beyond wood veneer

[Rbrockman]

I like to hear from any of you who have tried alternative finishes on your speakers than wood veneer or paint.

I'm finding that with the exception of piano black paint, most wood grain finishes just don't fit with our decor or WAF. Since the gloss black finish requires so much work (for me at least), I'm looking for options.

I'm thinking of ideas such as carbon fiber veneer:

http://www.protechcomposite.com/servlet/StoreFront

or metallic laminates such as these:

http://www.decotonesurfaces.com/product_category.php?category=6

Any feedback on what you have tried and what worked and what didn't would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[DS-21]

Not crazy about either of those options, but I think black or wood encaps with a machine turned metal wrap would look stunning.

[Bill Schneider]

There's an older thread called "Show us your speaker finishes" that shows some unusual speaker finishes in addition to nicely done veneers.

https://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30843

I once rolled some white BIN primer on a small set of bookshelf speakers, and was surprised at how nice that looked for such a modest effort. It was semi-glossy, slightly textured, and very clean looking. That made me wonder about other finishing possibilites at the time.

[Rbrockman]

great feedback.

Here's something I found which is much closer to something I'd like to explore:

http://www.audiocircle.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=1349&pos=11

Don't see much of this either due to preference or lack of material availability.

[Hdale85]

I kind of like that carbon fiber finish.... I may have to try some of that in mix with wood veneer as well. My only concern is it doesn't seem to flexible as far as bending around a round over.

[Dennis H]

If you're looking for a 'flat' finish like a lot a commercial speakers (tons less work than gloss), a blind guy with one arm can get an attractive finish with this stuff.

http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=27

[Paul Ebert]

You might look into these Wilsonart products - decorative metal and metal laminates:

http://samples.wilsonart.com/c-6-metals.aspx

Don't know what they cost. I think the carbon fiber would look really cool, but it gets expensive if the cabinets are very large. I could see it being a great option for something like Zaph's ZD5.

I've also wondered how a thin sheet of black acrylic would look (quick way to a piano black?). Of course, scratch resistance might be a problem.

[Hank]

Very nice carbon fiber stuff (BTW, they use the right brand adhesive :B ), but I'd be surprised that a Wife would accept that over a nice exotic wood veneer finish. I was going to recommend the WilsonArt Metalaminates - I have samples of a few of them - Pearl is very nice. I think a nice combo would be either a wood veneered baffle and Metalaminate or carbon fiber sides and top, OR visa-versa.

[Hdale85]

My wife pretty much accepts anything I pick. I guess I'm just lucky I'm sure not everyone is as fortunate.

[impala454]

I am really digging the carbon fiber look. Thanks for posting this. I might have to order a sample just to check it out.

[impala454]

Ordered the sample pack, $17.44 after USPS. Has four samples: 2x2" of .25mm, .5mm, 1.0mm, and 1.3mm.

[Hdale85]

They are rather expensive... I was thinking about using it on the front of my baffle or even maybe thinking of doing it on the sides top and bottom and then a brushed aluminum front. I'm not sure how big of a sheet I'd need to do the sides top and bottom but the 50x100 sheet is like 600 bucks in the .25mm thickness.

[impala454]

edit: nevermind I'm dumb.

[Hdale85]

Well no lol I'd have to trim that down. At 100" long that would probably be enough for both. I was looking at the quantity I went to the single sheet page and it said the same. Maybe in that size you have to order 10?


Edit: Haha yeah it's pretty pricey... But honestly I think that would look the best is to do carbon fiber sides with either a plain silver or like a smoked/anodized black brushed aluminum front. For that much money I could buy carbon fiber sheet and just stick it straight to the cabinets.

