I've been recommended this stuff einszett Car Care Products | Gummi Pflege Rubber Care Stick which if it lives up to its claims looks very good..
Isn't it strange that most products for rubber are directed towards automotive use..
Isn't it strange that most products for rubber are directed towards automotive use..
Got to say guys, the einszett Car Care Products | Gummi Pflege Rubber Care Stick has worked a treat.
I pulled the 'applicator' top off the bottle and used a short round artists brush to apply it (it's nice, just smells slightly of lemon🙂 the rubber just 'drank' it in like you'd not believe. I left it dry then gave it another application.
Now looking glossy & black and feeling compliant again the surrounds look like they've had their youth returned (!) at first have to say thought I'd blown it a bit as the sound had changed pretty dramatically, bass had all but disappeared and mid was way forward and rather hard, but after about 30 hours breaking in they sound like new again, they're deep, (well as deep as such a little speaker can be) detailed and making you think that in the intervening 40 years we've not learned a lot about speaker design!
While your results might vary of course I'm thinking of using it on a pair of beloved B&W DM2's where the bass unit surround is beginning to look worryingly 'dry'
I pulled the 'applicator' top off the bottle and used a short round artists brush to apply it (it's nice, just smells slightly of lemon🙂 the rubber just 'drank' it in like you'd not believe. I left it dry then gave it another application.
Now looking glossy & black and feeling compliant again the surrounds look like they've had their youth returned (!) at first have to say thought I'd blown it a bit as the sound had changed pretty dramatically, bass had all but disappeared and mid was way forward and rather hard, but after about 30 hours breaking in they sound like new again, they're deep, (well as deep as such a little speaker can be) detailed and making you think that in the intervening 40 years we've not learned a lot about speaker design!
While your results might vary of course I'm thinking of using it on a pair of beloved B&W DM2's where the bass unit surround is beginning to look worryingly 'dry'
what does it smell like?
wondering what is in the stuff??
did it soften the rubber?
maybe try it on something else old and rubber and report back on if it makes it more flexible again?
_-_-bear
wondering what is in the stuff??
did it soften the rubber?
maybe try it on something else old and rubber and report back on if it makes it more flexible again?
_-_-bear
Just has a slight lemon smell (which is really nice!) no idea if that's part of the actual ingredients or just added as its really a car product, other then that nothing, it really is obviously very water based and watery, slightly milky but clears almost immediately.
Not sure it softens as such but it does seem to restore lost compliance and resilience if the rubber had it to begin with. I tried it on some old Kilner jar seals that had seen better days just to try and other then the fact they are now slightly glossy and smell faintly of lemon I don't think you'd be able to tell them from the newer ones.
I'm going to leave it a few weeks before I try it on my DM2's just in case there is some catastrophic reaction or the minimax's decide to spontaneously combust or something 🙂 but to be honest I don't see it being anything other then totally positive
Not sure it softens as such but it does seem to restore lost compliance and resilience if the rubber had it to begin with. I tried it on some old Kilner jar seals that had seen better days just to try and other then the fact they are now slightly glossy and smell faintly of lemon I don't think you'd be able to tell them from the newer ones.
I'm going to leave it a few weeks before I try it on my DM2's just in case there is some catastrophic reaction or the minimax's decide to spontaneously combust or something 🙂 but to be honest I don't see it being anything other then totally positive
Just posted the ingrediients, which is a real pain as I have to wear two pairs of glasses to read the damn label (!) and managed to delete it, so trying again:
Limonene, geraniol, citronellol, citral, benzisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone.
God knows I'm no chemist but I'd hazard a guess that it's the last two that count
😀
Limonene, geraniol, citronellol, citral, benzisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone.
God knows I'm no chemist but I'd hazard a guess that it's the last two that count
😀
google may reveal all...
from wikipedia:
Benzisothiazolinone has a microbicide and a fungicide mode of action. It is used as a preservative in emulsion paints, varnishes, adhesives, washing agents, fuels and in the papermaking process. In paints, it is commonly used as a mixture with methylisothiazolinone.
Geraniol is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol. It is the primary part of rose oil, palmarosa oil, and citronella oil (Java type). It also occurs in small quantities in geranium, lemon, and many other essential oils. It appears as a clear to pale-yellow oil that is insoluble in water, but soluble in most common organic solvents. It has a rose-like scent and is commonly used in perfumes. It is used in flavors such as peach, raspberry, grapefruit, red apple, plum, lime, orange, lemon, watermelon, pineapple, and blueberry.
