Klipsch Heresy HBR's ~ Re-top or Re-veneer?

[basicblues]

Well, I stumbled into another set of Klipsch heresy at an auction for $160 that I couldn't pass up. These are HBR's from 1984 (black grills), sound fantastic, in super nice condition except someone probably sat a plant on the top of each :no: which left a dark water ring. I've already experimented with sanding on these and it would require sanding through the top layer to remove the stains. These will go nicely beside the 1979 HWO (cane grills) that I already had and I've been debating now for a few weeks whether or not to re-veneer these HBR's with some cool exotic veneer like many others have done or just replace the very tops of these with raw birch and leave them along since everything else is so good. My first impression was to re-veneer but after being around the plain raw wood it looks pretty good too. Push me one way or the other...

[pmsummer]

"Raw, raw! That's the spirit!"
- Firesign Theater

Steak tartar.

Honeymoon.

[Groomlakearea51]

They are H-II's (I'm assuming).

Check the "thread" by bullwinkle regarding the issues with taking them apart to replace bad panels (it's the glue wars !!). If the old glue is dry enough, you might be able to knock the panels apart and replace the top panel if you go the BR route.

New birch is going to be considerably lighter than the old '84, and the side panels may not sand out enough to match the shade. If that's the case, you can try a cheap trick (Nothing to lose it seems);

Using rubber gloves and wearing a t-shirt that you can afford to ruin..., carefully wipe the top and sides with bleach and watch them; check every 5 minutes. If it works, wipe them down with vinegar (in a well ventilated area), then wipe down with windex, then with distilled water to neutralize the bleach.

I've tried that using a 10% pool/ RV toilet solution in the past. It worked once, failed once. Depends on the stain, age, etc. At least they will be well disinfected and you can eat off them....

Hope that helps.

V/R MWM

[basicblues]

Ok then, I'll just spray paint them flat black - just kidding...

Good advise on the bleach method, I've actually had some success taking the old dark gunk off old maple neck stratocasters years ago. I am not even going to think about fighting the glue. I'll either leave them like they are, replace the very top veneer, just re-veneer the whole cabinets with something cool or just sell them.

[Groomlakearea51]

Ah yes, the ubiquitious flat black spray paint. I kept Krylon in business in my younger days........
Speaking of paint.... You could fill in any nicks or dings with "bondo", sand them real good (180, 220, then 320), use a good gun (like Devilbiss FL3) prime them with black lacquer primer, sand again with 320 and 440,then with 2 coats of #40 sheen black laquer (then sand again with 600 or so), and one (or two) coat of clear #40 sheen. That will turn them into a really nice pair of HBB's. The factory spec for the lacquer is this #40 sheen also called SSG. Difficult to obtain, it's made by Valspar (OPEX), and you usually have to make real good friends with your local paint store to get someone to order it. It took me two months to find a paint store that had an employee that would do anything than say "if it's not our brand, go away..." That's another story, and as soon as I finish a complete restoration on a pair of H-I's H-BB, I'll post a couple of pictures or a link for you to look at. Won't be finished for at least 6 weeks until after the hurricane season and the temps and humidity drop down from subtropical.....