Acoustic Research AR18- opinions and restoring....

[VanDerGraaf]

I was informed by my parents that a relative had given them some speakers thinking that perhaps I could bring them back to life.
My Mum said on the phone, "They don't look very good or anything special at all."

Shortly thereafter they visited me, each clutching one speaker. I couldn't believe it when I saw they were AR18s!

The foam surrounds have rotted completely away.

I see there is one little elcap in there that I suppose is worth replacing.

Well, I've never refoamed anything in my life other than my face when shaving, but am resolved to give it a go. Does anyone have any advice about foam kits?
I have read that not all are equal, some having a more suitable foam type for the speaker, others not. If anyone knows anything about this or indeed has anything else to say about the AR18, I'm all ears.

[walpurgis]

If you have the patience, you could wade through my Tannoy thread. It shows how I replaced the cone surrounds. Doing your's should be much simpler. Make a note of the adhesive used, it's the best choice.

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?19555-My-new-(vintage)-Tannoy-Cheviots!&highlight=%28vintage%29+tannoys

[VanDerGraaf]

Thanks Geoff. Will do...

[walpurgis]

Your AR's will be much easier to work on.

The cone surrounds are done in situ, don't attempt to extract the cones from the speaker. Just remove all remnants of the old surrounds from the cone edges and chassis lip (tweezers are handy for doing the cone). Assuming you locate suitable surround replacements (should be easy), tack them in maybe four places around the cone using 'Aleene's Original Tacky Glue' (it's the best), ensuring you get them evenly positioned. The glue is water based and movable for a while. Let it set, then bond the rest of the surround to the cone with glue using a small art brush. Once that's dry, coat the chassis lip with glue and press the surround edge in position all round, give it ten minutes to start setting, then push the cone back and forth gently on its suspension to make sure the coil is not binding in the magnet gap, if it does, the glue will still be soft enough for you to make adjustments. That should be it! :)

[Macca]

What's the condition like other than the driver surrounds? Any chance of a photo of them?

[VanDerGraaf]

One tweeter dome slightly dented but overall they seem worthy of repair! I'll he a photo up later. :)

[sumday]

I've mentioned this before but the best thing for indented tweeters and dustcaps is paper masking tape.
Simply apply across the face of the dent and scrape in slightly with a fingernail then pull up SLOWLY.

The really shit stuff you get from pound shops is the best type due to its ahem...."built in low adhesion"

[VanDerGraaf]

This is the other one with the pushed in dust cover. Cute stands came attached:

https://4kyvpw.ch.files.1drv.com/y4mgBwIhjEWEfoQZIuiF8HT5TtmsPqjjVoG6SmxEUAfyClMGfy YtnYa2J9chX8uXbZrX5TtUwaBOYM0JukEE-MBhCKkgDz2ZwryEm7PLHWVbxzNHEjpTezBoked9MB4_7DGW7Tu iIn6UgC9RYSksTkWtQjXTdWTIFj6q4Zsbtrg8UtpuFv5r2fRi8 jCyuxRiA3gl2ZcUrF2_31dPMoa00c1UQ?width=576&height=1024&cropmode=none

[walpurgis]

The vacuum cleaner trick should work on that pushed in dust cap. Do it carefully, on a low setting first if you have one.

[Macca]

I've mentioned this before but the best thing for indented tweeters and dustcaps is paper masking tape.
Simply apply across the face of the dent and scrape in slightly with a fingernail then pull up SLOWLY.

The really shit stuff you get from pound shops is the best type due to its ahem...."built in low adhesion"

That is a top tip on top of a top tip.

[Ammonite Audio]

These people in the Netherlands are very good for re-foam kits http://speakerrepairshop.nl/index.php?action=home&lang=EN#.WnNfZeanyhB

[Beobloke]

These people in the Netherlands are very good for re-foam kits http://speakerrepairshop.nl/index.php?action=home&lang=EN#.WnNfZeanyhB

They are the crowd I always use, too. I would personally always buy dust caps as well - remove the old ones and shim the voice coil to make sure it stays where it should during the process.

It can be done without the shimming but is trickier and more likely to fail!


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[Minstrel SE]

My Uncle had a pair with a NAD 3020A and I remember thinking it was an attractive sound when I heard them over a couple of days.

Theres a fair bit of work to be done though assuming you can find replacement surrounds. Do they do foam kits for that size AR driver? It could be one of those intentions bigger than ability/cost effectiveness moments. I often have those. I know you will be looking at them and thinking what a waste if they cant be fixed :) Time moves on though and that was the downside of using foam surrounds on speakers long since out of production.

Drying glue and centering cones fills me with worry about the finished result

With one tweeter dome dented Im tending to think they are just too far gone for a satisfying project. Nostalgia can only take us so far. Its up to you though and it could keep you busy for a while