Contents
Research has shown geraniol to be an effective plant-based mosquito repellent.[3][4] On the other hand, it can attract bees as it is produced by the scent glands of honey bees to help them mark nectar-bearing flowers and locate the entrances to their hives.[5]
So, the active ingredient is:
Limonene is a colourless liquid hydrocarbon classified as a cyclic terpene. The more common D isomer possesses a strong smell of oranges.[1] It is used in chemical synthesis as a precursor to carvone and as a renewably based solvent in cleaning products.
Limonene takes its name from the lemon, as the rind of the lemon, like other citrus fruits, contains considerable amounts of this compound, which contributes to their odor. Limonene is a chiral molecule, and biological sources produce one enantiomer: the principal industrial source, citrus fruit, contains D-limonene ((+)-limonene), which is the (R)-enantiomer (CAS number 5989-27-5, EINECS number 227-813-5). Racemic limonene is known as dipentene.[2] D-Limonene is obtained commercially from citrus fruits through two primary methods: centrifugal separation or steam distillation.
And, it ain't "water based" particularly...
_-_-bear
from wikipedia:
Benzisothiazolinone has a microbicide and a fungicide mode of action. It is used as a preservative in emulsion paints, varnishes, adhesives, washing agents, fuels and in the papermaking process. In paints, it is commonly used as a mixture with methylisothiazolinone.
Geraniol is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol. It is the primary part of rose oil, palmarosa oil, and citronella oil (Java type). It also occurs in small quantities in geranium, lemon, and many other essential oils. It appears as a clear to pale-yellow oil that is insoluble in water, but soluble in most common organic solvents. It has a rose-like scent and is commonly used in perfumes. It is used in flavors such as peach, raspberry, grapefruit, red apple, plum, lime, orange, lemon, watermelon, pineapple, and blueberry.
Contents
Research has shown geraniol to be an effective plant-based mosquito repellent.[3][4] On the other hand, it can attract bees as it is produced by the scent glands of honey bees to help them mark nectar-bearing flowers and locate the entrances to their hives.[5]
So, the active ingredient is:
Limonene is a colourless liquid hydrocarbon classified as a cyclic terpene. The more common D isomer possesses a strong smell of oranges.[1] It is used in chemical synthesis as a precursor to carvone and as a renewably based solvent in cleaning products.
Limonene takes its name from the lemon, as the rind of the lemon, like other citrus fruits, contains considerable amounts of this compound, which contributes to their odor. Limonene is a chiral molecule, and biological sources produce one enantiomer: the principal industrial source, citrus fruit, contains D-limonene ((+)-limonene), which is the (R)-enantiomer (CAS number 5989-27-5, EINECS number 227-813-5). Racemic limonene is known as dipentene.[2] D-Limonene is obtained commercially from citrus fruits through two primary methods: centrifugal separation or steam distillation.
And, it ain't "water based" particularly...
_-_-bear
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speaking of which, now that I think of it, the stuff that is petroleum based for auto transmission leaks will soften rubber nicely... best to test carefully before using, I would think...
_-_-bear
_-_-bear
The instructions say 'protect from frost, water based formula, petroleum free' but whatever it is, it's worked well. Should it stop doing so at some time in the future I can install new surrounds which was what I'd thought I'd have to from the start, basically it was an experiment with little to lose and right now they sound brilliant.
Same question as vinyl dragon - how/where can I get a pair of replacement surrounds for the mid/bass units in my Minimax II's?
I'd also like to get hold of the specification etc for these loudspeakers - haven't found anything from web search so far. The pair I have, bought at least 20 years ago, are still boxed in the original packaging having never been connected up. They are effectively still 'new' however like others the rubber/foam surrounds have deteriorated. Mine have serial Nos. 442071 & 2 and the cabinets are black.
I also recently picked up a pair of Minimax II's and found the same problem, very dry and crumbled away rubber cone edges. I was also looking for suitable replacement edges. Could you let me know how to get a pair of those edges as well? Thanks so much 🙂
Foam replacement kit on ebay
I'm trying this - I found it on ebay (this is the ebay description) NEW 5 " INCH FOAM REPLACEMENT MIDRANGE / WOOFER SPEAKER SURROUNDS / GLUE KIT
Cost around $14.00 for a pair + glue.
I 'm in the process of trying to use them. They look like an 'almost' fit. I found instructions on youtube (can't remember where, of course)
I'll post results of the attempted repair.
