SDA Driver Seals: Original Foam vs. Mortite vs. Armaflex Foam

[DarqueKnight]

What color?

What are my choices?

Is there a shape you would like it to be?

First choice is round. Square or rectangular is ok if that is easier to make.

The mounting screw holes on the wall plates I made are 1-7/8" apart. If you can match that spacing, it would be great.

[Toolfan66]

Round it is..

Is the 1.875 center to center on the holes? Also will .250 holes be ok or do you need them to be a different size?

Colors? I probably can come close to matching any color you would like.

[DarqueKnight]

How do u pull the old drivers off if you used mortite. They are a pia.

I made a small prying bar from a 8-1/2" piece of coathanger wire. I flattened the prying end a little bit (reduced thickness about half) to make it easier to get under the rim hole.

I still use the pry bar with my Armacelled drivers. Of course, the Armacell does not cause as tight a fit as the Mortite, but the Amacelled drivers don't always fall right out after unscrewing.

[heiney9]

How do u pull the old drivers off if you used mortite. They are a pia.

I pulled the crossover and pushed from the back side then worked my way up.. I don't miss mortite at all..

Mortite has been in place over 2 years now and I've taken the speakers apart twice, never a single issue. Actually the Mortite stays in place on the back of the drivers. Not sure why you are having issues.

H9

[DarqueKnight]

Is the 1.875 center to center on the holes?

Yes.

Also will .250 holes be ok or do you need them to be a different size?

I had to take one of the screws out and match the plate hole to my drill bits. The holes are 3/16". With the large flathead screws I am using, 1/4" holes would work.

Colors? I probably can come close to matching any color you would like.

Black.

[Toolfan66]

Consider it done!!

[DarqueKnight]

Thanks. Send me a PM with cost and shipping.

[thejck]

Mortite has been in place over 2 years now and I've taken the speakers apart twice, never a single issue. Actually the Mortite stays in place on the back of the drivers. Not sure why you are having issues.

H9

One of my braces had come loose and i had to pull a driver to get to it. I struggled with the driver and ended up having to use a screw driver to pry on it which nicked the wood slightly and I am not too trilled about it. I ended up using a screw that was able to grip the screw hole on the basket and use that to pry. I am not sure what damage this has caused and I have had a really frustrating day cause of it.

When I installed the mortite I pushed it onto the basket and then screwed it onto the wood. When I pulled it off half of it was on the basket and the rest on the wood. I even had used poly urethane on the wood before I installed the mortite to prevent it sticking.
I am using Larrys rings as well and maybe that is what is causing the sticking.

[thejck]

going to try this in the morning.
Isnt the Armacell only sticky on one side?
You said you cut the tape at a 1/4 inch did you end up getting 4 strips from each section or was there some cutting waste.

I made a small prying bar from a 8-1/2" piece of coathanger wire. I flattened the prying end a little bit (reduced thickness about half) to make it easier to get under the rim hole.

I still use the pry bar with my Armacelled drivers. Of course, the Armacell does not cause as tight a fit as the Mortite, but the Amacelled drivers don't always fall right out after unscrewing.

[DarqueKnight]

going to try this in the morning. Isnt the Armacell only sticky on one side?

Yes, the Armacell is only sticky on one side, but some of my drivers have a snug fit which requires some extra effort to remove them. I made the small end of the prying bar 3/8 inch long.

One clarification: I call this a "pry bar", but I don't use a prying action where the flat end is inserted in a driver's rim hole and the bar is pressed downward to pry the rim up. The flat end is inserted in the rim hole 1/8" to 1/4" and the tool is pulled outward.

You said you cut the tape at a 1/4 inch did you end up getting 4 strips from each section or was there some cutting waste.

I cut 1/2 inch strips. The Armacell is 2 inches wide, so this allowed four 1/2 inch strips per section:

Marks 1/2" apart were made on the Amaflex's backing at regular intervals. Ink and pencil marks did not easily adhere to Armaflex's yellow wax paper backing, therefore a fine point ink pen was used to punch holes and then the pen and straight edge (24" drafting T-square and 48" carpenter's level) were used to scribe cutting guide lines.

[vmaxer]

Old thread, great info.