Repair A Dent On A Speaker's Dust Cap (5 steps/ 5 minutes)

Today I am going to show you how to repair a dent on a speaker's dust cap. When it comes to speakers without grills, people usually punch or push a small dent on a speaker's dust cap. The dent doesn't actually affect the speaker's performance but rather it becomes eyesore, dents make speakers look ugly. I found a fast and easy way to restore the original shape of a speaker's dust cap.

What Is A Dust Cap?

A dust cap is the semicircular dome found in a speaker's cone. From its name, the dustcap prevents the speaker's coil form collecting and storing dust from the outside.

Here's A Video:

Step 1 Tools And Materials

For this project you will only need 3 tools to fix the dent dusted cap. The tools can be found in every household. The three of them are very common and can be found everywhere.

Tools An Materials:
(click on item where to buy)

- Black Marker
- Long Nose Pliers
- 2 Thin Needles

Comments

[JabariSmith]

This is a superb tutorial. The pictures are very clear, the writing is easy to understand, and the end result is exactly what the reader would expect.

As some other users have mentioned, there are other ways to repair a dent on a speaker's dust cap:
• use a vacuum to suck the dent out
• use your mouth suction to suck the dent out (only on large dust caps)
• use duct tape to pull the dent out

Some users have mentioned that the two pinholes created with this method could become bigger with extended use of the speaker. This is inaccurate because the dust cap itself doesn't move when the speaker is used; those users were probably thinking of the speaker's diaphragm itself, which would create large rips if any holes were punched in it.

[schumi23]

I have also used a dab of hot glue, pulled a "string" off while it was still warm, and then, once it cooled down, pulled it up, then once the cap was round again, pulled it off.

[JabariSmith]

That's clever!

[GeckoDeLimon]

The dust cap DOES move with the rest of the diaphragm, but I agree that it's not likely to worsen over time. The bigger issue is that dust caps are either porous or completely solid and is part of a conscious design decision by the manufacturer. If the dust cap wasn't breathable BEFORE, it shouldn't be after, either. If the driver has a solid dust cap, I would recommend sealing the hole with a small dab of glue. Something like Aileen's Tacky Glue would be perfect.

I would also try the vacuum method first.

[ASCAS]

The problem with hot glue is that when it cools down specially in polypropylene cones, the Hot glue becomes hard to remove

[ASCAS]

I usually use the vacuum method If can't pull them back anymore I use the pin method. You wouldn't see people use the pin method often, I only thought of it because, sometimes the vacuum method won't work anymore.

[zenderon]

that's good and inventive
like it
but try a vac......
looking at the comments
that's what was on my mind
just suck the thing out
no holes no repairs

[emerson.john]

I have used the needle, tape, and vacume cleaner trick to repair dustcaps professionally. When using a needle I always sealed the tiny hole with wood glue - not because the hole will enlarge, it will not - to keep dust out of the voice coil gap. That is why they put the cap on it in the first place. I prefer the needle method.

If you need to replace the cap, replacements are available. Here is a source Google just returned: http://www.speakerworks.com/dust_caps_s/66.htm .

[awais mughal]

cool man
great job......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[itsmanofpopsicle]

I am really surprised that most people don't give a rip about your method and say, "USE A VACUUM, GOSHHH." I personally think that having a bent pin like this around allows you to pretty much immediatly fix the problem.

I thought the Instructables community would be a little more accepting, but after reading comments like,

"DONT DO THIS"

I'm really not sure anymore. Good 'ible besides.

[itsmanofpopsicle]

Oh, and one more question : If it gets dented again, is it a really bad idea to try to re-use your holes again?

[ASCAS]

Reusing the hole is fine, that's the beauty of it, you only need to use 1 hole.

[ASCAS]

Let's face it, you do not need electricity to fix the den't, unlike the vacuum.

[Jazzajon]

No No No No! Making holes in the speaker cone is not what you want to do. It will compromise the strength of the speaker material and one slip means you could tear it. Use a vacuum cleaner on low power to suck out the dent. If your vacuum cleaner only has one setting, try attaching a a toilet paper inner cardboard tube to the end of your vacuum hose. Then make a few holes in the card board sides to reduce the power of the suction. Other wise stick some sellotape to the cone and pull it off and out will come the dent.

[poikilotherm]

This is such a great idea! I don't see why everyone hates it so much. Just cover the hole with glue, and the dust will stay out and the hole will not get larger.

[ASCAS]

try to look for audiophile speakers, like bowers and wilkins, PSB. Their dust caps are in a shape of a bullet, you will notice that the bullet is not attached to the cone but in the magnet, thus leaving a c
gap from the cone to the coil.

[beehard44]

nice idea with the black marker!
unrelated question: where did you get the speaker?

