AR 5 save!

[Filip I]

Couldn' t be happier, after almost 4 years I managed to find unmolested AR 5. Here ( Serbia ) good AR is scarce, 5 even more. Checked all the drivers at the spot, all alive 6+ ohm, suspension was long time gone and the cabinet was painted in some black paint, clumsy effort and ugly as sin...All in all healthy project! Not a tech, I have the right guy for that but at least I could do cabinets myself

First I tought that the veneer is dead and my initial idea was to paint it glossy mustard yellow for a twist.Bought sandpaper just to see what lies beneath the ugly paint and behold, healthy wallnut veneer. So I decided to keep it as is and let me say that was a good decision. Going to post pictures just to show you the progress. Striped the paint, did some sanding than first layer of tung oil. Front and back are going to be chalk board black and most probably a metal grill ( perks of having two cats... )Either that or moving the speakers every time I finish listening..Not a big dilema,right...

Gonna keep you posted on progress with the pictures. Honestly can't wait to hear them as I am in love with this sound.Also it's going to be interesting to compare current AR 17 ( sublime ) and see the evolution of the AR sound. Have big expectations from these. Let's see what is going to happen. So far so good!

 

[alteclipsch]

Very nice looking cabinets!

 

[Filip I]

Very nice looking cabinets!

Thanks! This is just 240 grit, was hoping to go up to 800 but the veneer is thin on the edges. But even to leave it as it is it is goood

 

[Blue Shadow]

I don't recall the AR-5 having a lip on the cabinet that these have. Be interested in more photos as you go about your restore. Glad to see you found something as good and hard to find as the AR-5.

 

[Filip I]

I don't recall the AR-5 having a lip on the cabinet that these have. Be interested in more photos as you go about your restore. Glad to see you found something as good and hard to find as the AR-5.

For sure, more pictures are coming, as I progress day by day. Speaking of cabinet I noticed that there are AR 5 with and without. I believe that ones with the lip are Euro model, nothing more, probably made in UK.

 

[WaynerN]

I don't recall the AR-5 having a lip on the cabinet that these have. Be interested in more photos as you go about your restore. Glad to see you found something as good and hard to find as the AR-5.

They are European models, made for the Europe market.

 

[Filip I]

New day new adventure...Today back and front repaint- black/chalkboard effect.Wind is not doing me any favors so I had to switch balcony ( trust me this DIY is not for a building and I don't have shop,basement...to use ) Have to hide like a ninja from the neighbours...Oh and one more thing to remember for the future projects: if you oil the veneer first, tape won't stuck, took me an hour to find a solution and protect sides...Idiot...

So first layer done, next one in an hour or two but I think it's going to be badass!

 

[Filip I]

Done for today back is finished, front tomorrow. Just for comparisson front undone and back done. Looks mighty fine, at least to me.

 

[GD70]

Done for today back is finished, front tomorrow. Just for comparisson front undone and back done. Looks mighty fine, at least to me.

Looking factory fresh! Nice work!

 

[Filip I]

Looking factory fresh! Nice work!

Thank you! Now just waiting for the oil to dry before I send them to tech. Very pleased with everything so far. My personal preferences ( undestatment ) more likely admiration are toward AR ( and Sansui in amp department ) so rebuilding these,giving them another 30-40 y or life is really spiritual experience for me, I don't dubt one second that I will be rewarded once they start singing again.

 

[GD70]

Thank you! Now just waiting for the oil to dry before I send them to tech. Very pleased with everything so far. My personal preferences ( undestatment ) more likely admiration are toward AR ( and Sansui in amp department ) so rebuilding these,giving them another 30-40 y or life is really spiritual experience for me, I don't dubt one second that I will be rewarded once they start singing again.

How much oil did you apply? It should be just wiped on with a cut up t-shirt or old cotton sock, not applied with a paint brush. If you did that, it will take days to dry. You want the veneer to absorb the oil, in stages. Each application wiped on, wait 24 hours, apply the next and so on until the veneer stops absorbing it, which is usually 5, maybe 6 applications.

 

[Filip I]

How much oil did you apply? It should be just wiped on with a cut up t-shirt or old cotton sock, not applied with a paint brush. If you did that, it will take days to dry. You want the veneer to absorb the oil, in stages. Each application wiped on, wait 24 hours, apply the next and so on until the veneer stops absorbing it, which is usually 5, maybe 6 applications.

Hey Glenn, thanks for the heads up! I am semi familliar with the woodworking, did a few pieces of furniture myself, it was sock, no paint brush,can only imagine that fat layerBut I did add a bit more than I wanted...Going to stop after this one. My initial plan was to go sanding-oiling up to 2000 grit but the veneer is thin on the edges, didn't want to risk stripping it. Going to shoot some pics before it goes to the tech but I am happy with the results, especially with front/end chalkbord black effect.

 

[Filip I]

Hey Glenn, thanks for the heads up! I am semi familliar with the woodworking, did a few pieces of furniture myself, it was sock, no paint brush,can only imagine that fat layerBut I did add a bit more than I wanted...Going to stop after this one. My initial plan was to go sanding-oiling up to 2000 grit but the veneer is thin on the edges, didn't want to risk stripping it. Going to shoot some pics before it goes to the tech but I am happy with the results, especially with front/end chalkbord black effect.

Sorry to answer your question: 2 layers of sanding,2 layers of oil

 

[GD70]

Hey Glenn, thanks for the heads up! I am semi familliar with the woodworking, did a few pieces of furniture myself, it was sock, no paint brush,can only imagine that fat layerBut I did add a bit more than I wanted...Going to stop after this one. My initial plan was to go sanding-oiling up to 2000 grit but the veneer is thin on the edges, didn't want to risk stripping it. Going to shoot some pics before it goes to the tech but I am happy with the results, especially with front/end chalkbord black effect.

Oh I get it, easy to get carried away with the oil wanting that beautiful sheen. I breathed a sigh of relief after reading you used a sock. Can’t wait to see the nest set of pics!
Cheers, Glenn

 

[Filip I]

Guys, cabinets are done. Now to the tech shop. It's going to be a little pause now since the maestro is overloaded with job and I expect at least a month before I see them again. I will shoot the final result with new grilles on once they arrive and will definitively share listening impressions.

They look very nice, few small spots on the edges without veneer but honestly to small to bother and try to mask it. Don't have space to work so this was pretty much the best I could do with limited tool and space.

 

[Filip I]

Oh I get it, easy to get carried away with the oil wanting that beautiful sheen. I breathed a sigh of relief after reading you used a sock. Can’t wait to see the nest set of pics!
Cheers, Glenn

Appreciate the care Glenn! That lession had been learned already ( applying too much )

 

[glend123]

Nice job on the cases!

 

[Filip I]

Nice job on the cases!

Thank you. I believe that these vintage marvels deserved most care, I tried to give my best.

 

[teal'c]

paint it glossy mustard yellow !

Glad the wood was good.

 

[Fairlane]

Nice!