DIY Speaker Grilles Successes?

[jammonz]

Has anyone had success building either DIY or badly damaged Floorstander speaker grilles.
If so, what used and where bought?
I have a pair of Klipsch KG 4's that I bought without grilles.That said, I normally listen to most speakers without grilles anyway but like to be able to cover when not in use for a short time so unlearned button pushers will not be enticed to do so.
I see that Parts Express has a "kit" but I am unwilling to drill holes into these when the originals were fastened by a magnet setup.
Any answers or links will be immensely appreciated........Thanks in advance.

 

[RVT1K]

I didn't build them but I bought them from a guy I worked with who designed and built speakers.
He used sheets of MDF and a router to make the frame of the grills for his speakers. But he had lots of space and woodworking equipment. Since they were his own designs, his used some sort of plastic pins for the grills and receptacles in the speakers that held the pins.
But if there are magnets in the speakers, you should be able to find small magnets to mount in the grills in the corresponding locations.

 

[z-adamson]

Has anyone had success building either DIY or badly damaged Floorstander speaker grilles.
If so, what used and where bought?
I have a pair of Klipsch KG 4's that I bought without grilles.That said, I normally listen to most speakers without grilles anyway but like to be able to cover when not in use for a short time so unlearned button pushers will not be enticed to do so.
I see that Parts Express has a "kit" but I am unwilling to drill holes into these when the originals were fastened by a magnet setup.
Any answers or links will be immensely appreciated........Thanks in advance.

 

[jammonz]

I didn't build them but I bought them from a guy I worked with who designed and built speakers.
He used sheets of MDF and a router to make the frame of the grills for his speakers. But he had lots of space and woodworking equipment. Since they were his own designs, his used some sort of plastic pins for the grills and receptacles in the speakers that held the pins.
But if there are magnets in the speakers, you should be able to find small magnets to mount in the grills in the corresponding locations.

Thanks RVT1K.............that actually is a better idea than piecing together something that can flex. One piece and 3/4" to 1" thickness would definitely be enough to keep that from happening.
All I'd have to do is cut an inner plate area in the corners to put metal for the factory magnets. Really, dude.......you just gave me the best answer. I've done some things like this before. I had a sign business for 22 years and did a few for plexiglass faces for lighted signs. I'll have to try to remember to document it for anyone else looking to do the same.

 

[GabeD]

I made a set of grilles for my ESS AMT-1 Towers when I restored them. That can be seen here:

ESS AMT-1 Tower Restoration

Long story short, I used hardboard from Home Depot and Mellowtone grille cloth from Parts Express and several million staples. Neodymium magnets hold them on to the towers.

Before and after:

 

[Edkowalke]

I built these earlier this year for a pair of Technics SB-CR77's I bought missing the grills. Poplar wood stained black, grill cloth sourced locally from Fields Fabrics. If you have the woodworking tools quite easy, if you had to hire it out not cost effective.

 

[jammonz]

Hey............I like what you did here. Looks like a pro job to me, well.....as good as Technics Speaker Corp. goes anyway, LOL.

I built these earlier this year for a pair of Technics SB-CR77's I bought missing the grills. Poplar wood stained black, grill cloth sourced locally from Fields Fabrics. If you have the woodworking tools quite easy, if you had to hire it out not cost effective.

 

[eiraved]

View attachment 2639073

This is the replacement grill I use on my Velodyne 18" sub, which was sans grill when I purchased it on a great CL deal. However, I can hear a difference in sound vs without a grill so I'll probably have to make a fabric grill myself.

 

[jammonz]

THAT, my friend is much more work than I plan to do.
GREAT job by the way.
I'm going to check around the lumber yards here and see what is available. My speakers are 16" x 24"-ish and only will need a partial sheet. Sometimes can be picked up or I can talk to a few of my old buddies still doing construction for some pieces. I think a few of them use MDF for some cabinet building still.

I made a set of grilles for my ESS AMT-1 Towers when I restored them. That can be seen here:

ESS AMT-1 Tower Restoration

Long story short, I used hardboard from Home Depot and Mellowtone grille cloth from Parts Express and several million staples. Neodymium magnets hold them on to the towers.

Before and after:

 

[jammonz]

This is what I have to work with so it shouldn't be too hard to clear my drivers.
Thanks to all who have shared their experiences.......seems easier to me now I think about some of the designs I've seen in the past as well.
The magnets are still there in the fronts so all I'll need is a few plates of metal. Like what is used on cabinets with the same type of "locks".

 

[GabeD]

THAT, my friend is much more work than I plan to do. GREAT job by the way.

Thanks. The Towers were a big project. The grilles are probably the equivalent to 6-7 sets of bookshelf speakers as they cover 3/4 of the entire, already pretty tall, tower.

The Mellow Tone fabric was more expensive but definitely worth it. Very high quality stuff.

 

[turboyam]

I love making grilles!. Made all of my DIY's loudspeakers grilles myself. Did those BIC Ventury Formula 3 foam grilles too!