damaged cone usage (push push?)

[kneadle]

Well, now I know that I am truly ignorant. I had never seen the inside of a driver till just now. I thought there was something more than what this pic shows.

Once I took the dustcap off, the buzzing stopped. Seems my brother didn't ruin them after all. Seems I became a DIYer for no reason whatsoever. I better tell him so that he knows he can have his soul back.

In fact, I need to thank him because now I have a new and very enjoyable hobby.

FOUR working speakers. Now what?!? This could be fun.

[phase_accurate]

Once these dustcaps are pushed-in (it looks as if it was a paper one) they are not as stiff anymore as before, at least not when they are still pushed in.

You can suck them back in shape carefully (!!!!!!) with a vacuum cleaner.
Maybe they are stiff enough again afterwards. If not, there are two soultions: Either replace them or stiffen them. The former might be difficult because you usually don't get dustcaps around the corner, the latter might be difficult to achieve without adding significant weight.

Regards

Charles

[kneadle]

For this one pictured it is too late. I wonder where I might manufacture my own dustcaps...

Of course, that's a problem I can solve by myself. Now I just want a challenging project for four second-rate, partly damaged drivers. Something fun and interesting. I'm definitely thinking of a push-push setup of some kind.

Don't know quite what, though, so I'm still open to ideas.

Thanks

Dave

[Bull]

The reason the speakers buzzed,when the dustcap was pushed in is because the dustcap touched the top of the voice coil former.
I completely pushed in dustcap normally ruins the speaker forever,because it bends or creases the voice coil former,so that a buzzing sound may occur,when the speaker is moving quite far[long cone excersion].
If the voice coil former or bobbin hasn't been bent or creased,then just replace the dustcap after,you hoovered the dustcap back to it's normal shape,or close to it's normal shape.
If the dustcap still looks squashed,then i normally,take a thin long needle and poke out every crease in the paper,and then put some sealer or super glue around the hole where the needle entered.
But if you tore the dustcap to pieces to remove it,then you could make one out of 'sugar' paper[ideally black 'sugar' paper],otherwise it would look really crap,and seal it properly to the cone,to prevent it flapping,when the cone moves about.BUT BE CAREFULL,NOT TO DRIP GLUE ON THE COIL OR MAGNETIC GAP,otherwise you've glued together the voice coil and magnetic gap,which will either make rubbing noises or result in a blown speaker.
The best way to make a new dustcap,is to use the damaged one as a template,even if it's ripped,u can tape it together just to measure it.Then draw around the 'sugar' paper and cut if out using a sharp knife,and glue it carefully to the cone.
If it's the wrong colour,paint it before you put it on the cone,and let it dry,otherwise you get paint dripping all over the voice coil,and magnetic gap.
The answer next time,is fit thin metal grilles on all your mounted speakers,and the unmounted ones put out of reach,or in a secret place.

[kneadle]

thanks Bull, sounds like a good plan of action. I wonder what "sugar" paper is in the USA, though.

Still, I have 4 drivers, and I don't know what to do with them.

Kinda like a mule with a spinning wheel...

"Mule..."

Dave

[Shoog]

Its possable to manufacture a wooden phase plug which, I believe, is glued to the metal core. If done correctly this should improve the sound of the driver. I dont know the exact details but a visit to the Full Range Driver Forum and a search should give you all the information you need.

Shoog

[mikewu99]

I found replacement dust caps on this page

http://www.simplyspeakers.com/2doityourself.htm

about halfway down the page on the right.

[SkinnyBoy]

Why not go to a local speaker repair place and ask if they have any dustcaps you can buy? Take one speakers in with a good dustcap for size comparison..

[kneadle]

Ok, thanks all. I got the dust cap thing pegged, thanks to all your help.

But the REAL reason I posted in the first place is because I have 4 drivers.

What kind of setup would I enjoy most with four cheap-o drivers?

I'm thinking about some kind of push-push TL design. What do I have to be aware of? There's a thread somewhere that talks about what I have to change in order to measure out a TL design with two drivers...

Dave

[SkinnyBoy]

Those speakers look kewl in my opinion.. but small.. If I was you, no wait, if I had those speakers, I would just make some small, simple, possibly ported computer speakers, WTW, possible with a subwoofer... I don't think isobaric is very practicle..