djcheung Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Hi all,Recently acquired a pair of AR5 with painted cabs.Got them home last night and did a quick look round.Remove the legs and handle.Spent around an hour trying to get one of the grills off but failed.The grill was installed very tightly against the frame and also the paint was right up againt the grill !Used a thin filling knite to loosen up/crack some of the paint.I can feel the grill moving but I think I haven't cracked the glue yet !On the back of the cabs, I have noticed some kind of patch as if an opening was created and then patched up.They were done quite well.Also noticed a number 3 stamped on the back edge of the cabinets.Shining a strong light through the grill I can see the woofers are intact but can't see the rest.The legs are indeed installed on the top. Grill position correct.The paint fortunately is water based.But it will still take me a long time to get them off.Watch this space for more progress.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Wow! A real challenge! But a nice find. I hope the price was right.The patch you show is normal in plywood. During the manufacturing process the knots were cut out of the thin plies used for the face and they were patched to make a smooth surface.Keep us posted!-Kent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted December 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Paid £27.55 ($43).It will cost more in terms of labour/parts and I still haven't tested to see if all drivers are working yet.But the enjoyments and satisfaction that it will give during/when finished outweight the financial costs.Will keep posted with progress.Have a happy new year !Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owlsplace Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Nice, looks like unfinished pine cabinets. Am I seeing serial numbers stamped into the ply back? The unfinished pine cabs here have a "3" stamped.I think AR must have knifed the grill cloth to get them off originally as it is fairly easy to break the hardboard frame they way they glued it and/or damage the wood trying to pry them off.Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted December 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Hi Roger,Let's hope they will be 'unfinished pine' when/if I get the paint off.I can only see the '3' stamped on the cabinets.Wasn't really looking for the serial numbers. Will look later.I will try my best to get the grill off in one piece.Making a new grill frame is easy but rather difficult to get hold of the replacement grill cloth in the UK.Will try a bit more this eveningBest regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owlsplace Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Making a new grill frame is easy but rather difficult to get hold of the replacement grill cloth in the UK.Must be those high import tariffs on that Irish linen It is $30-40 here which for less than a yard of fabric is also pricey.Your photos are not too clear but the unfinished pine will show on the edges as three thick plys with two thin veneers. The serial, if stamped, will be on the back behind the woofer towards the center.A #6 drywall screw or similar run into the badge screw hole will probably get you underneath one corner of the grill. It will enlarge the badge screw hole but that is the only leverage point without cutting the cloth which you want to save.Take your time and enjoy,Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted December 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 One thing I forgot to mention was that the badge is also glued onto the grill.So I have double trouble to tackle.I haven't started on the cabs yet so the only clear picture of the ply is this.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyC Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 One thing I forgot to mention was that the badge is also glued onto the grill.So I have double trouble to tackle.Are you sure about that? The badges were screwed on, and you will not be able to remove the grills without first removing them. Once again, page 4 (figure 2.3)! http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/library/acoustic_research/original_models_1954-1974/original_models_schematicss/restoring_the_ar-3a/Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted December 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Hi Roy,I was absolutely sure the badge was glued on until I exerted that extra bit of courage and force and it turned free.After a further hour of rocking the edges of the grill backwards and forwards, I have done it. I managed to get one of the grills off without doing much damage to it.I need to have a cup of tea now, I am exhausted !!!!Without all your help, I wouldn't have got this far.Some pictures on what I have done so far.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyC Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 Congrats, David. There's gold in those funky cabinets. The drivers look great...even the tweeters. If they are all functional, you will have a very nice pair of speakers when the work is done.Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ra.ra Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 Yes sir, very nice speakers with excellent looking drivers. The grilles look very good, too, and it almost appears that the badges may still have the transparent protective layer. Too bad the original paperwork is no longer present - - we all get curious about serial numbers - - but also, it would be interesting to know if these are U.S. or Euro models. Looking forward to following your progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted January 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 After knowing what to expect from the first cab, it has made it an easier job with the second cab.At least I know how much force I can put on the grille without breaking it.I need another break before doing some cleaning up.