Regarding LSi Side panels

[Joey_V]

Can I remove the ebony stain and restain the wood side panel a different color? Is this difficult to do?

What materials do I need to do this?

Thanks people!:D

[Frank Z]

No you cannot. They are bonded in place. The side panels are there to help reduce cabinet resonance, along with the ARC ports.

[Joey_V]

i didnt mean "remove" the side panels.. i just meant if i could remove the ebony stain and restain it with another color.

[Dennis Gardner]

Using a bleaching agent would be your best bet.

I would look at trying to put together a trade since removing the stain would be such a chore.

[Dennis Gardner]

I now see that you are in the "looking for" stage of your Lsi's.

I would look for the preferred stain on my first buy. Don't forget that there is some difference in stain tones in the most recent cherry models from earlier runs.

[Tomasz]

Well you CAN remove them but I wouldn't recomend it unless you really don't mind hurting them a little bit. Unfortunetly, depending on what model you have and when you bought them since they have gone though and about 4 different generations (Lsi15 for example) the way you take them off is different. I just removed on of them here at work and it took some time, pressure and patience. But I also did damage it a little bit. It's on the bottom back of tehe side panel, not noticible for most people but you will know it's their. I would NOT recommend it and POLK does not either. But if you really really want to knkow how it's done then I might post some pics and descriptions on how to do it. For starters if you have one of the first generations you should try on the 15 and 25 to push up on the side panels really really hard and they might pop off. Sometime it takes a good amount of pressure, but if you feel they might not be going anywhere then don't bother they are probably bonded. The Lsi9 and 7s are a differents story.

[DarqueKnight]

Originally posted by Joey_V
i didnt mean "remove" the side panels.. i just meant if i could remove the ebony stain and restain it with another color.

On all of my LSi speakers, the side panels were a thin wood veneer over MDF. I would not advise stripping/sanding/restaining this thin veneer. I don't know if any LSi models ever used solid wood side panels. I doubt it. The panels are there for acoustic damping and real wood has inconsistent sonic properties from sample to sample. Ken Swauger in Polk Customer service can tell you more.

Even if your side panels are solid wood, you risk serious damage to the gloss black finish by doing refinishing work on the wood panels. The side panels are attached using an extremely tough double-sided tape. Of course, they can be pulled off, but you will probably pull some cabinet material off too.

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

All of the LSi use a veneer, MDF with a veneer - no solid wood.

[Joey_V]

thanks guys.. i guess i would have to live with the ebony, not that it aint nice!

but sometimes i look online and the cherry veneer looks so classy and nice - but i bet it wouldnt match my computer setup, black (or really greyish brown in this case) is a better match i feel. i guess the cherry is the better looking speaker, but the ebony makes for a better looking setup.

i just wished polk made some true black oak ones. ;)

[F1nut]

You want to make them blacker...no problem, it's easy. First remove all drivers, tape off everything except the panels with blue 7 day release tape, scuff sand the panels in the direction of the grain with 320 grit serated sand paper, apply a black glaze, let dry for 15 minutes then wipe off excess, let dry for 2 hours, next mix in 2oz. of Black Solar-Lux dye to one quart of satin lacquer cut 50% with lacquer thinner, place speakers in spray booth and apply at least two full coats. Remove tape and let cure for at least a week, then rub out to the desired sheen.

Since you probably don't have any idea what I'm talking about, my suggestion would be to leave them alone or take them to a refinishing shop, show them this and say how much? If they don't know what I'm talking about.....RUN! Then find another guy who does.

[Joey_V]

f1,

u got me all confused there.. and leary of even trying to blacken my lsi7... :( .

[F1nut]

Joey, it's a basic step by step guide to "blacken" the side panels as I would do it in my shop and just to show that you don't have to strip the finish or remove the panels to darken them. Any "good" shop should be able to do that for you.

[salty-skin]

Hi
If the panels are adhered with a "double sided tape" I'd try to reduce the temperature of the speakers and then put a constant shear load onto the panels. I don't know at what temp the speaker drivers themselves might be damaged but it must be below zero if they are shipped in the winter to Montana. So I'd put them into a cabinet freezer, with weight applied overnight. In the morning they probably will come apart more easily w/o damaging the main cabinet.