JohnForte Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 Hello, just joined here and looking for info and help with refinishing my Fortès. Can anyone tell me what veneer this is underneath the black lacquer I have stripped off? Also, what would be the proper finish to apply? Did Klipsch use boiled linseed oil? I would like a darker finish I think. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OO1 Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 9 minutes ago, JohnForte said: Hello, just joined here and looking for info and help with refinishing my Fortès. Can anyone tell me what veneer this is underneath the black lacquer I have stripped off? Also, what would be the proper finish to apply? Did Klipsch use boiled linseed oil? I would like a darker finish I think. looks like oak , I would Watco Danish oil -it's avaialble in various tints , you can also Boiled linseed oil , but I doubt klipsch ever used it , since it's quite a fire hazard in a Factory setting given the rags can catch on fire unless they are destroyed 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amped Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 Is there a label on the back of the speaker? It should list the finish. have a look look here: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnForte Posted November 19, 2021 Author Share Posted November 19, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, amped said: Is there a label on the back of the speaker? It should list the finish. have a look look here: They are FOR FB RV, which is black lacquer. It doesn't tell me what veneer it is. I just had a look at them and one looks like it may be different veneer so I may have to repaint. I will strip the other base and report back here. Edited November 19, 2021 by JohnForte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnForte Posted November 19, 2021 Author Share Posted November 19, 2021 2 hours ago, RandyH said: looks like oak , I would Watco Danish oil -it's avaialble in various tints , you can also Boiled linseed oil , but I doubt klipsch ever used it , since it's quite a fire hazard in a Factory setting given the rags can catch on fire unless they are destroyed I was thinking it looks like white oak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnForte Posted November 19, 2021 Author Share Posted November 19, 2021 Well this sucks. Looks like the first one was actually walnut and the second is definitely oak. It's either new paint or veneer replacement. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjptkd Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 2 hours ago, JohnForte said: Well this sucks. Looks like the first one was actually walnut and the second is definitely oak. It's either new paint or veneer replacement. Are the labels / serial numbers matching? You should be able to see the oak grain right through the black paint quite easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnForte Posted November 19, 2021 Author Share Posted November 19, 2021 5 minutes ago, jjptkd said: Are the labels / serial numbers matching? You should be able to see the oak grain right through the black paint quite easily. The serials are a few numbers apart. I did notice the difference in grain but didn't really think it was different veneer altogether. It's tempting to put some nice veneer on them and some oil, the black is boring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 Are those the bases that you have stripped? It's possible the cabinets are matching... They sometimes painted them (cabs a risers) to cover flaws. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricktate Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 The risers could have been made out of scraps. They also painted veneered speakers if there was a flaw in the veneer. Veneering is easy after you practice on some something first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrestonTom Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 49 minutes ago, ricktate said: The risers could have been made out of scraps. They also painted veneered speakers if there was a flaw in the veneer. Veneering is easy after you practice on some something first. Keywords: Practice first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuzzzer Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 8 hours ago, JohnForte said: Well this sucks. Looks like the first one was actually walnut and the second is definitely oak. It's either new paint or veneer replacement. The risers on speakers like the forte were various finishes and didn't always match the speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OO1 Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 8 hours ago, JohnForte said: Well this sucks. Looks like the first one was actually walnut and the second is definitely oak. It's either new paint or veneer replacement. ok , so let's recapitulate , if both tags of the speakers say FB -- this means that the speakers were sold and painted as BLACK LAQUER from the factory - -now klipsch often used to sell black painted speakers out of the various odd speakers that had veneer flaws or that showed mismatched veneers or the odd lone speaker that could not be paired with another speaker to have a perfectly matching pair , the same with risers , if they had a few mismatched sets of risers , so by painting the mismatched speakers black , they would make 1 matching pair - the cost of FB speakers , painted black was also cheaper to the consumer - -by stripping the paint , you are back to square 1 , so either you re-veneer the speakers or you repaint them Black to have a matching pair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnForte Posted November 19, 2021 Author Share Posted November 19, 2021 8 hours ago, Marvel said: Are those the bases that you have stripped? It's possible the cabinets are matching... They sometimes painted them (cabs a risers) to cover flaws. Both speakers match their bases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnForte Posted November 19, 2021 Author Share Posted November 19, 2021 3 hours ago, RandyH said: ok , so let's recapitulate , if both tags of the speakers say FB -- this means that the speakers were sold and painted as BLACK LAQUER from the factory - -now klipsch often used to sell black painted speakers out of the various odd speakers that had veneer flaws or that showed mismatched veneers or the odd lone speaker that could not be paired with another speaker to have a perfectly matching pair , the same with risers , if they had a few mismatched sets of risers , so by painting the mismatched speakers black , they would make 1 matching pair - the cost of FB speakers , painted black was also cheaper to the consumer - -by stripping the paint , you are back to square 1 , so either you re-veneer the speakers or you repaint them Black to have a matching pair Yes I am aware. What I meant by that comment was that those were my options at this point. Strongly considering getting some walnut veneer and making them match. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 37 minutes ago, JohnForte said: Yes I am aware. What I meant by that comment was that those were my options at this point. Strongly considering getting some walnut veneer and making them match. Welcome! You can certainly do that to a point. That is how they came from factory, no matter which finish. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OO1 Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 35 minutes ago, JohnForte said: Yes I am aware. What I meant by that comment was that those were my options at this point. Strongly considering getting some walnut veneer and making them match. you only need enough veneer for the sides -top and the risers , the rest can stay black or textured black , do you have the grilles ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnForte Posted November 20, 2021 Author Share Posted November 20, 2021 3 hours ago, RandyH said: you only need enough veneer for the sides -top and the risers , the rest can stay black or textured black , do you have the grilles ? Yes I have the original grilles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OO1 Posted November 20, 2021 Share Posted November 20, 2021 4 minutes ago, JohnForte said: Yes I have the original grilles. Here are 2 pictures of Custom Forte speakers by a small shop in TX ,the Forte does not have grilles but the Forte II does , using the Forte III script logo --- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnForte Posted November 20, 2021 Author Share Posted November 20, 2021 1 hour ago, RandyH said: Here are 2 pictures of Custom Forte speakers by a small shop in TX ,the Forte does not have grilles but the Forte II does , using the Forte III script logo --- Nice, I like the white. Good motivation here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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