Advice on Fixin' New to Me EPI 100s

JJCalvillo

JJCalvillo

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
Finally got my hands on some EPI 100s. Need some love, but they look like they deserve it.

EPI100W.JPG
Above is the speaker with the unknown (Radio Shack?) woofer. It has the better cabinet except where it got wet at the very bottom. Still, it is not too bad. So looking for an original woofer for this speaker.


SideA.JPG
Side A after Formbys Oil.

SideB.JPG
Side B after Formbys.

Top.JPG
Top, with what I'm guessing is water stain from a plant pot AFTER Formbys Oil. It was actually worse before. Read that Bar Keepers Friend will take this out if you make it into a paste and let it dry on the spot. There are a couple of scratches, but not deep. The other speaker cabinet is in better condition.

EPI100Orig.JPG
EPI OrigB.JPG
This is the original woofer that needs a re-foam.

Has anyone re-foamed one of these, I'll do a search and see if I can find a step by step.
Specifically:
• Do you need to shim the voicecoil, and if so, how is that done?
• Do I need to align the front of the woofer to the mounting board? It's recessed a little. If so, how?
• What do I look for on the inside re the "XO". Just one cap for the tweeter? Best way to test?
• Best way to take foam off of the cone?
 
Register to hide this ad
I was surprised to find that the EPI 100 woofers have a paper voice coil former,
metal would be better. Several have stated on here that the Genesis 8" has an
aluminum former. I expect that they might be a nice upgrade especially if you
like to crank them.
 
One thing I notice that is sort of strange. One speaker is #142007 and the other is #142002, so sorta matched if you're going by 5s.
 
y
JJCalvillo said:
Finally got my hands on some EPI 100s. Need some love, but they look like they deserve it.

View attachment 1413133
Above is the speaker with the unknown (Radio Shack?) woofer. It has the better cabinet except where it got wet at the very bottom. Still, it is not too bad. So looking for an original woofer for this speaker.


View attachment 1413132
Side A after Formbys Oil.

View attachment 1413135
Side B after Formbys.

View attachment 1413136
Top, with what I'm guessing is water stain from a plant pot AFTER Formbys Oil. It was actually worse before. Read that Bar Keepers Friend will take this out if you make it into a paste and let it dry on the spot. There are a couple of scratches, but not deep. The other speaker cabinet is in better condition.

View attachment 1413108
View attachment 1413137
This is the original woofer that needs a re-foam.

Has anyone re-foamed one of these, I'll do a search and see if I can find a step by step.
Specifically:
• Do you need to shim the voicecoil, and if so, how is that done?
• Do I need to align the front of the woofer to the mounting board? It's recessed a little. If so, how?
• What do I look for on the inside re the "XO". Just one cap for the tweeter? Best way to test?
• Best way to take foam off of the cone?
Click to expand...
yes i have done many, and can help, i do not shim, the way i refoam it is simple, you play a very low signal from your stereo with the woofer that centers the vc , then glue the outer edge , i will send the link when i get a chance later if you want to try it. i did 8 epi woofers, and they worked out perfect. Very nice 100s!!
 
freQ(*)Oddio said:
y

yes i have done many, and can help, i do not shim, the way i refoam it is simple, you play a very low signal that centers the vc , then glue the outer edge , i will send the link when i get a chance later if you want to try it. i did 8 epi woofers, and they worked out perfect. Very nice 100s!!
Click to expand...

That would be great, thank you.
 
Using a paste made from water and Bar Keepers Friend on the speaker cabinets to take out water rings/stains.

Here's a bottom before.
SpkrBottom.JPG


Here's the bottom after. It's still wet so wood looks a little darker. Also a second application of paste removed more stains.
PasteB.JPG
 
Question about the caps in these speakers. Re-foam kit ordered and will be working on the woofers next week. While I was checking in the cabinet I shot the cap below. It's a 10uf/50V cap, and was wondering what people who have recapped have used? Noticed that Human's crossover has a 10uf/250V cap.

EPICap.JPG
 
I would just put some stripper on that wood and take the old oil, varnish etc. off. If it's stained then wood bleach, which is powdered oxalic acid. Then restain and oil back to match the original color.

As for caps, I tend to use Dayton metallized poly 5% for most speakers, inexpensive, work well. YMMV. Voltage doesn't matter as long as it's at least 50V. You won't really find crossover caps that low anyhow. Most are 200 and up, the Daytons are 250V.
 
toxcrusadr said:
I would just put some stripper on that wood and take the old oil, varnish etc. off. If it's stained then wood bleach, which is powdered oxalic acid. Then restain and oil back to match the original color.

As for caps, I tend to use Dayton metallized poly 5% for most speakers, inexpensive, work well. YMMV. Voltage doesn't matter as long as it's at least 50V. You won't really find crossover caps that low anyhow. Most are 200 and up, the Daytons are 250V.
Click to expand...

I think the stain must have been there for years. Don't know how many applications of alcohol & Barkeepers Friend (Oxalic Acid) followed by a vinegar water mixture have been on and off the one speaker. Guessing 10 to 12 and though minimized, the ring is still there. May go back with more applications, but I want to hear these guys before I die on the cosmetic hill.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom