Fixing up an audiosonic tbs 8900

Status
Not open for further replies.

Beast From The East

Member (SA)
Feb 8, 2017
85
0
0
44
Athens Greece
Hi guys
I have some questions from the pros here!
I tried elsewhere to get some answers but no response came at the end.
I have this audiosonic aka conion
I made it so far taking out almost all components (have some trouble with front display)
My question: Since i am onto a new paint job (color yet to be decided) Is there a way to preserve or even remake the letters on the top of the box?
No one has still answered that question!
I only saw someone from an akai forum doing something with computer printing (sorry don't have the link for that)
Please i am asking serious so answers like magic marker is out of the question.
If anybody has posted anything about how to preserve those please provide the link.
Thanks





As you can see in the last picture fake chrome took its toll too!
Unfortunately on this this box you cannot take anything out so i have to repaint them also!
Any ideas on how to do that and what kind of chrome colour to use?
 

Attachments

blu_fuz

Moderator
Staff member
Jun 3, 2009
10,669
165
63
40
WI
Your best option is to carefully mask off the areas of text along the creases and body lines of the radio.
 

superlew

Member (SA)
Apr 22, 2012
1,087
3
0
44
Woburn, MA
blu_fuz said:
Your best option is to carefully mask off the areas of text along the creases and body lines of the radio.
baddboybill said:
I agree. ;-) and try polishing chrome 1st
:agree:
Me 3.
I've sprayed a few boxes with great results. Preparation is key.
Maybe choose a color complimentary to the original if you need to preserve the lettering.
 

Reli

Member (SA)
Dec 24, 2010
6,320
452
83
USA
I have that box too, and I agree it needs new paint because the gray is very boring. I would suggest BMW Laguna Seca Blue.
 

Beast From The East

Member (SA)
Feb 8, 2017
85
0
0
44
Athens Greece
Thanks reli and others for the reply i just saw it haven't been using Boomboxery a while now and i just started again to do so
The frankenstein is a frozen project right now and sitting on a shelve for a year now.I was not able to do anything yet but i want to in the next months or throw it out of the balcony! I start to develop a hatred over those conion and aka conion boomboxes They are cheap made of the worst kind!

The color at some parts is off or scratched and even with a deep bath nothing gained.
I am not fund of the stock color on this box,its boring maybe as reli suggested blue or a total black/aka mat black will save the looks
I am not even able to get the front panel out by any means without destroying it even iron did not work to get it off (conion crap)
I have to defog the display which i do not know how to do it myself or i have to learn....
I have to chrome paint again some parts of the box or look for a good combo since everything is made from bad plastic
I was told if nothing helps at the end with the letters there is a way of printing them and using a transparent sticker,However i am not sure i want a sticker on the box,my o.c.d will go crazy!
Feel free to post any solutions you found on such problems


Thanks


ps: Damn a year passed from that post.........
 

Beast From The East

Member (SA)
Feb 8, 2017
85
0
0
44
Athens Greece
Ok the project is back on with a sanyo i want to mini restore.Here are some pics of the fogged plexiglass and tape door.
since i am going to paint all the box and maybe leave the gray lettering on the top/front cover glass alone i am looking for solutions on painting the tape door and defogging the glass part inc the tuner window plexiglass
I am not so sure about the laguna blue(and the sample is not even laguna blue) maybe all black is the way to go here! :-D

IMAG1661.jpgmaxresdefault1.jpgmaxresdefault2.jpg
 

Reli

Member (SA)
Dec 24, 2010
6,320
452
83
USA
It's a difficult choice, because you have to compliment the gray on the top control panel. It's kind of a greenish gray, so I'm not sure if blue would work. How about a dark hunter green?

Whatever you do, I would recommend using a matte or flat color, so it won't out-shine the chrome trim.

For the tape door, I would recommend getting some chrome or diamond-plate vinyl tape off Ebay, and cut it to shape.
 

Beast From The East

Member (SA)
Feb 8, 2017
85
0
0
44
Athens Greece
Reli said:
It's a difficult choice, because you have to compliment the gray on the top control panel. It's kind of a greenish gray, so I'm not sure if blue would work. How about a dark hunter green?

