How to dye gray foam surrounds black?

[dhenryp]

I just received 36 of the PE vifa-jbl 4.5 " drivers and would like to dye the foam surronds black. They are currently a medium-dark gray. Does anybody know what I could use that won't eat away at the foam or significantly change T/S parameters or sound? I'm thinking of trying India Ink or maybe black water based aniline dye.

[dooper]

Why not just coat the baffles with a medium-dark gray finish?

To me, a driver that performs the way you expect it to is a beautiful thing. Form takes a distant second place to function. If it's really an issue, a good black grill cloth might be an easier, more predictable way to resolve.

JMO,

dooper

[jackinnj]

RIT -- you can get it in the supermarket

[dhenryp]

Originally posted by jackinnj
RIT -- you can get it in the supermarket

I hadn't thought of that, thanks. Have you tried it?

dooper - The surrounds are gray but the cones are black. I'll go with grill cloth as a last resort but I would prefer to keep the drivers exposed.

[ralph-bway]

Rit is available in liquid and powder. I've tried both and for what you want to do I think the liquid would be better.

I wouldn't dilute it either. If you can't get the liquid and must use the powder do not add more than 16 ounces of boiling water to it. You want it to be as concentrated as possible.

Apply it with a small artists brush. You probably need to give the foam at least two coats, maybe three or four.

Best of luck.

[kelticwizard]

The RIT will probably work, and it probably won't do any damage to the surrounds, but I wouldn't do it.

RIT is water based, etc, and this would minimize any corrosion chances. But as we have seen on this forum, as in real life, foam surounds have a limited life as it is, and anything you do to it has the potential to weaken it.

Repeated washing of clothes eventuallly weakens them. Of course, considering the alternative, we put it up with it, lol. But that is why jeans and other stiff clothes soften up after repeated washing-the water eventually weakens the material.

Leaving the foam material alone is the best chance you have to get the most life out of the surround.

[rcavictim]

Originally posted by dhenryp
I just received 36 of the PE vifa-jbl 4.5 " drivers and would like to dye the foam surronds black. They are currently a medium-dark gray. Does anybody know what I could use that won't eat away at the foam or significantly change T/S parameters or sound? I'm thinking of trying India Ink or maybe black water based aniline dye.

It's guys like you that buy drivers with foam surrounds that encourages the manufacturers to continue to make the damned things.

I could see some attraction if they were way cheaper that way, but they ain't.

[Nappylady]

rcavictim: it's called higher compliance, and it helps us get lower Fs, lower Vas, and higher sensitivity... IMO, it's not worth it if the drivers are dead in 10 years.

[ScottG]

Plastic Dip spray paint black with uv stabalized. available on-line or sometimes in home improvement stores. lite spray-on after masking-off the driver and baffle with tape.

Should make the color correction AND make the surround last longer (even if some accelerant contacts the foam). Mass and compliance changes should be negligible on a driver with more mm than 5 grams.