Nice job thinking that trough Matt!! All the way to the IPA 
ADS L2030 Restoration
- Thread starter MATT0404
- Start date
As was mentioned earlier in the thread these great speakers definitely went to the right guy. Great workmanship all the way around
. Great workmanship all the way around
ZPoxy link.
This is the stuff you want. It's especially good dripping into those length wise cracks, letting it soak in, and clamping tight while curing.
Anyway, you're making great progress.
Cheers, Glenn
https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bi...MIu7Dn3cjB2QIVREsNCh3pUQ--EAQYASABEgK9ovD_BwE
This is the stuff you want. It's especially good dripping into those length wise cracks, letting it soak in, and clamping tight while curing.
Anyway, you're making great progress.
Cheers, Glenn
https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bi...MIu7Dn3cjB2QIVREsNCh3pUQ--EAQYASABEgK9ovD_BwE
Thanks, Garry!Nice job thinking that trough Matt!! All the way to the IPA
Thank you! I'm really enjoying the process of bringing these guys back to their former glory.As was mentioned earlier in the thread these great speakers definitely went to the right guy
Yep, that's the stuff. I foolishly expected I'd be able to find it locally, but no luck. I'll order some for future use.
On a separate note, I took a crash course in applying fiberglass this morning. Update to follow later...
"Thank you! I'm really enjoying the process of bringing these guys back to their former glory."
That's shared by everyone in this thread! We're all very proud for you to have those, and toit ... for someone like you to invest in the time and money in restoring them.
That's shared by everyone in this thread! We're all very proud for you to have those, and toit ... for someone like you to invest in the time and money in restoring them.
slimpikkins
Super Member
This thread has been a great read. The speaker rebuild turned out beautiful. Glad you ended up with those.
Thank you both! I'm glad you guys are following along.This thread has been a great read. The speaker rebuild turned out beautiful. Glad you ended up with those.
On to today's update:
The weather showed a high of 56 degrees so I thought it would be a good opportunity to begin my crash course in fiberglass application. I began by taking measurements, making a cut list, and cutting enough appropriately sized strips of fiberglass to reinforce the joints of both grill frames.
I worked in small batches, mixing enough resin for a few pieces of fiberglass at a time. It really wasn't difficult. The worst part was all the strands of fiberglass that ended up stuck to my gloves. It got so bad that I just got rid of them and worked with my hands.
I took a break between grill frames for lunch. This break left my first brush hard as a rock, so I had to find another. The only brush I could find had pretty stiff bristles from being used and washed a few times. This made working with the fiberglass on the second grill frame pretty difficult, but I got the job done.
They've cured for a few hours now and they are noticeable more rigid after the fiberglass treatment. I'm actually a little concerned that limiting the flex in the joints has transferred more stress to the two metal rods that run vertical on the inside edges. Oh well, I'll cross that bridge if and when I come to it. For now, they're much more structurally sound than I expected.
When I have more time, I'll move onto filling seams, cracks and rebuilding the one corner. Then clean and paint flat black. I'll also replace the little black velcro cushions that keep the grill frame from rubbing the speaker since I got some resin on a few of them. That should give my MIL some time to have the fabric cut and ready to re-cover.
Here are some pics from today:
Looking great Matt! That's exactly how I would have done it. One way to get the fiberglass right into the corners is to fold it before placing it on the surfaces, and then use a plastic taping blade to push it into the corners tight.Thank you both! I'm glad you guys are following along.
On to today's update:
The weather showed a high of 56 degrees so I thought it would be a good opportunity to begin my crash course in fiberglass application. I began by taking measurements, making a cut list, and cutting enough appropriately sized strips of fiberglass to reinforce the joints of both grill frames.
I worked in small batches, mixing enough resin for a few pieces of fiberglass at a time. It really wasn't difficult. The worst part was all the strands of fiberglass that ended up stuck to my gloves. It got so bad that I just got rid of them and worked with my hands.
I took a break between grill frames for lunch. This break left my first brush hard as a rock, so I had to find another. The only brush I could find had pretty stiff bristles from being used and washed a few times. This made working with the fiberglass on the second grill frame pretty difficult, but I got the job done.
