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How to get glued-in drivers out?

camerakid

camerakid

Active Member
I went to the thrift store a few days ago and left with a pair of DLK Model 1's for $35. After some Howard's Restore-A-Finish, followed up by some Feed-n-Wax, they looked really good! I glued neodymium magnets to the grill and nailed same nails into the speaker, which line up with the magnets on the grill. Bad idea. The magnets are so powerful that they just get pulled off every time you take the grill off.

Anyways, I have to get the drivers out so I can push the nails out. The only problem is that the drivers are glued in. I tried taking the gasket off to make pulling them out easier. Yet another bad idea. The surround is either molded to the gasket or very strong glue has been used to glue it to the gasket. I ended up tearing the surround off the basket, but after some Aleen's tacky glue, it was fixed.

So after all that unnecessary stuff, my question is; how do I get the glued-in drivers out? I just don't want to bend the basket or do anything stupid trying to get them out.

Also, here's a question; I read on another thread that the alnico woofers in the Model 1 1/2 have a green basket, does that apply to the 1's?

Thanks in advance!
 
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If that's the goop the factory used to set the drivers, a hair dryer should soften the stuff enough so you can pry them out without damaging them. A wide blade screwdriver, or better yet, one of those free thingies you get at the paint store for opening cans should do the job nicely.

Soften a small section, insert the tool and twist a bit, repeat as needed. Scrape most of the glue off as you go along, and some spacers inserted as you go along to keep the basket away from the wood so it doesn't set in again would be helpful. Patience above all.
 
Here is a picture of the DLK's:
stereo%20system_zpsqkcs53if.jpg

As you can see, the speaker on the left-hand side has the stock velcro, the one on the right-hand side has the nails.
 
Let them sit in the sun for a half hour or more until the glue is soft.

Cover the tweeter with a towel folded over a few times.

Good luck

Eric
 
62sunbeam said:
Let them sit in the sun for a half hour or more until the glue is soft.

Cover the tweeter with a towel folded over a few times.

Good luck

Eric
Click to expand...
Thanks! Here in Valley Center, it reaches about 90° in the summertime in the shade, so direct sunlight should work. I'll go out tomorrow and try it.
 
sKiZo said:
If that's the goop the factory used to set the drivers, a hair dryer should soften the stuff enough so you can pry them out without damaging them. A wide blade screwdriver, or better yet, one of those free thingies you get at the paint store for opening cans should do the job nicely.

Soften a small section, insert the tool and twist a bit, repeat as needed. Scrape most of the glue off as you go along, and some spacers inserted as you go along to keep the basket away from the wood so it doesn't set in again would be helpful. Patience above all.
Click to expand...
Thanks, but sadly I do not have a hair dryer. And If I bought one I wouldn't have a use for it after this project. Thanks again!
 
faber12 said:
I have to ask, what is that clear liquid you are drinking from those mason jars? :)
Click to expand...
Ha ha! Just some water... I get up at exactly 5:30 A.M. every morning and get my "daily water". But that's not all! There's a stack of about 10 SOLO cups in my closet which I will use for portable speakers. Oh well, at least I'm not doing the experiments where I put a SOLO cup filled with water over speaker magnets for DIY "water cooled" drivers, I had at least 30 SOLO cups in there at that time. And yes, that experiment was a fail.... :(
 
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