Thank you all, overwhelmed with gratitude for the support good people... since I just became a gramps a few days ago, I just don't have as much time on hand to do all that may be required to fully refinish them myself at the moment. I'd rather relax with family and listen to the music and enjoy vs. using any harsh paint removers or paint (at this juncture). BlueHusky, the vac idea is exactly what I've tried numerous times unsuccessfully with my Electrolux canister vacuum circa same age as the Fortes :-) but will try again using your slide over technique .... maybe I need a more powerful vacuum cleaner. Again, I'm so grateful for all the help here, and never realized through the decades of Klipsch ownership that this wellspring of likeminded obsessive audiophiles were lurking "inside the speakers"- will revert back and wishing all more listening enjoyment...
Thank heaven.... none of my issues effect the sound.