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Finally re-covered my grilles w/pic's

gonzomeep

gonzomeep

Super Member
I've had this project half way done for well over a year. Some time back, I was able to find the source for OEM JBL "Monitor Blue" grille cloth. I did it so I could re-cover my L220 and L222 grilles and help others find this "unobtainium cloth" too. I don't usually listen with them on, but I figured it was about time to complete the mission. I love this cloth! It is almost black in low light and then turns to a deep blue in bright light. I love the way it contrasts with the dark walnut veneer. I've done so many grilles now, that it took me about 15 minutes to do! Check it out:
 

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looks awsome.
i've done my L112 and had hard time with stretchness of the cloth.
if the cloth is loose with wrinkle, will spraying a light water make it shrink and straighten?
 
gogofast said:
looks awsome.
i've done my L112 and had hard time with stretchness of the cloth.
if the cloth is loose with wrinkle, will spraying a light water make it shrink and straighten?
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I'm not sure if you mean the cloth was wrinkled before you put it on and then stayed that way? I've never had a problem with this, or any cloth. I've done all kinds of grilles, even the "3-D" type. This cloth isn't going to shrink with water. It is made of a synthetic fiber. The stretch is a benefit. When I first started doing grilles, I stretched it too much, only to find out that I had distorted the frames and they wouldn't fit correctly. You shouldn't need much tension to get it to be snug and tight to the frame. It almost looks as though you won't have it tight enough about half way through the job, when you do it correctly. You want to anchor the cloth with the "stretchiness" about half-way tensioned. That means: when you test for the amount of stretch in your cloth by tugging at it, it will stretch so far under a reasonable amount of pull. You want half of that amount of tension in the cloth permanently fixed in a finished grille. I hope that makes sense. PM me and I'll send you my #. I'd love to discuss this with you. Thank you for the :thmbsp:
 
soundoc03 said:
I have found that 3M spray adhesive and an Exacto knife are essential to get the job done right.
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Yeah, I use an OLFA knife w/break-away blades. A new razor sharp blade is one of the keys to a good job. I use a hot glue gun instead of the 3M or contact cement. It is fast, strong and easy. I have some ADS L500 grilles that are some of the first grilles I recovered. They are good as new, with no sign of coming apart anytime soon. I'll tell you, the hot glue gun is the only method I'd use for an ESS AMT1x style grille. You'll bless the day it was invented after tackling a pair of those PITA grilles!
 
Zilch said:
Tell folks where they can purchase JBL Monitor Blue grille cloth, Gonzo.... ;)
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How about where folks can purchase black, like on these 4311 grilles I have or even that more open weave kinda stuff used on 4410's...? :scratch2:

P.S. Lighter fluid didn't cut it for taking out that gooey runoff from the woofers either, so now I either need to buy a Zippo and start smoking again or find a stage and a cheap Stratocaster... :D
 
sleddogman said:
How about where folks can purchase black, like on these 4311 grilles I have or even that more open weave kinda stuff used on 4410's...? :scratch2:

P.S. Lighter fluid didn't cut it for taking out that gooey runoff from the woofers either, so now I either need to buy a Zippo and start smoking again or find a stage and a cheap Stratocaster... :D
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I get my black cloth from JoAnn's Fabrics chain store. Sweet cloth. Problem with getting that black woofer dope off is that anything that will remove it, will also remove the baffle paint too. Lacquer thinner/M.E.K. 4311 grilles are some of the easiest grilles to recover. Slam dunk, if you don't tweek them out of square. Less torque/tension is better when recovering them.
 
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