How should I replace these speaker surrounds?

Shakedown

Shakedown

Active Member
My accordion speaker surrounds just arrived in the mail, or so you could call. The only ones I could find came attached to the cone itself as one piece, as seen in the photo below.

Now, should I cut the cone off from the surround and glue that to the speaker cone already on the speakers? Or should I cut the cone off of my speakers and use the entire replacement piece.
 

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On the DIY surround replacement tutorials they all chip the old surround off the cone, and then glue the new surround onto it. This method would work if I had a surround replacement separate from the cone.

Now breaking the cone off from the voice coil would not work? Then gluing the replacements I have around that center voice coil? If not I can take an xacto around the surrounds to separate them from the replacements.
 
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Are those new cones/surrounds made specifically for your speakers, or are they generic replacements? If they are generic, and you are good with an exacto, then I would remove the surrounds from the new cones and move them to your defective speakers.

Even if the cones are direct replacements, you are looking at transplanting your voice coil, along with the lead-in wires, to the new cones. It can be done, but the work can be tedious. And you run the risk of destroying your voice coil and lead-in wires. Alignment is critical.

Maybe somebody else will have an easier method.

GeeDeeEmm
 
If those are paper cones on the new surrounds- my trick is to lightly score the paper cone at the inner edge of the new surround, all the way around the cone- then start picking/lifting the surround edge loose from the cone in one spot, carefully. Once you get a bit to lift, get a thin object under there to use as a bit of a wedge/prybar and work around the cone to lift the surround, a bit at a time. You have to be patient, but if you are, you should be fine.

Fortunately, fabric surrounds are fairly strong- so as long as you are careful, you should be able to successfully get it off the cone.

Regards,
Gordon.
 
Would anyone reccomend a glue that would be ideal for attaching surrounds, anything specific?

And yeah those are generics, looks like xacto it is.
 
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I would suggest cutting the new surrounds away from the cone by first using an exacto knife to cut the cone exactly where it meets the new surround. That way, you will have the surround free with a small bit of the cone still attached. With that done, you should have much easier time maneuvering the new surround and removing the small circle of cone still attached. I hope what I've said is clear.

As for glues, it's best to use the glue made specifically for the purpose. Parts Express and several ebay sellers stock it.

http://www.parts-express.com/parts-express-speaker-repair-glue-1-oz-bottle--340-076

GeeDeeEmm
 
gdmoore28 said:
I would suggest cutting the new surrounds away from the cone by first using an exacto knife to cut the cone exactly where it meets the new surround. That way, you will have the surround free with a small bit of the cone still attached. With that done, you should have much easier time maneuvering the new surround and removing the small circle of cone still attached. I hope what I've said is clear.

As for glues, it's best to use the glue made specifically for the purpose. Parts Express and several ebay sellers stock it.

http://www.parts-express.com/parts-express-speaker-repair-glue-1-oz-bottle--340-076

GeeDeeEmm
Click to expand...

I've tried that (cutting the whole thing loose, then peeling), and it usually causes more damage to the surround (folding, creasing) than just scoring and getting it to lift off from the intact cone. The intact cone has enough structural integrity to not try to fold up, when you're trying to get the surround loose.

Regards,
Gordon.
 
Jeez... can't the same company that sent those cones just replace those with surrounds that you don't have to hack up to use?
 
I found these off of a pawn shop's website in China, took a month to arrive but was willing to hold out. Hard time finding cloth accordion designs anymore for a small size woofer, most have switched over to the use of rubber or foam.
 
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MannyE said:
Jeez... can't the same company that sent those cones just replace those with surrounds that you don't have to hack up to use?
Click to expand...

There are likely no separate surrounds available in that size and composition, from any supplier, anywhere, that sells in small lots. Sure, if you want 1000 of them- there's places that will make and sell you the separate surrounds. But, not for a pair or a half dozen.

Believe me, I've been there, many times. I've had to do exactly what is to be done here, for exactly that reason, more times than I can remember off hand...

Regards,
Gordon.
 
Allene's should work fine except for one thing. If my eyes are not lying to me, the replacements are bigger than the original cone. I think you may be in for a struggle, but I hope I am wrong.
 
GordonW said:
There are likely no separate surrounds available in that size and composition, from any supplier, anywhere, that sells in small lots. Sure, if you want 1000 of them- there's places that will make and sell you the separate surrounds. But, not for a pair or a half dozen.

Believe me, I've been there, many times. I've had to do exactly what is to be done here, for exactly that reason, more times than I can remember off hand...

Regards,
Gordon.
Click to expand...

Ah yes the "fun" of restoring vintage audio. :dunno:
 
Just an optical illusion they fit snug as a rug, after much trial and error I found and x-acto knife and scissors will not work. The best method that worked for me was simply ripping from the cone's center with my hands and tearing the cloth in a circle, it came right off tugging it away from the surrounds. Scissors create uneven edges leaving a bad surface to glue onto, slow and steady wins the race.
 
Nothing to show just yet, waiting on some silicone glue to arrive in the mail.

Will post when done... ;)
 
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