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stupidhead Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 very nice! have you identified the caps yet, i believe there is a 72 in there. i have been looking for a resource for a single 72 for mine, but no luck yet. two 36's tied together will work as well. good luck with the pots, hoping they are usable for you. keep the pics coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted January 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 I have checked the small caps which is 4uf. Didn't look at the big block of twin caps yet.Managed to disassemble one of the speaker pots to clean.One looks better than the other.Managed to clean and then sprayed with switch cleaner and lubricator.Will try to do the second one if feel like it.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted January 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 Just managed to clean the pots on the second cab.They are in better condition than then first one.The big block of caps on my consist of a 24uf and 72uf.I have found a single 72uf electrolytic caps on falconacoustics.co.uk but not too sure whether it will be suitable.Please advise.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidDru Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Cool find David.After reading thru the entire thread I realized you never mentioned how they sounded or if they worked before you got into them?What did they look like with the legs still on?Someone tell my why they have handles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted January 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Hi David,I only played them at very low volume and they sound ok.One of the tweeters was not working even with adjuster turned a few time.One of the adjusters for the midrange had loads of dead spots.After opening the pots, the dead tweeter was caused by badly corroded pot. It is working ok now after a thorough clean.If you check photo 1 on post #1 you should see what they look like with the legs on.It beats me why they have handles.Maybe they need to put the handles on so they can tie them down since they have legs now !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidDru Posted January 3, 2015 Report Share Posted January 3, 2015 Ah yeah. The first time I went thru the photos I guess I didn't pan down to the bottom to see the legs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iso Posted January 3, 2015 Report Share Posted January 3, 2015 The big block of caps on my consist of a 24uf and 72uf.I have found a single 72uf electrolytic caps on falconacoustics.co.uk but not too sure whether it will be suitable.Please advise.Best regards,David. David I used Alcaps from Falcon for Kef Cantata rebuild and have recently bought new ones for AR5 and Kef P60 rebuild. I did find Alcaps to be very nice, actually these made me to think that that film cap upgrades with added series resistors might be waste of time and money. Especially when rebuilding something that has passed best before date and therefore have limited lifetime anyway. Best Regards Kimmo PS Alcap production was discontinued last year... so stock while available Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted January 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2015 Hi Kimmo,Thanks for the heads up.I will talk to Jerry on Monday to see if he has any stock left.Now, after 2 hours of rubbing and sanding, I have stripped most of the paint off on one cab.Not quite finished yet.But now, what kind of protection did they have originally?The sanded surfaces feels quite soft and I think they will absorb moisture quite readily.I will if my arms are not aching tomorrow, start on the second cab.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Posted January 3, 2015 Report Share Posted January 3, 2015 Looks like unfinished pine that had no veneer originally.der Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted January 3, 2015 Report Share Posted January 3, 2015 Apropos of refinishing cabinets with screw holes or other small voids, this video may be helpful:http://www.wwgoa.com/video/000353_using-yellow-glue-to-fill-small-voids/?j=726109&e=RPEPPERTED@AOL.COM&l=2937_HTML&u=16203036&mid=6198639&jb=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ar_pro Posted January 3, 2015 Report Share Posted January 3, 2015 Birch plywood, no?Very nice job so far, and Kent's glue & sawdust fill might work perfectly for those screw holes.Using unfinished plywood as a plinth material for turntables is quite fashionable now - you might not want to stain or paint them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted January 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Thanks Kent,The video is very useful.I have only just managed to strip off all the paint on the cabinets due to other festive activities.I will get some more pictures this evening.I would most likely keep them unstained and use a finishing oil to protect it.The one that I have here is Colron finishing oil.I don't think I will go as far as Roger in replacing the caps.I will just cut and replace rather than emptying the old case and re-stuff.Still waiting for the foam surrounds and caps to arrive.Hopefully they will all arrive by the end of the week.I am not too sure what kind of wood the cabinets are made of.They are certainly ply but what ?I am not too familiar with timber but with my limited knowledge, all I can say is they look different to the pine that I know of.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted January 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 As promised few more pictures of the sanded cabinets.Just need to decide what finish is best - definitely not painted white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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