Fix a Dented or Inverted Metal Speaker Dust Cover

Intro: Fix a Dented or Inverted Metal Speaker Dust Cover

You remove your speaker grill for just ONE second and next thing you know you have a dent in the dust cover of your brand new speakers!  This is actually a really simple fix.  It wont totally remove the wrinkles - but it does at least get it back to where it belongs...

The victim in this example is an old Peavey Heritage VTX combo guitar amplifier.  This was missing the speaker grill when I bought it and the dust covers on both speakers were pushed in.  I actually fixed them both (using the method I will describe here).  But I forgot to take pictures.  Thankfully, the cats pushed one of the dust covers back in again just in time for me to go back and take pictures of the fix...

STEP 1: Tools and the Fix...

All you need is a good vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment.  I initially used a 3 amp shop vac, but ended up using our 12 amp Hoover upright to suck out the main depression.

Take your time and don't hold the hose to close to the dust cap.  The 12 amp vac had plenty of suction to pull the dent out without being entirely seated on the metal.

You get extra satisfaction points if you get a nice "pop!" when the cover comes back out the right way.

STEP 2: Final Minor Dents

I followed up with the less powerful 3 amp shop vac to get the next few dings out.  Because the vacuum is weaker, I hold inlet of the vac right up against the metal all the way around.

STEP 3: Final Thoughts

This is a pretty simple fix.  For the amp I was working with, the speaker dust covers were in very sad shape. The one on the right was totally pushed in – both looked like a three year old spent a good 15 minutes with them. Given that the amp didn’t have a grill cover it’s amazing that the speakers didn’t have any additional damage.

If this was a true restoration deal on some classic, vintage amp, then take it to a professional. Otherwise, this fix can at least make the speakers look a little less abused. There will still be wrinkles – maybe someone else has an Instructable on how to remove the wrinkles????

I have another Instructable in the works concerning how to make a replacement speaker grill. It didn’t make sense to fix these just to let some cats or kids have another go at them.

Comments

[anthony gutierrez]

damn son where did you find this

[rexdorchester]

If you're a freak like myself or if you dont own a 12 amp hoover, you can dissasemble most drivers on quality gear. Id be inclined to take off the magnet and massage those wrinkles out while im at it.

[NotmyrealN]

THANK YOU! I have a miele vacuum with low to high settings. I tried it on low and it worked perfect! So glad I didn't use a pin.

[craig3]

Also, just a note, if its to fisky to pop it out, it is perfectly fine pushed in!!!
It is only a dust cover, do not, for the love of god put a pin in it to try and fish it out

[iamdarkyoshi]

on some loudspeakers however, the dust cap, when pushed in, will hit the magnet. using the pin works well if you get the right angle, and then you can take some elmers glue and a paintbrush to cover the hole and clean it up.

[Flyeroz]

+1 for sticky tape. My dog has a bad habit of leaning on my speakers before stretching, denting the center of the speaker.
Sticky tape worked for me every time.

[fishpotpete]

That's probably the best first course of action I've heard! Certainly one of the easier ones. But like anything else - just be carefull!

[appsman]

Chewing gum, or the sticky side of scotch tape, or blue tape, or something similar has worked for me. it might take several tries to get all of the dent out.

[mattjeff]

Also this may work, probably only with metal dust covers. but, someone should give it a shot...not willing to dent a speaker myself ha.
http://www.rs25.com/forums/f105/t148804-canned-air-dent-removal.html

[fishpotpete]

Hey, that's a cool vid! I'd be afraid to try it on the thin metal cover though - plus the heat gun or the cold spray might damage the cone. But it might be worth a try on some "beater" speakers just to see if it works.

[mattjeff]

Yeah, that I wouldn't recommend using the heat gun...I have never used a heat gun to pop dents like that, I just used the canned air.

[rimar2000]

Very clever, thanks for sharing!