The picture shows the replacement part, the speaker and the glue bottle that came with the kit
I'm trying this - I found it on ebay (this is the ebay description) NEW 5 " INCH FOAM REPLACEMENT MIDRANGE / WOOFER SPEAKER SURROUNDS / GLUE KIT
Cost around $14.00 for a pair + glue.
I 'm in the process of trying to use them. They look like an 'almost' fit. I found instructions on youtube (can't remember where, of course)
I'll post results of the attempted repair.
The picture shows the replacement part, the speaker and the glue bottle that came with the kit
Attachments
Continued...
It was quite difficult to get the new suround on. One has to be careful not use too much glue. I didn't get it as centered as I would have liked, so I have reinforced the weaker side with a layer of thin, cloth based paper. I'll try it tomorrow and post results as to how it sounds and whether it holds up to loud noises.
It was quite difficult to get the new suround on. One has to be careful not use too much glue. I didn't get it as centered as I would have liked, so I have reinforced the weaker side with a layer of thin, cloth based paper. I'll try it tomorrow and post results as to how it sounds and whether it holds up to loud noises.
Attachments
Foam replacement kit on ebay continued(2)
Well, the repair worked. The thin, cloth based paper is of course part of a dollar bill.
The second speaker foam was in much better condition, with just a few cracks. This i smeared with a layer of the glue that came with the kit. That seems to work, too.
Not bad for a pair of speakers I bought for fifteen quid from a thrift shop thirty years ago...
Well, the repair worked. The thin, cloth based paper is of course part of a dollar bill.
The second speaker foam was in much better condition, with just a few cracks. This i smeared with a layer of the glue that came with the kit. That seems to work, too.
Not bad for a pair of speakers I bought for fifteen quid from a thrift shop thirty years ago...
Just seen all this about Minimax surrounds. My ones, they had rotted out completely. I found that KEF B110 SP1003 surrounds fitted pretty well. Fortunately, I had a scrap pair of B110's with burnt out coils (not me doing this!).
A picture of a repaired bass unit is attached. I used woodworking PVA adhesive to attach the surrounds. It looks a bit like I was a little careless with the adhesive on the paper cone, it was not that, it was like that before I started.
The job was done several years ago, all still OK, in fact they are playing at the moment.
A picture of a repaired bass unit is attached. I used woodworking PVA adhesive to attach the surrounds. It looks a bit like I was a little careless with the adhesive on the paper cone, it was not that, it was like that before I started.
The job was done several years ago, all still OK, in fact they are playing at the moment.
Attachments
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Hey useful thread this! I have just bought a pair with the same problem so I think I will try the b110 surrounds too there's a Dutch seller on fleabay with a good looking product. Radfordman, may I ask if you took the speakers out of the cabinets to fit the surrounds - i undid the screws but they still seem as rigidly fixed to the cabinets as before , have I missed a trick?
Thanks, lawrence
I got replacement foam surrounds from Alles om uw luidsprekers te repareren, foamranden, rubber randen, membranen, tweeters enzovoorts
my bass is now sounding full again.
New problem - I've just found one of my tweeters is no longer working:
anyone here have any suggestions for a suitable replacement or modern improvement that won't require modifying the cabinet?
I'd like to get original parts, but they aren't easy to find.
my bass is now sounding full again.
New problem - I've just found one of my tweeters is no longer working:
anyone here have any suggestions for a suitable replacement or modern improvement that won't require modifying the cabinet?
I'd like to get original parts, but they aren't easy to find.
What did you do in the end Lawrence? If it's speakerrepairshop.com they have both B110 rubber surrounds & foam minimax ones. Mine have been fine since I used rubber restorer on them but it's always in my mind that I should just replace the surrounds..
They're in use most of every day in the kitchen🙂
Graham
Sorry for the extremely late reply, only just got a notification about your message!
I'm not sure if I took the bass units out to replace the surrounds, but more than likely. I do know that I have taken them out though.
Sorry to hear that a tweeter is faulty, have you checked it with a meter?
If you Google around, you should find that there were upgrades for the tweeter. I think one was a Richard Allan unit. I think that would be difficult to find these days, but there must be alternatives.
Talking of surround treatment, Just wondered what material is the grease used on the tweeter surrounds.
I have a pair of vintage woofers that use the same type of thick grease on their surrounds. ( The surrounds are made of cloth - Just like a spider - so to seal them, the factory used the grease)
Does anyone know what this material is and where can I get them?
I have a pair of vintage woofers that use the same type of thick grease on their surrounds. ( The surrounds are made of cloth - Just like a spider - so to seal them, the factory used the grease)
Does anyone know what this material is and where can I get them?