They've cured for a few hours now and they are noticeable more rigid after the fiberglass treatment. I'm actually a little concerned that limiting the flex in the joints has transferred more stress to the two metal rods that run vertical on the inside edges. Oh well, I'll cross that bridge if and when I come to it. For now, they're much more structurally sound than I expected.
When I have more time, I'll move onto filling seams, cracks and rebuilding the one corner. Then clean and paint flat black. I'll also replace the little black velcro cushions that keep the grill frame from rubbing the speaker since I got some resin on a few of them. That should give my MIL some time to have the fabric cut and ready to re-cover.
Here are some pics from today:
View attachment 1123800 View attachment 1123801 View attachment 1123803 View attachment 1123804 View attachment 1123805 View attachment 1123806 View attachment 1123809 View attachment 1123811 View attachment 1123813 View attachment 1123814
Before you put these back on the cabinets, sand ALL the fiberglass edges and surfaces smooth flat so any stray, rock hard fibers won't scratch up the cabs when sliding them back in place.
Thanks for the tip. I will be sure to sand the fiberglass smooth before attempting to install!
Thanks for following along!
Great job on the frame restoration and pictures. There are coming only nicely. Makes me realize I need to get started on building my frames, since I was not fortunate enough to have those included when I bought my speakers.
Thanks for sharing all this information and photos from your restoration project Matt.
Thanks for sharing all this information and photos from your restoration project Matt.
Thanks! I'm hoping to get some time to finish up the frames this weekend. I'll be sure to measure and sketch dimensions for you to reference for your own grills.
Your a top notch fella, I just had to say that!
7whales7
Addicted Member
I
Thought for a second early on that you may have to Fab new ones from scratch. Sometimes water and wood damage ends up being worse than expected. Nice save! Lots of good fix ideas also!
Well, I got the grills about ready for new fabric. I rebuilt all of the damaged corners using Bondo wood filler which worked very well. Painted them flat black and now I just need to get working on the fabric.
Bad pic, but here's the finished product.
Also, I didn't mention it here (started a thread in the SS forum), but I picked up a new amp for these guys. The sound is just sublime!
Sonogy Black Knight Mk II by Audio Database, on Flickr
Bad pic, but here's the finished product.
Also, I didn't mention it here (started a thread in the SS forum), but I picked up a new amp for these guys. The sound is just sublime!
Sonogy Black Knight Mk II by Audio Database, on Flickr
7whales7
Addicted Member
Looks like it's moving along well!Well, I got the grills about ready for new fabric. I rebuilt all of the damaged corners using Bondo wood filler which worked very well. Painted them flat black and now I just need to get working on the fabric.
View attachment 1136109 View attachment 1136110 View attachment 1136113 View attachment 1136115
Bad pic, but here's the finished product.
View attachment 1136116
Also, I didn't mention it here (started a thread in the SS forum), but I picked up a new amp for these guys. The sound is just sublime!
Awesome work there Matt. Impressive work on those corners fella. Know what, out of all those pictures, I never once noticed that the frames had 2 metal bars. When I got home this morning I looked at mine and I'll be damned ... sure enough there are 2 in the L1230's as well. So ... I guess I'll be using 2 of them when I build the grill frames for my surrounds this spring/summer. In as much as I don't think I'll be able to find solid Steel square bars like those, I think the depot will have some aluminum ones that will work for me. Your pic's have seriously helped me map those frames out so I can't thank you enough for posting the pics. Were you able to find an upholsterer near you? Nice amp by the way. You have a knack for finding the almost impossible to find stuff.
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Matt, Good Luck! I took your old 1530 grills to a local upholsterer and she had them for 11 months! Twice I refused them because the seams were too prominent. It definitely was a challenge for her. I had seen her work in the past, so I know she was skilled, but it took her a couple shots to get it right. For my taste, I find that the grilles really finish the big 30 series speakers nicely!
Great ideas on the grille frames. Fortunately the grille frames that you had were in great shape. They are vulnerable to damage though.
Happy to help, Garry! My mother-in-law is going to give the upholstery a shot here in the next week or so.
Thanks, Joe! I can't believe it took that long to get the fabric re-done. I'm glad you eventually got them done the way you wanted them. The design is most certainly vulnerable. I plan on handling these with kid gloves once complete.
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