Weird, Sticky Speaker Grill

C

Chuck Simon

Junior
Jan 19, 2011
332
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Yeah, just what I said! I bought a couple of SR4718 from a home studio in almost mint condition. But, the speaker grills are sticky. I tried
WD40, paint thinner and I even took them to the car wash and power washed them(just the grills). Now they are nice and clean but still very sticky to the touch - both sides of the grill. Do you think the finish has somehow detriorated? Have you ever seen this happen before?
 
Re: Weird, Sticky Speaker Grill

Sounds like the grills may have been painted, and there has been a chemical reaction.

I have painted colored AC cords black, in most cases, no problem, in others, the paint makes the plastic sticky for weeks.

Putting the grills in the sun will speed the "curing" process, but it will take time.
 
Art Welter said:
Sounds like the grills may have been painted, and there has been a chemical reaction.

I have painted colored AC cords black, in most cases, no problem, in others, the paint makes the plastic sticky for weeks.

Putting the grills in the sun will speed the "curing" process, but it will take time.
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I was thinking of uncured epoxy paint. If that is the case they might need a topcoat.
 
Re: Weird, Sticky Speaker Grill

Mike Caldwell said:
If I'm mistaken those have the square perf grills that are coated in a plastic finish. If they haven't been painted I would the say the plastic coating is just breaking down.
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That's what I'm thinking. Any suggestions how to deal with it? Do you think I could paint over it?
 
Re: Weird, Sticky Speaker Grill

Tim McCulloch said:
Strip or sandblast, prime and paint or send it out for powder coating.
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I think that's what I'm going to do. I have a local body shop guy who I can ask to sand blast them and shoot them with a coat of primer. After painting I'll glue some nice acoustic foam that I have to the inside of the grills and I'll end up with a couple of nice looking subs. They sound great(2241's), especially when I place them side by side to take advantage of coupling.
 
Re: Weird, Sticky Speaker Grill

My guess is he tryed to paint them with a Lauquer based paint, or a piss can fast drying paint. These paints can play havoc on enammel based products.
If you don't want to sandblast, get some lauquer thinner and wipe a corner, see how much paint comes off.
Epoxy paint or urathanes are a two part paint , hardner involved, These will not bite into the original coating.

Spray krylon paint over rustoleum, you will have a mess. Spray rustoleum over krylon nothing happens.

Is there any checking of the paint, like major fish scale or roughness?
 
Re: Weird, Sticky Speaker Grill

Chuck Simon said:
I think that's what I'm going to do. I have a local body shop guy who I can ask to sand blast them and shoot them with a coat of primer. After painting I'll glue some nice acoustic foam that I have to the inside of the grills and I'll end up with a couple of nice looking subs. They sound great(2241's), especially when I place them side by side to take advantage of coupling.
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I bet you can get new grilles from JBL for less money than all that hassle.
 
Re: Weird, Sticky Speaker Grill

Chuck Simon said:
Yeah, just what I said! I bought a couple of SR4718 from a home studio in almost mint condition. But, the speaker grills are sticky. I tried
WD40, paint thinner and I even took them to the car wash and power washed them(just the grills). Now they are nice and clean but still very sticky to the touch - both sides of the grill. Do you think the finish has somehow detriorated? Have you ever seen this happen before?
Click to expand...

If you bought them from ICP that could be residue from Faygo Diet Root Beer.
 
Re: Weird, Sticky Speaker Grill

Alan Sledzieski said:
My guess is he tryed to paint them with a Lauquer based paint, or a piss can fast drying paint. These paints can play havoc on enammel based products.
If you don't want to sandblast, get some lauquer thinner and wipe a corner, see how much paint comes off.
Epoxy paint or urathanes are a two part paint , hardner involved, These will not bite into the original coating.

Spray krylon paint over rustoleum, you will have a mess. Spray rustoleum over krylon nothing happens.

Is there any checking of the paint, like major fish scale or roughness?
Click to expand...

Thinner is good
Brakleen is amazing
Aircraft remover is miraculous
Sandblasting is guaranteed
You could also try heat gun and elbow grease
 
Re: Weird, Sticky Speaker Grill

"I bet you can get new grilles from JBL for less money than all that hassle."

And that is exactly what I have decided to do. Sometimes you have to cut your losses and move on.
 
Re: Weird, Sticky Speaker Grill

Chuck Simon said:
"I bet you can get new grilles from JBL for less money than all that hassle."

And that is exactly what I have decided to do. Sometimes you have to cut your losses and move on.
Click to expand...

If you place the "sticky" grilles in the sun, they will be dry by the time the new grills arrive ;^).
 
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