cap carefully with a box cutter. Dispose.
C. Glue on new Dust cap to clean and dry surface, make sure no dust has got into coil area.
D. make coffee, and post your boast on TB.

ale29 · #16 08-10-2010, 11:23 AM

I think that i'll try to repair this dust cap first, then if I won't manage to solve the problem i will just buy a new cap.
My main concern was that the cuts could propagate to the rest of the cone, hopefully if I use some glue this won't happen ever.

beans-on-toast · #17 08-10-2010, 12:27 PM

Here are the instructions for reconing your speaker. At the end they show how to do the dust cap (http://www.prosoundservice.com/uploa...structions.pdf).
This is the recone kit (http://www.prosoundservice.com/m9_vi...tem=BC-R12PZ32). They can probably sell you just the dust cap for your speaker.

For repairs like this I use rubber cement. Try to straighten the paper in the tear to close the gap as much as possible. Make several patches with thin but strong fabric like nylon, silk or even thin craft store tissue paper (the type of tissue that is used on model airplanes before dope is applied). The patch should extend a bit beyond the tear. Apply thin coat of glue to the dust cap. Lay the patch over it and work the glue into the patch. Let it dry a bit. Apply more glue, then another patch. Repeat a few times. It is better to use as little glue as possible. Let it sit for 24 hours.

Small tears where there is no gap in the paper can be fixed with just glue. Nail polish or a gel super glue can be used for these sort of tears.

If all else fails, you can always have the dust cap replaced.

ale29 · #18 08-10-2010, 12:53 PM

Thanks a lot to everyone for your help.
Tomorrow i'm going to try to repair it.

levis76 · #19 08-10-2010, 01:08 PM

A mixture of fresh cats blood and rubber cement should do the trick.

Seriously though, it's good you realize that it isn't the cats fault or your mom's. Always make sure your stuff is secure.

None of those marks, holes, or tears will affect the sound. If some do go all the way thru, just fill them with some rubber cement applied with a small thin brush. Just enough to fill them to seal the dust cap back up.

No harm, no foul. Now go give kitty some treats.

ale29 · #20 08-10-2010, 01:59 PM

I didn't want to blame my mother or my cat.
Let's say I've been quite unlucky, but this wouldn't have happened if I put the grill back even though my work wasn't finished yet.