[impala454]

Yeah the quantity screwed me up. I was thinking it was $600 for 10 sheets. But what it means is "if you buy 10 sheets, it's $600/sheet". I could probably get by with the 22x44 sheets for my monitors and center, but that's still $138/sheet. forget that. oh well. that's what I get for not paying attention. I'll still report how cool the samples are :P

[Hdale85]

Well I'm shopping around now...as I really like this idea. There are also colored carbon twill fabrics you can get. So if you'd like blue or red carbon fiber speakers I'm trying to see how cheap I can get the fabric for.

[impala454]

I just wonder how to clean up the ends once you cut it to fit.

Quick search on ebay shows a 50"x36" sheet on buyout for $30 + $15 shipping

[Hdale85]

Finished sheets? Or the material? And if the later is it 2x2 twill? Which is probably the nicer looking stuff.

[impala454]

this is the first google response from "carbon twill fabric"
link

[Hdale85]

Well that makes it possible at least. Would need 4 of those. I don't know resin is kind of nasty. The veneer sounds so much nicer but that price is just kind of insane. And for the quality of speakers I'm doing I don't think using vinyl fo carbon fiber is acceptable.

[impala454]

truck bed liner keeps sounding nicer and nicer lol

[Rbrockman]

no no.... we can't have "truck bed liner" and carbon fiber sheet in the same thread. It just seems wrong

I have some samples on order as well. I'm considering a mix of brushed aluminum trim and carbon fiber sheet veneer.

[Hdale85]

That's what I was thinking would look nice Rbrockman. I was thinking brushed aluminum on the front and rear baffle and then carbon fiber everywhere else.

[JonP]

truck bed liner keeps sounding nicer and nicer lol

Heh... I need to get back in touch with a local truck bed liner guy I talked to once. Was curious, he was rather interested in spraying cabinets. For him, it's just once he's set up, dosen't matter spraying a little more. Some kind of two part mix and heat catalysis process, no wasted mix, mixes as he sprays. Offered to take a piece, wait till he had a truck, then spray the box at the same time. Would charge me $2-3 a square foot. The stuff sprays out and sets up in a matter of 5-10 minutes, doing sides isn't a time consuming process. Showed me the range of textures he could do, some color differences. Seemed like a good deal and cheaper then I thought. I keep meaning to prep up some test panels with various surface treatments, bare, shellac sealer, paint primer, etc. to see what would be the best attachment method.

I have a sub box that's been bare MDF for about 2-3yrs now... ops: about time for something!

I'd suggest finding a local guy and talking to him...

[impala454]

Sounds like something worth looking into. I wonder how I would need prepare the surface...

[impala454]

Just a follow up, called a few places around here and it sounds like the bed liner specialty places tend to have a lot of experience coating MDF boxes as well, and have lots of choices. I gave them the rough dimensions of my boxes (4 Statements Monitors and 1 Statements Center) and they said it would probably be about $20/box. Not bad. Will have to go in person and see what the samples look like. Thanks for the suggestion Jon!

[Hdale85]

Edit: Removed

[impala454]

Worse things have happened to me

[Hdale85]

Edit: Removed

[dlneubec]

You might try this. I've not used it, but it looks like it has some things along the lines of what you are looking for and cheaper than the carbon fiber sheets.
FX Sheeting

[Hdale85]

Hmm that carbon fiber doesn't look real though.

[CraigJ]

I've used wood veneers and recently Corian. Since I spend a lot of time achieving a nice patina on my stained glass lamps, I was considering something like this on my "next small" project:




Craig

[impala454]

Haha honestly though don't you want something purty :B

I've seen some that look great. I'm thinking if you replaced the words "truck bed liner" with "industrial coating" or something it might look more purty to you :B

Though I really would like to get some kind of finish on mine before I move in January. My dad runs a sign shop and I might test and see how well his various vinyls stick to the MDF.

[Hdale85]

Vinyl sticks to the MDF just fine.

[impala454]

That'd be great Dougie, if I wanted the wood grain look . The vinyl should be a good option, as I'll have a ton to choose from.

[Hdale85]

Edit: removed