suspicious of paper cones

[madisonears]

It's likely that varying humidity affects the transmission of sound waves from driver to ear as much as or more than it affects driver parameters.

Peace,
Tom E

 

[jtgofish]

I have some paper coned Toshiba SS30 speakers circa 1965 still going strong and they sound wonderful.

 

[Michael Chua]

Are either of these reasons valid for avoiding paper?

Some paper cones suffer from dry rot.

Mike

 

[Cal Weldon]

dry rot

hehe, one of my favourite oxymorons.

While it may be true, if the cone is suffering from dry rot, chances are it is not in a regular living environment.

 

[Scottmoose]

If it is, you'd have more important things to worry about than your speaker cones.

 

[phivates]

"dry rot"

Mine too. That's what we get for having dealt with it. Usually quantified with a term such as "a little bit of."

 

[Mrcloc]

Humidity where I live is currently at 96%. My house doesn't keep humidity in or out, and a lot of the time we have humidity of 20%.

I must say, when humidity is high, the bass is a little wet. When humidity is low, bass is a little dry. My paper cones soaking up the water? Hmmm.

Maybe I'm just imagining it. Maybe it's the different music I happen to be listening to on different days. Maybe I'm just being silly and talking rubbish.

 

[Michael Chua]

Mine too. That's what we get for having dealt with it. Usually quantified with a term such as "a little bit of."

Mine is bad. The cone was so dry and brittle it broke the minute I touched it. And this is my beloved Radian 502, the 8" coaxial.

 

[ivanlukic]

Most paper (for any usage) is produced using acidic process. This means that the paper will disintegrate after several decades because acid will destroy it. But several decades is long enough to enjoy loudspeaker! Paper sounds the best, is cheap and easily available.

But the paper can also be produced using alcalic process. It will make it to last several centuries.

 

[phivates]

So your Radian cone failed and the surround is sound. They forgot to dope the paper maybe. Ugly.

 

[Michael Chua]

Surround is fine. In fact, this driver is hardly used. It was stored in the original box.

Is there something I can do about my other Radians, like spray some lacquer or highly thinned white glue on the cones?

 

[POOH]

OMG! You know what is an anagram of "Ohio paper"...I RAPE POOH...surely the work of Satan!

 

[phivates]

Michael I recommend you consult Dave D at Planet 10 on this one. I use waterborne exterior varnish but that's because I have lots of it, and prefer not to use solvent based stuff except for shellac, which is dissolved in alcohol.

 

[Cal Weldon]

which is dissolved in alcohol.

Sounds like me on a Saturday night.

Wait, did I say that out loud?

Yes, planet10 is a good source to learn about modge podge and other cone coatings. I will ask him to look in here.

 

[PeteMcK]

Some weekend reading for y'all:
7.3 Repairing Paper Artifacts — NEDCC
https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/19-24.pdf
https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/19-24.pdf
Observations on the Use of Bookkeeper® Deacidification Spray

& just one more waffer thin mint:
Mass deacidification - Wikipedia

 

[Mrcloc]

What about using water based polyurethane?

 

[phivates]

That's what I use, sparingly. If you spray the surround needs to be masked.
Michael have you contacted Radian?

 

[speaker]

I'd be more worried about my health if humidity varied between 0 and 100% in my listening room

...and rust.

 

[speaker]

no time for that, RUN!

 

[ICG]

Mine is bad. The cone was so dry and brittle it broke the minute I touched it. And this is my beloved Radian 502, the 8" coaxial.

That is indeed extremely bad. That, however, does not come from humidity alone and that does not to appear to be dry rot, you'd see some of the funghi and spores. These drivers have a 'dust'-cap. What happened to the dustcap? How did you remove it?

Dry rot does not 'just happen'. Aside from humidity there have to be - like on all funghi - the spores, no to little air movement and the absence of light. On speakers light and air movement is given, at least in a normal living room.

For proximity to the sea there are other membrane materials much more susceptible to decay. Do you live, by chance, close to the sea?