ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
The phase link drivers arrived at Toluca, now waiting for customs clearing, with luck I have them here tomorrow
Collecting Vintage B&O is not a hobby, its a lifestyle.
waiting for the phase links, I started on the second cabinet, here the way I do it.
I start out with cleaning the cabinet with acetone, this to clean off all old wax, furniture sprays or whatever the former owner has used on it. If the surface looks OK without deep damages I start out sanding directly with 200 grain sandpaper. If there are deep damages I start out with 100 grain. Then 200 grain and at last before oiling I use a 3M maroon hand pad.
Here the bottom of speaker 2 after sanding, as you see severe damages, not possible to sand it all out.
Here the speaker ready for soaking with boiled linseed oil
Soaking I pour oil on the surface to be oiled
And then spread it out, add more if needed, more is better, using a lint free rag to spread it
Soaked I leave it for 1/2 to 1 hour, for the wood to absorb the oil, here the top after 3/4 hour, you can see the areas where the wood absorbed the most.
I the dry off the excess, again using a lint free rag, (old T shirt, or a microfiber cloth) and leave to dry for at least 12 hours.The oil will harden and protect the surface, keeping wood alive and moistened.
After drying, I sand light with the same 3M maroon pad I used before. More to come tomorrow.
After sanding and oiling the 2nd speaker I assembled the first one with Richs tweeter, the mid range and the woofer, attached the back cover with 2 screws and connected it to my BM 4400 for test, just checking the sound from the 3 available drivers. all OK
New screws Jacques
After a Mexican Siesta (a 2 hour nap) I still had the drive, and went on to start with the frets (grills)
For this I used 6 mm particle board and cut out the first piece just one mm smaller all around than the speaker opening.
Here ready to use my router to make the edges, where the cloth will be glued to.
That went good, 3 mm deep and 10 mm wide recess, on the upper half where the outcrop comes I made it 3 x 6 mm to have a support when gluing the outcrop trim. (is outcrop the correct word) And made the marking for the openings, the middle line is for the bend, I will rout a 4 mm deep thin cut there.
More tomorrow
Just saw that my markings for the openings are wrong will correct tomorrow.
Dear Sirs, can one of you with M70 speakers help with this, or a side view pic with a metric ruler integrated
Excellent work as usual Søren!
The distance is 32 mm (including alu lining), the top angle is 32 degrees, and the front about 5 degrees, the inclination starting 32 cm from the bottom. Rough sketching, but it should get you going. The bottom part of the grille is flush with the alu trim. Is 32 a magic number?
The original cuttings/openings:
Jacques
chartz:The distance is 32 mm (including alu lining), the top angle is 32 degrees, and the front about 5 degrees, the inclination starting 32 cm from the bottom. Rough sketching, but it should get you going. The bottom part of the grille is flush with the alu trim. Is 32 a magic number?
Perfect Jacques I am still wondering why the openings was made like that because the bend comes in the middle of the 2 middle holes, and that makes the the bend more fragile and prone to brake. I will make the original cuts (we have to keep it original) and in your pic it looks nice. I will find some fabric and glue it to front and back to reinforce the bend. 32 was the age of the designer when he made it, or he was working in inches (1"1/4) 32° is more or less the compass direction from here to Rich so yes it is magic, and it is half my age. I may use 32 days to finish this project
Thank you Jacques and a Happy New Year
You got it!
A Happy New Year to you too, enjoy the cooking!
My theory is they at one time intended to make mirror images, i.e., one channel would have the top 3 drivers up the left side of the baffle and the other channel have them go up the right side.
Phase links in the house?
Rich: My theory is they at one time intended to make mirror images, i.e., one channel would have the top 3 drivers up the left side of the baffle and the other channel have them go up the right side. Phase links in the house?
I think you are right about that Rich, but then the penny pushers went in. the phase links was at 8:11 am in Mexico city, so maybe out for delivery today, I hope so.
The repaired tweeter is now in the hands of the USPS heading for Texas.
Rich: The repaired tweeter is now in the hands of the USPS heading for Texas.
you are the best
Waited the whole day, but the phase links still on location in Mex. City. I stayed in the garage (near the main entrance) whole day. working on the frets, got the measurements and angles from Jacques.
First of all I made a guide to get the angle right and be able to take the correct measure for the top of the fret.
I then could cut the top side to size and 32° angle, I made it a little too long to make sure I didnt get too short., then proceeded to make the cutouts and the bend channel.
