lakecat
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Posts posted by lakecat
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Where are you located in Ohio? I am a little south of Akron. Would like some pics of both cabs with drivers in them so I can determine if worth driving. I like taking projects and saving them. Thanks.
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2 hours ago, lARrybody said:
Wow I cannot distinguish between the two. They look identical.
Thank you my friend....:) I invented new cuss words over this!...lol.
1 hour ago, samberger0357 said:Stunning does not even begin to describe how wonderful those look!
Congratulations on such a fantastic job!
Thanks!...nice to see others like it as well. Never knew graining in pine could be so purdy!
1 hour ago, ar_pro said:Beautiful, lakecat.
Your patience and effort really paid off - what a great job!
This might be my new favorite look for the AR-3a.
Thanks!...my new favorite too! This is what I started with....notice the social security number etched in top...sigh.
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I got er done!...:) It came out real close and am happy with it....well...more relieved than happy!..lol. It was a lot of work and redos at least three times on bottom where I experimented. Ended up using Puritan Pine stain at full strength....some sanding...but mostly using utility blades to bring out the graining. Then whitewashing with thinned almond paint...then more utility blades on it. The fronts had paint really thinned.
What was tough...was doing the one two years ago and not remembering a lot of what I had done. Going over the old post here helped some but since they were so different...had to take a new approach. Now on to the caps and making grill....but really like it! Custom pine....welcome to the family...
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1 hour ago, Aadams said:
The supplier is Wichelt Imports. A search on "Wichelt lambswool 18 count" will give a good list of retailers who may still have stock.
Thanks....I did find it on Ebay. Had two left. Crazy it is being dropped.
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So much for the kudos!....sigh. Just got this email from 123....no longer available...
This is Nancy from 123stitch.com. Looks like we shipped you the incorrect count fabric on order #2214327. Unfortunately we have just been notified that this fabric has been discontinued and we are no longer able to get it. The only size we have left in stock is a 13x18 so we are unable to reship this fabric to you. I'm so sorry for the mix up!
Anyone know of another source? This sucks.
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2 hours ago, lARrybody said:
Cat your post got me paranoid. I bought some 18 count lambs wool from 123 Stitch last winter for a upcoming restoration. Had to put on my reading glasses to check. I have had nothing but good experiences with 123 stitch. My only issue with them is that they ship the fabric folded. I immediately put it on a roll to let it relax. I have even got the iron out a couple times. I also source grill fabric from the Dorr Mill in New Hampshire and Q Components in Ontario. They actually ship with the fabric rolled up in a long box.
Yea...it comes folded but I wet it after I install on grill and shrinks okay. Your material is 18 count so you're good to go....:)
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A pic to show the difference...so you know I wasn't being OCD about it. It is a difference.
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11 hours ago, ar_pro said:
Counting the threads is just the sort of thing an AR enthusiast would do!
LOL!....do you know how hard it is to count those dang threads?!!
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Have ordered from them for close to eight years now and never a problem. Ordered the 18 count Lambswool Linen for the pine 3a I am currently doing and finally received it today after some lag time due to their business being very busy and short of help. I get the material out and it just didn't look right. I held it up to the current 3a's I have and it had a much tighter weave but same color. It did have a tag on it saying it was the 18 count so was scratching my head...thinking maybe they have changed it in the last two years. I decided to call them to see what was up. I explained to the lady that it was much tighter weave then previous. She said it might have changed in the last two years.....then said to measure the threads as it should measure 18 threads per inch. I took out a ruler and counted over 25 threads per inch and asked her if there was a next higher count in this material. She replied that the next thread count was 28 per inch!....bingo!
She apologized and said just keep that material and a new correct material would be sent right away,,,,😃 Thank you 123!
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On 4/18/2021 at 2:03 PM, genek said:
It's unlikely that you'll be able to get an unstained pine to match one that's been stained and stripped. Your best bet might be to apply a bit of color to both of them and go for an "aged pine" look.
I really can't as the first one I did has the veneer sanded down pretty good so not gonna touch it again. It is a challenge for sure and something I have never done...but love the challenge. It doesn't have to be perfect...just close...and hope I can highlite the graining.
On another note, I see a pair of pine AR3's up on the auction block on Ebay. Will be curious to see what they go for in their original state...:)
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19 hours ago, genek said:
When I lived in the NE I saw a lot of pine ARs. Most of them had been stained by someone trying to make them look like something other than pine. The difference in price between veneered and unfinished never seemed big enough to me to make all that effort worthwhile. And on top of that, they always looked awful.
Being a contractor, have always hated pine. But the graining in the veneer really got my eye. It is different...and I really like it.
