[SwedeSound]

I bought a great set of Monitor Audio Studio 6's at a yard sale a few months back for a STEAL. There was a little bit of water damage to the real wood veneer on the top of one, so I used some steel wool to remove some of the flaking paint and then a light sanding with a fine sandpaper.

But then I screwed up and used a fast-drying, oil-based paint which left a finish I'm not too fond of.  Since these are front and center in our home, I'd rather have something more pleasant to look at. They're not ugly by any stretch, but speakers that sound this sweet deserve a finish to match.

Any suggestions on a good speaker cabinet refinishing person in the New York - preferably Brooklyn - area?!

Many thanks,

Jason

[SwedeSound]

... Or should I just not worry about how my speakers look?

[Bemopti123]

You can always attempt to refinish the speaker yourself.  The biggest impediment is the hardware or speaker components that might need to be removed, if you want to go a good job.  Are the cabs ply or MDF?  There is a lot of info out there in refinishing bad jobs.  Worth to take it to a person instead of you?  I would save some dough and attempt it myself.  Good refinishers or woodworkers might not be too interested in tackling such a job, or so I have experienced.

[Occam]

I found $2,500 Monitor Audio speakers on the sidewalk for $10 ... suckers.

...and then you painted them in that dorky selection. Its all part of the cosmic audiophile balance  .
Its a given that if you find a pristine HK Citation II for $15 at a stoop sale, you'll drop it on the way home.....

[ltr317]

How about Scott at SG sound in Douglaston, Queens:  www.sgcustomsound.com

[SET Man]

Hey!

    Yup, I agreed with Bemopti123. I think you better off refinishing them yourself on your own free time.

    They are likely have MDF inside with wood veneer. If nothing peel off than you could just sand them down and refinish them.  I don't know how much you could do but to send them to a carpenter will cost you a lot especially since you are in NYC... everything is damn expensive here lately.

   But the bottom line is if they aren't that bad looking now and they still sound good and you like the sound than why bother?

    Well, to make you feel better. I built my main speaker and they aren't that great looking.... kindna ugly duckling But! They they sound great and I'm okay with the natural plywood finish on them right now. Sound first, looks second when it come to speaker for me

Take care,
Buddy

[SwedeSound]

They're MDF with a real wood veneer. I am inclined to have my father or father-in-law (great woodworkers both) consult on their next visits to NYC. It's not pressing, but I feel like they deserve to look as good as they sound. Paul (Occam/neighbor) has both seen and heard these speakers and thinks I protest too much. I agree with him that the sound is paramount, but these speakers are the reason I've returned to the world of hi-fi, and I think I need to do them justice. No worries whatsoever. I will post updates as events warrant. I think I'll go the DIY route and take my own sweet time. Thanks for the notes. --JMS.

[Bemopti123]

Buddy, your comments crack me up!

Swede, get your self a nice pack of some sort of Mexican or Belgian beer, some nice tunes, turns the light off and let it go....

Sometimes, seeing the truth is a little too glaring, but, with what I mentioned, everything will seem more bearable.  Its like "doing it in the dark."

[JoshK]

Is the veneer on the speakers dyed or is it the natural wood finished?  What color/finish are you going for?   If it was lacquered natural wood, I'd say carefully sand off the lacquer and then use an anoline dye mixed into something like crystalac and refinish.  The dye will allow to change the color to virtually anything you want but the wood grain still shows through. 

[SwedeSound]

Near as I can tell, it's a natural wood veneer on MDF with a black stain and a satin finish. I could probably take it down to the natural veneer without too much trouble, and from there I'd probably go for a black finish that showed the grain.

[SwedeSound]

Ok, so I just managed to scrape and sand off the terrible paint job I had put on the top of one of my speakers.... I took it down to the veneer, tho there remains a fair amount of the original paint. I'm relieved. At least that bubbly, ugly glossy crap is gone - and no harsh chemicals (just a little elbow grease) were required.

Now I'll await a consult with my father-in-law who's visiting NYC in October. He knows more about wood than just about anybody I know. Thanks for talking me down from the ledge (OK, it wasn't all that bad). I was more upset with myself than the condition of the speakers. "First, do no harm."

-Jason