Here a closeup from the bend point, I made that with the smallest router cutter I have available.
Here the front look
Then onto make the side top pieces.
I then glued the top side pieces in place with my ingenious support and 2 drops of epoxy, with the help of a 90° angle. You can see the top piece ready to attach when the epoxy has set.
Top piece in place with supports, and glued to the front and side pieces all around.
Before gluing the sidepieces permanently I checked the fit on the speaker, and as I thought just 1 mm too long, thank my gods not too short, I will just have to sand down 2 mm and the fit is perfect, I will then have 1-2 mm space all around for the fabric.
Finished gluing side pieces, run out of epoxy
Here the first corner I glued, a bit messy, before I got the hang of it.
This was thought as my prototype, but it turned out good so I will use it. With a lot of breaks to think and drink cubas, it took me about 10 hours, the next one will be faster.
Wow is all I can think of
Your skills have always impressed me, now wood! I'm gobsmacked really.
When you find the correct fabric, this will look exactly like the original.
Soren, it is realy pleasure to follow your thread and your enthusiasm.
Vintage B&O-spirit never dies
Vintage Bang & Olufsen
Søren Mexico: Waited the whole day, but the phase links still on location in Mex. City.
Waited the whole day, but the phase links still on location in Mex. City.
"On truck for delivery."
Rich: Søren Mexico: Waited the whole day, but the phase links still on location in Mex. City. "On truck for delivery."
Thats good news, checked 15 min. ago and it was still "on location", will inform my FS to get ready to run out and stop the truck when arriving, which will be at the end of the day, as we live in the most south part of the city.
Just delivered, they must have started their tour in the south today, unpacked, excellent packing, excellent drivers, excellent Rich, excellent day, all excellent, now excellent busy, pics to follow.
Rich:So I'm guessing something went wrong, or you're disappointed with the results.
Nothing went wrong but yesterday in the morning they delivered a new refrigerator, I had to let that one stay near the final location for 18-24 hours before installing it. so my FS insisted on me (who else) doing that today, Then I had to go visiting good friends, my FS insisted, so the whole day was lost for nothing important. Tomorrow I will charge forward, Today apart for these unimportant details i installed 1 phase link, checked with the 3 finger and Ohm meter, in speaker 2, tomorrow the other one in speaker 1, then onto steal a tweeter from my P45s, and install that one in the speaker 2, then test it all with the BM 4400, if OK then onto make 12 fret supports and try the fit before attaching clothe to the frets, and Monday I should be able to listen to BG TX2, BM 4400 with Beovox M70s but I may take a little time to write my new year greetings and comments (stay tuned I´m not happy) to the forum.
My M70 sound wondrous when fed by the Beomaster 4400 (linear switch ON). It is, you will see, a match made in heaven. The amount of low bass these provide together is prodigious... and there's a lot of subtlety too.
I went on with the frets
Here, after sanding down the top, checking fit, OK, about 1 mm all around
I send the FS to buy epoxy, gave her the old tube to compare, well, do it yourself, she came back with epoxy for steel and metals. Found some wood glue and went on gluing the second fret, no problem made it just like the other one.
Here the router I use for the recesses
Went to the workshop to turn the pegs, made 6 pieces, I made the fastening tap 5 mm Ø and 6 mm long.
Here closeup of one peg glued in place
I now have a secure bond to the fret with the fastening tap going all way through to the front side
.
Detail, the tap is level with the front, a little sanding and black paint and we are ready to attach the cloth, tomorrow I will make 6 more pegs, paint both frets, and if time allows attach the cloth
Rich´s phase links arrived just before the frigging refrigerator, so I got time to unpack them
As Rich always packs perfectly, no problems
Here both of them, I checked for glue (Rich did his homework), resistance and the 3 finger check. OK
Then onto test them in the speaker without felt packing and back cover fastened with 2 screws. stole a tweeter from my P45s
All good but no good sound, back cover off again, felt packing in, and back cover on with all screws and foam gasket all around
Connected to my BM 4400, of all my speakers this is the best, I only listen to mono and one speaker, but oh man this is it.
Here in all her glory
The job you are doing on the grilles is stupendous!
Beware, you will get loads of PMs like, "Can you manufacture pegs for my S45s please?"
I knew you'd like the sound!
Amazing work Søren,
it looks fantastic.
Best regards
René.