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18 hours ago, genek said:
I'd thin the stain down to the point where the color is barely visible. Apply a pre-stain conditioner before staining to prevent blotching, then apply the stain multiple times to try to sneak up on the right shade.
I am trying to match this one from two years ago. It was stained dark and had a helluva time getting it out. It left the dark graining to which you see in pic. I actually took thinned latex almond paint and spread on cabinet and wiped lightly...and it came out nice.
I really don't want to do a dark stain to this new cabinet and go thru that hassle again. I used a Ipswich pine stain...thinned to darken the graining a little. Maybe sand it a little with 220...then try a small patch on bottom with the same almond paint. That will tell me if it is dark enough...or close enough!
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18 hours ago, lARrybody said:
10 parts paint thinner to one part stain or vise versa?
Yes...10 parts thinner.
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17 hours ago, samberger0357 said:
Man those are beautiful! Congratulations on your find.
Thanks Samberger! It took a while to find this match and was worried that it would be a piece of crap from EBay. But...despite the SS number etched in top, it is in pretty good shape. Even the pots are in excellent shape and took very little work to get them nice.
Bonus also in that I asked about the grill and he said he had one. In the box was a perfect AR3 grill frame!..lol. So I will make an AR3a grill and have the material ordered from 123. Got to install the capacitors....then try to match this veneer with other I did two years ago.
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Well....finally got some time and weather to work on the speaker. Looking it over and found that the top had a SS number etched into the veneer...sigh. I got a wet towel and iron....and steamed the hell out I of the top and actually...all the sides ....after removing the drivers of course. I screwed up and forgot to take pics. I let it sit all night.
Got it out today and with 100 grit paper on an orbital sander....really worked on the veneer...trying to be careful to not go too deep. I am shocked and happy with the results. I got out most scratches and the dang SS number!!! Pics show the results.
I later....trying to match other speaker I done....diluted pine stain with paint thinner 10/1...and brushed it on and letting it air dry. I am trying to bring out the beautiful graining and still in the experimental range.
The original speaker had been stained and was a bit of work to get it looking unstained. Now trying to match that speaker but this one was never stained!...lol. Wish me luck! Also a very low serial number...:)
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Great job! Enjoy those bad boys....:)
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15 hours ago, ar_pro said:
It's great when things work out, right?
Looking forward to many photos of the pair!
Yes!......my concern is trying to match the two when one was stained and the other hasn't. Will take some experimenting but look forward to the challenge....:)
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On 3/2/2021 at 6:21 AM, lARrybody said:
Good things come to those that wait.
More like Elmer Fudd huntin' the wabbit!....never thought it would take this long...and I did some searching! Just hope it gets here in good shape. The delivery services haven't been the best lately.
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You don't realize how rare these AR3a's in pine are until you start looking for them!..wow! I redid a pine 3A speaker several years ago that was stained. Lots and lots of work to get it back to the natural state. I looked all the time to get it a match and nothing. Just found a match on Ebay and had to pay up for it. It isn't stained...thank goodness but needs work. The alnico woofer has a foam surround on it but have a replacement here I have been saving for such an occasion. Probably silly for paying up for it but he told me that a dead beat Asian buyer had bid full price for it so I knew it wouldn't go cheap. I am actually excited to get it and FINALLY get my match! It will be keepers for me.....and to think...I have always hated pine in any other construction work I did...lol. This one also has the wild graining that my other has that makes it cool. Will get it next week sometime.
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Sent a PM Kent....
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Yes...I stand corrected!..lol. I contacted the guy thru messenger and he avoided any question I had but swore they were teak. I asked him to remove tape to see....and he proceeds to block me on messenger!...lol.
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I would buy those. Rare teak and rare woofers for an AR5. Looks to have been redone correctly and look mint! You pay for someone that has redone a rare speaker. Good luck!
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Good buy! Looks heavy...:) I have the 2205 for handling the 4ohm and love it!
Kudos to 123 Stitch for their service...
in Acoustic Research
Posted
I got the correct 18ct several days ago and there was a note attached from seller saying they only had one piece 18x27 left. I send her an email saying I would buy two pieces but not one....and explained I only bought one to match a vintage speaker grill to another speaker I had. Told her that this 18ct was a perfect match to these vintage speakers and a shame it is not available anymore. She wrote back....
New message from: nimbleneedle1 (5,579
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I'll keep my eyes out. There is still the raw color but you would probably want to dip it in bleach or peroxide or something to lighten it up. Essentially its the color a brown paper bag. Thank you for contacting me. And the mystery is solved why this linen hardly sold in these lighter tones and then voila within days it was all gone. I went to order more and that's when I saw it wasn't available.