Re-colour speaker grille?

[DavidT]

Has anyone been able to revitalise black fabric speaker grilles? The grille on my centre speaker has faded and needs bringing back to black.

 

[noiseboy72]

Black fabric dye? Never tried it on speakers, but it worked to get rid of some light marks on some black fabric.

 

[Dolus]

Perhaps it just needs a clean.

 

[DavidT]

Black fabric dye? Never tried it on speakers, but it worked to get rid of some light marks on some black fabric.

Not sure a dye will work, maybe a fabric paint will though.

 

[DavidT]

Perhaps it just needs a clean.

Tried that, it has definitely faded. Where the centre speaker sits in adjacent to a sunny window.

 

[DavidT]

Quite a difference in colour, the top grille is the centre compared to my other grille.

 

[noiseboy72]

I think I would try something like this:

Amazon product

 

[DavidT]

I think I would try something like this:

Amazon product

Thanks, That could work, I've ordered some and will report back.

 

[michael1189]

If the cloth is looking tired, you could just replace the cloth completely

 

[ddlooping]

@DavidT
Please let us know how you get along, I've got a similar problem.

 

[Dolus]

That may not work. Like most dyes it is only suitable for natural fabric.

From their web site:
Our Fabric Dye is "Micro-Fibre Reactive", meaning it works by curing into the fibres of the material. As a result, our Fabric Dye is most suitable when working with natural fabrics (e.g cotton or wool). This means that the dye may not be suitable for any synthetics or hybird items (e.g nylon or polyester)
250ml Liquid Fabric Dye for Sofa, Clothes, Denim, Shoes & more. Repairs & Re-Colours

 

[ddlooping]

That may not work. Like most dyes it is only suitable for natural fabric.

Damn :/
And fabric spray paint like the following would probably clog-up the grill?
Pébéo - Fabric Paint Spray

 

[Conrad]

Could you remove and re-cover?

 

[DavidT]

That may not work. Like most dyes it is only suitable for natural fabric.

From their web site:
Our Fabric Dye is "Micro-Fibre Reactive", meaning it works by curing into the fibres of the material. As a result, our Fabric Dye is most suitable when working with natural fabrics (e.g cotton or wool). This means that the dye may not be suitable for any synthetics or hybird items (e.g nylon or polyester)
250ml Liquid Fabric Dye for Sofa, Clothes, Denim, Shoes & more. Repairs & Re-Colours

I will probably end up spending more money than the cost of a whole new grille from QA!

 

[noiseboy72]

My experience is that the dye will work, but it just won't be permanent. Unless you intend to wash them, I think you should be ok.

 

[DavidT]

@DavidT
Please let us know how you get along, I've got a similar problem.

I am impressed, the dye works and my speaker grille is now black again. I followed the instructions and mixed a small amount with 50% water and painted the dye onto the grille with a brush. I did two coats 2hrs apart. I was a bit worried about clogging up the grille but it didn't. The grille took nearly 4 hours to dry completely and the instructions say it takes 72 hours to be fully colourfast.

 

[ddlooping]

I am impressed, the dye works and my speaker grille is now black again. I followed the instructions and mixed a small amount with 50% water and painted the dye onto the grille with a brush. I did two coats 2hrs apart. I was a bit worried about clogging up the grille but it didn't. The grille took nearly 4 hours to dry completely and the instructions say it takes 72 hours to be fully colourfast.

Excellent
Any chance of (before and) after pictures?

 

[DavidT]

Excellent
Any chance of (before and) after pictures?

If you look at post #6 the colour of the top grille is now a bit deeper black than the bottom grille.

 

[ddlooping]

Ok, thanks

 

[DavidT]

Excellent
Any chance of (before and) after pictures?

Pics...... After and before.

 

[ddlooping]

That's a very noticeable improvement, thanks

 

[luvaudio]

Has anyone been able to revitalise black fabric speaker grilles? The grille on my centre speaker has faded and needs bringing back to black.

I put allot of thought into this subject as my speaker fabric grille looked faded / not new looking. I took a microfiber cloth cleaned in washing machine detergent, after cleaned ran through cold water and ringed most of water out. Applied damp microfiber cloth gently across speaker fabric, let dry thoroughly. Took another microfiber (New) cloth and applied Meguiar's Ceramic Trim Restorer to microfiber in a 3-inch circle, work into cloth so just looks damp. Then gently apply to speaker cloth with up and down motion, carefully run cloth on inside of speaker frame & outside. I was in Aww... after doing this. ( : Hard to actually tell with phone camera, before and after and correct lighting.