Whatever you do, I would recommend using a matte or flat color, so it won't out-shine the chrome trim.

For the tape door, I would recommend getting some chrome or diamond-plate vinyl tape off Ebay, and cut it to shape.
Thanks its a mod box anyway so modding is on! Conion m90 killer :-P
 

Line Out

Member (SA)
Jul 16, 2012
247
2
16
37
Finland
One possible way to have proper looking letters would be to custom order clear stickers with text. Taking good photos of the texts and measuring them. I've never done anything like this, but someone in Russia surely has. I can't remember where, but I saw some next level refurbishing on a Russian website, and it looked like he made new lettering to boxes. I'll try to dig it up from my browsing history. He also sold some laser cut parts (faceplates and so on).

The other way would be using model decals. I think you can also order custom ones. Once they are on and dried, you can seal them by using a matt/semigloss clear laquer. This way they are more durable. Here is one tutorial:
http://www.max-model.it/en/content/8-how-to-apply-decals

-

Have you tested how it sounds? I have the Sound 4008 version of this box and it had one of the thinnest sounds of all my boxes. But still, it packs some power. I changed the speakers to the 3D80 woofers and now its nice and hard hitting (still not so much at lower bass).

The original speakers seemed like good quality, but the upper suspension is so stiff that the cone is hard to move even by hand. Maybe the box was never played at full volume and the suspension never loosened up, who knows...
 

Beast From The East

Member (SA)
Feb 8, 2017
85
0
0
44
Athens Greece
Line Out said:
One possible way to have proper looking letters would be to custom order clear stickers with text. Taking good photos of the texts and measuring them. I've never done anything like this, but someone in Russia surely has. I can't remember where, but I saw some next level refurbishing on a Russian website, and it looked like he made new lettering to boxes. I'll try to dig it up from my browsing history. He also sold some laser cut parts (faceplates and so on).

The other way would be using model decals. I think you can also order custom ones. Once they are on and dried, you can seal them by using a matt/semigloss clear laquer. This way they are more durable. Here is one tutorial:
http://​http://www.max-model.it/en/content/8-how-to-apply-decals

-

Have you tested how it sounds? I have the Sound 4008 version of this box and it had one of the thinnest sounds of all my boxes. But still, it packs some power. I changed the speakers to the 3D80 woofers and now its nice and hard hitting (still not so much at lower bass).

The original speakers seemed like good quality, but the upper suspension is so stiff that the cone is hard to move even by hand. Maybe the box was never played at full volume and the suspension never loosened up, who knows...
I have seen some posts about in here about letters and how to save them or make new ones.However i have to find them again,kinda lost in the threads right now!
Thanks for the info unfortunately the link with the tutorial does not work.
The box sounds fine but not the clearest sound,maybe you are right about the speakers!
I have to find a good solution and gather material for defogging or even replacing the glass parts.So next week is for that purpose alone!
Color options and how to do it i got from reading too much Boomboxery and i think i am going to have a good result
Another task is an airbrush that i have seen some pros to use or maybe paint the speaker cones by hand since they are ugly and nicotine/dust tainted

IMAG1671.jpg
 

Line Out

Member (SA)
Jul 16, 2012
247
2
16
37
Finland
Link fixed.

The clear plastic window surely seems like it cant easily be removed for defogging. Can't remember how it looked like from the inside. From the front it looks like it has tabs holding it in place, but IIRC, those tabs were molten to the front face from the back side.

I washed my own window with some all purpose household cleaner + water, but then it had moisture in there. I got it out with a hair dryer or a hot air gun (at low temp). You could also try those silica gel bags that come with many products in their box. Put the front face and a couple of those silica gel bags in a sealed bag and let them do their thing.

Also maybe a mix of purified water and vinegar could help getting out any residues from the window.
 

Reli

Member (SA)
Dec 24, 2010
6,320
452
83
USA
The tuner window on this model is low-quality, just like the one on the Sharp GF-9191. It gets yellow and hazy very easily. I use Turtle Wax Scratch and Swirl Remover.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.