Thank you for the roses guys, Today I could make the rest of the 12 pegs, tedious work. I made them of polyamide, it is faster and easier to work in the lathe, but a lot easier would be in 3D printing, I will look into that next time I need plastic parts, The 3D printers are starting to show up now on more locations here in Mexico city. I would like to get one, but the cheap ones 3-5,000 USD are not exact enough, and the good ones cost about 10-15,000 USD.
I also painted the frets, one side on one fret missing, will do that one in an hour or so, then some pics and tomorrow attach the cloth. Then onto the stands, I checked on them today, there are to many deep scratches to grind or polish them out, I must, however bad that make me feel, paint them with an aluminium spray, but on the other hand, only you guys will know and notice.
Before I started painting I checked the fit, the outer fit was perfect, but the hole for the woofer was too small, nearly touched the surround, so I had to open the hole 15 mm all around. Pics from paint
Here one back side with masked pegs ready to paint, yes I use masking tape. In the background you can see my FS´s pink bicycle, 20 years old and nearly never used, we were pink before pink was invented.
Front nearly dry
Back with demasked pegs, nearly dry
Amazing work as always, Søren! Applause and respect from Denmark! Keep up the good work.
/Dennis
Soren, you probably already know this, but the repaired tweeter was received in Texas.
I was transferring photos from my camera to my work computer when I came across the shots I took of the tweeter repair. Exactly 1 of the in process photos sort of turned out. This is a shot of the taped down tooth picks and new wire just after soldering.
Hope you now have a working pair and some nice looking frets. How about the stands?
Got busy in my work, but frets and stands are coming along slowly, will post in the weekend, had M70s hooked up to my Onkyo, best sound of any of my speakers, this weekend the BM 4400 will be connected in its new permanent place in my living room.
Finished but not entirely satisfied with the result, I wanted black fabric, but the FS insisted on burgundy, and as my black fabric that I have was about 5 cm short, I put on the burgundy, but that will be changed when I get more fabric. I spray painted the stands, but I am not happy with the result, when time allows I will let a professional paint them, there is no other solution, just too much damages. I hooked up my BM 4400 and my BG 2400 with MMC2, my TX2 has RCA connectors and I want the 5 pin DIN connector on it, will ad the 5 pin this weekend and change back. The sound is incredible, until now I considered my P45s my best sounding speakers, but this is it, much better bass and overall clearer sound and no distortion in the highs, just amazing. I am now listening to a FM station (oldies) but the sound is not as good as when I play a good 180 gr. LP, I think the radio station are sending digitally stored music with low bitrate. I also ran the speakers from my computer, Amazon, through my Onkyo, better than radio but also not as good as BG BM 4400, Sound vise I´m more than happy.
Pics: left speaker
Right Speaker
//Bo.A long list...
Very nice! No, super nice! So far I have been impressed with the Beovox line of speakers. I was unfamiliar with them before I caught the Beovirus. I also love the way B&O raises them off the floor (hangs them in the air) with the various stands. Those trumpet stands are a great look. I have a pair that will probably also need to paint but I am a long way from doing anything with them yet. I'll have to consult with you when I am ready.Congratulations on the great work.-sonavor
I read your post about not being happy about how aesthically SOME of the details of the work you did was less than pleasing in the end. It is a familiar feeling which I myself and I am sure others have had when working on restoration projects. But we are are own worst critics. All you have to do is look at the pictures you showed of what you started with to see what an excellent project this was for you and how far you came. Someone else might have just put these pieces in the trash after seeing the state they were in. Be proud, very nice work Søren!
John
I forgot to mention a big thanks to Rich for his contributions to your project. Great teamwork.-sonavor
sonavor: I forgot to mention a big thanks to Rich for his contributions to your project. Great teamwork.-sonavor
I did not forget Richs big contribution to my project, he went beyond himself helping me, delivered tweeters and phase link drivers, without him I would have had to buy donor units or wait a long time for spares to show up somewhere, and as the phase links in these speakers are prone to loose magnets, a lot of these goes in the bin. Rich even dug out a damaged tweeter and took the time to repair it, He also gave me a BG 3000 (not Thorens) and without telling send me a BG CD50. He didnt want me to pay even for shipping. He is a valuable top notch Beoworld member. Every time I listen to my M70s I will think of Rich.
Also thank you for the help I got from other members, some with comments and helpful remarks some posting helpful pics, other just viewing . All this makes it a joy to make a thread about a project. My toast you all of you raising my cuba in your direction, which is all around the globe, and the second toast goes in north easterly direction to where Rich is residing. Maybe I should drink one cuba for each direction, while turning up the sound on these top sounding speakers.