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Cloth Speaker Surround Treatment?

Lorenzo47

Lorenzo47

Super Member
I recently purchased some liquid cloth speaker surround treatment from Vintage AR to reseal the cloth surrounds on a pair of AR4x speakers that I was refurbishing. Both 4x woofers really needed it. At any rate, I have plenty left over and thought that I'd treat the woofers in my set of AR3a's since I'll be pulling them to rebuild the crossovers soon. However, I'm not sure the 3a woofers need treated since when I press on the cones they return slowly, indicating that there still a good seal and the surrounds are likely not porous.

I'd like to go ahead and treat them anyway since I purchased these in 1969 or 1970. I read somewhere that if you do treat the surrounds it changes something with the characteristics of the woofer. Can't recall the exact post.

So, what do you think? Should I go ahead and refresh the surrounds or leave them alone?
 
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If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Of course that is just my opinion. You can do want you want after all they are your speakers.
 
I use the same stuff on my cloth surrounds. Most of the 4x woofs have the mesh dust cap which allows some air to pass, so many of these 4x speakers are not fully airtight to begin with. Nonetheless, this particular treatment (and this one only) does not adversely affect the woofer performance, and a light application often seems to rejuvenate the tired fabric roll.

On the 3a's, I have to assume you mean the old woofer with the cloth surround, and that you are not thinking about applying this substance to foam surrounds. :nono: From the old push-test, it sounds like they are functioning as designed and still have sealed surrounds, but there is no harm in a light application. Also, if necessary, it can always largely be removed using the same solvent (toluene, I think).
 
Yes, my 3a woofers have cloth surrounds. I don't see the harm, given the age of the speakers. At any rate the success of the old "push test" is open to individual interpretation. The speakers sound good but are in need of new crossover caps, the originals having measurably drifted.
 
I second purple1's "if it aint broke........". I don't subscribe to "there is no harm in....."
 
In a number of emails with Roy C., he has stated, the 3 & 3a cloth surround woofers rarely need resealing. If the woofer returns somewhat slow, and not immediately springs back, you should be fine.

Glenn
 
Ok, thanks Glenn. I'll retest before I pull the woofers so I can recap the crossovers. And, thanks to all those that responded.
 
Most of my speakers have cloth surrounds, but I just bought a single OB model, a Wharfedale SFB/3 from the late '50's, that has those early FOAM surrounds (According to Mr. Briggs, they were a mixture of foam and felt). Not sure exactly what to do about the two woofers, one a 12" and the other a 10", but I can use either felt OR some wide-cell foam for the Super 3 tweeter.

As for the ones with cloth surrounds, I have yet to run across a pair with bad ones, thankfully. My W90's AND the two pair of W60-types were all good when I got them, and hopefully I won't ever have to worry about any of them, ESPECIALLY the W90's, as those drivers were impedance-matched at the factory. That's one pair of speakers I would hate to have to replace/repair. 6 drivers per cab and not an easy find. The other Wharfies would be pretty-easy to repair/replace. They sold a ton of the W60-types here in the states.
 
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