Klipsch Chorus 2 Restoration Project

[stringdriventhing]

HURTLE CLEARED - WHEW!  Okay, we're rollin' now. After my lack of experience, and maybe common sense, backed me into a tough spot with the raw, ash burl veneer I chose for the Chorus 2 motor boards (fronts / baffles), I girded my loins and dove head first into the veneering today. I'm reminded of a golfing phrase, "If you can't be GOOD, you'd better be LUCKY". I'll compromise, it was a little of both today.

The first pic I took is of the cabs after I had installed the No Rez damping sheets, masked-off the driver apertures so as to prevent glue and debris from falling into the cab interiors, and had wiped the surfaces to be veneered with an alcohol-dampened cotton cloth, waiting for the alcohol to flash-off before applying glue.

Second pic was of the veneer being freed from the melamine "sandwich" that was utilized to help flatten the stubbornly wavy burl veneer.

Third pic is a Photoshop treatment where I adjusted the contrast and levels to approximate what the veneer might look like with a natural amber shellac finish. May not "jump" enough for my purposes.

Fourth pic is a HOOT! This is not how the pros do it. Vacuum presses are employed to exert plentiful and even pressure to the glued and installed veneer. In my Master Veneering Den, we do things a little differently. We stack a bunch of junk on top, including my newly acquired, used Rogue amp that has yet to be de-boxed, but weighs a useful 60 BIG El Bees.

Fifth pic is the end result - veneer adhering nice 'n tight and driver apertures VERY carefully roughed-in.

Gotta say that I'm "good tired" tonight, and greatly relieved that I pulled-off a "stunner". And they said it couldn't be done, HAH! - String

[tmazz]

And they said it couldn't be done.....

I don't think anyone said it couldn't be done except you. 

Sometimes you just have to believe in yourself. 

Nice job! 

[stringdriventhing]

tmazz, thanks for your kind words of encouragement, much appreciated & probably needed! This speaker project was intended as a means of keeping myself a little "distracted" while a virtual prisoner in my home as I attempt to recover from two major surgeries and await scheduling of a third. I failed, miserably, to wrap my head around the "magnitude" of the undertaking. Of course, adding every possible bell & whistle to such a rudimentary speaker design has upped the ante, just a tad. - String

[tmazz]

As my wife often reminds me - this isn't a hobby, it's a sickness. 

[stringdriventhing]

Well, hello. It's been several days since the last update, so here's the scoop on what's been up. Progress is being made, but since I'm in the middle of the finish schedule, and particularly since I don't have spray capability, the progress is incremental and patience-trying. The color "stage" was particularly frustrating as the vendor I chose for my water-borne finishes took a full six days to respond to an important technical inquiry. Oh well, so it goes.

At this juncture the speakers are veneered, sealed, dyed, and have received two of the four or five varnish coats I'll be applying. The cab interiors are upgraded in regards to damping material and I've begun assembly of the newly fabricated bases. If you reference the old "stock" Chorus 2 photo, that Rich supplied at the start of the thread, you'll see a 3/4" "recess" in the speaker side-profile. That's the top portion of the original bases, where they bolted on", supplied with the speakers - really inadequate stuff for the quality of the balance of the design. My thanks to my compadre, Gary Werkmeister, for assistance and use of his table saw in generating the components for the upgraded bases. Once the cabs have reached final application of the varnish coats I'll flip them on their "heads" and secure the new bases, after which I'll fill the base interiors with mass loading material. Anyone know where I can access an affordable source of tungsten? Tungsten is heavier than lead, likely less toxic, and would provide the most mass for the relatively small interior space of the bases. If not, I've got 150 pounds of sand I used for weighting the veneer that needs to get put to use.

Lots more to do yet, as the finish schedule grinds to a conclusion, the "smaller details" begin to stack higher. BUT, I'd guess-timate that by next weekend I'll have the speakers completed and ready to FIRE UP. Yippee! - String 

[BobM]

They're looking good. It's going to be nice sitting in front of them, listening to good music, and saying to yourself "I did that". Always a good feeling, pride of ownership and workmanship.

Enjoy

[richidoo]

That looks very nice!! I'm glad you are here to help me learn to veneer!

Dry packed sand is 25% the weight of lead shot. Lead is $2/pound online (plus shipping). Try a local gun shop to save on shipping.  Tungsten scrap is going for $45/pound.

[tmazz]

Tungsten scrap is going for $45/pound.

Ouch!

[richidoo]

Well not really scrap, but leftover round discs on clearance, cheapest I could find by online retail.

Spot price on raw scrap is $17/pound. It is a rare earth metal that China is trying to corner.

[stringdriventhing]

Okay, tungsten's a non-starter! If I go lead shot I'll seek out recycled and encapsulate it in an acrylic resin matrix. Somehow though, it's ALL sounding like a bit too much effort here in the late innings with this project. I may just content myself with an improved base with MUCH improved footers. The original bases came with those cheap-rump, circular, "tap-on", metal whatevers. I'll be using decent "budget" carpet spikes from Parts Express until I can swing outriggers from SoundOCity. They're excellent for leveling speakers in my converted-garage listening room, with its pronounced back to front slope! - String   

[Barry (NJ)]

Coming along nicely! 

[stringdriventhing]

Hallelujah I say, HALLELUJAH! The Chorus 2's are "roughly" in position, and most critically there is MUSIC ISSUING FORTH!! Lots & lots left to do fine-tuning ALL the various new bits and pieces of the new musical puzzle of mine BUT, there's music issuing forth and that is a very, good thing.

The Klipsch's still have their SoundOCity outrigger/cone footers, Bob Crites replacement titanium tweeter diaphragms, and Grover Huffman cabling to be installed when they arrive. The final coat of varnish has been curing for over five days and I can soon tackle buffing and polishing of the finish, if I so choose. It'd be VERY WEAK to wuss on the final phase of the finish schedule but man, am I tired of dinkin' with these puppies - besides they don't look half-bad as is.

As I posted in a separate thread, these are the speakers to satisfy the hormonal teenager who refuses to vacate my head & heart. Speakers for crankin' obnoxiously LOUD, so as to soothe the rambunctious youngster within. BUT, so as to ease into things, ECM jazz has been the order of this day, and it sounds really darn fine. The interior adolescent interloper may need to learn to share! - String

[tmazz]

Looking good. 

[stringdriventhing]

Thanks Tom, much appreciated. Hope all is well with you, and yours. - String

[Barry (NJ)]

Beautiful!