[ASCAS]

I know that you live in the Philippines, I am a Filipino too! You can buy one in raon, or in deeco muntinlupa. It is a 50W Crown Woofer that costs P250/ pc.

[ivanjacob]

where did you get that speaker??

[frozenkamote]

I just used chewed bubblegum on the end of a stick :)

[solomonhorses]

nice Instructable! Excellent pictures! I will add this to my bag of tricks. One way I have done this in the past was with a small vacuum nozzle on a pretty weak vacuum cleaner. It pops it out in 1 microsecond. And if the vacuum is really strong, you will be removed of the whole dustcap problem!

[OverclockersHQ]

Never puncture your dust cap that defeats the whole purpose all you need to do is grab gaffers or masking tape stick it to the dust cap and pull it off the dustcap naturally goes back to its original position on its own.

[sujaydp]

Me too Agree with you, but that can be fixed.. Use a small drop / film of synthetic rubber based adhesive (used as an adhesive for soles of shoes and slippers.. in fact it is used for fixing of spiders inside the speaker for its acoustic properties..) now you can do the touch up with the marker to conceal if required (most of the times the glue is transparent/ translucent.

[sabr686]

I am in total agreement with you, my friend. Any direct air passage through the speaker will result in reduced performance. One should not be deliberately afflicting damage upon one's sound system so carelessly. I'm sure he meant well, trying to "fill in" the holes with a black felt pen (??). You can even attain good results with a straw, if it's not too far gone. Just carefully place it on the cap and suck in gently. But tape is definitely the easiest way to go, if you can.

[lden hartog]

some dust caps are sealed, to push air in or out of the speaker to further cool its voice-coil. some are NOT sealed, and are more of an air filter. i have some speakers of both, for anyone who wants to see, i will post pix if needed.

[geekyoldlman]

Shop Vac ... one step. 1 min. Done.

[Crimson-Deity]

An easier way is to take the vacuum cleaner and pop it out on the lowest powersetting. Did this with some Hertz SPL's, still works fine with no visible damage

[thegeeke]

The dust cap does move with the rest of the speaker, however, it doesn't move as much as the diaphragm. By poking holes in it, you are defeating the whole purpose of having the dust cap in the first place. Poking holes should be a last resort, and if you do it, you should use something that will actually fill it. Personally, I would rather have the eye sore than decreased performance.

[Mr911S]

I've used a vacuum cleaner worked well. So highly recommend to do it that way.

[moebuspcgold]

Use a Vacuum cleaner. Set it to lowest suction. Id the cone is small (tweeter) use a length of garden hose attached with tape to the vacuum cleaner hose.

[hcaz-301]

DONT DO THIS. get a hover and place against the cap sucks it straight out, or a straw.

[-A-N-D-Y-]

Growing up my dad had some huge base speakers in the lounge that as kids we would always end up poking in.. he used to use a pin as above and cover the hole with nail varnish... by the time we had grown up the dome was covered in little coloured dots :) Agree vacuum sounds a logical choice but use with caution else it will rip it straight off! So long as the end result does the job (prevent dust) I see no problem with a pin and seal hole with nail varnish (most people have a wife/girlfriend/mum/sister or these days just about anyone :) with a bottle at hand

[Solarbotics]

Waaay back in my early retail days working at a stereo store, we ran into customer's kids that loved to "push the bubble in". Simple solution:

Rub a strip of masking tape or parcel tape_gently_ onto the dome. Give a quick tug to pull the dome out (ripping the tape off at the same time).

Easy-peasy!

[uncle frogy]

the dust cap does move it is attached to the cone itself soother wise it would not protect the coli from dust.
I never tried to fix a dented cone so I learned something new very cool.
I had a computer speaker set that started make a very distorted sound it turned out that the woofer was "sticking" before I replaced the woofer I cut off the dust cap and put a small amount of talcum powder inside the distortion went away it still works well without a dust cap but I still replaced the woofer with a much better one anyway.

uncle frogy

[joaotex]

Use a vacuum cleaner and no holes.

[appsman]

You don't need to puncture anything. I've done this with chewing gum, or the sticky side of scotch tape, or blue tape, or something similar. It pulls the cone right out. As with this technique, it might take several tries but that's OK because you're not poking holes in anything.

[spiwrx]

I worked at a car stereo place for years, this would happen all the time. Our solution was tape. Duct tape does wonders....

[the_philth]

I agree a thousand per cent!
I first learned duct tape trick when I was a sound engineer back in the late 80s.
Duct tape does work wonders --- you just gotta be resourceful!

[ASCAS]

Guys !! You can cover the hole with a regular glue, use it as a putty then color it.

[grunaura]

A thread with a very small amount of epoxy, once dried will allow you to pull the dent out. You can also use leather luster boot epoxy both in the process and to cover the caps if you want them shiny or to cover up advertising.