[steve25]

Any one know if there is anything that can be used to cut clear silicone to make it maybe 50% paintable?

[tpssonic]

There are clear caulks that contain silicone that are paintable. They are available at most hardware stores, I don't know how you would cut 100% silicone to make it paintable. However I am 100% ready to learn if it can be done.

[steve25]

Thanks!

[Schurkey]

Where are you using silicone that it needs to be painted?

[ta man]

There are paintable products...where do you want to paint?Seam sealer would be a better option.

[dataway]

Can't understand if the OP wants to apply silicone that needs to be painted, or wants to spay the thinned silicone itself.

Not sure about others, but I won't allow any silicone product anywhere near my shop. I know there are body shops that will fire an employee for bringing silicone into the shop. Silicone lubricants etc. ... are the absolute arch enemy of paint. Incredible how hard it is to decontaminate a surface that has been in contact with silicone.

I have no idea how/why silicone sealers/caulk are different ... but the silicone lubricants, dry lubricants, protectants .... they are an unholy nightmare to remove from a surface for painting. Half the time they also contaminate whatever you use to remove it also .... all the sand in your cabinet, wire wheels, sand paper, scotch bright, rags, fingers, clothing etc.

[steve25]

It's due to my need being nothing Automotive related .

I have two very rare and expensive musical instrument speakers who's suspensions are worn.

I could recone them myself as I have done with many others over the years , but the correct new factory cone can no longer be had for these ,and the replacements done quite sound the same.

If I could paint on ( Brush on ) a film instead of a layer of silicone onto the two suspension points of these speakers I could sneak a bit more life out of these.

Thank you all for the responses !

[400 Lemans]

Permatex makes flowable clear silicone in a tube. I have used it several times on water leaks etc. The consistency is about like Elmers glue. You may be able to paint it on.

[steve25]

There you go , thank you!
That sounds worth a shot!

[ta man]

Use Urethane

[Skip Fix]

There was a 3M clear flexible body seam sealer I used years ago. Small tube not caulking gun tube. I'll see if I have the old dried up tube still on the shelf.

[78w72]

Originally Posted by steve25

I have two very rare and expensive musical instrument speakers who's suspensions are worn.

what kind of speakers are they?

[Bluesugar]

steve25,when my Craig amps,Vox and Fender Champ amp cones went south after 30+ years,yes the cones were still very good,only the flex suspension went to heck.I did research and bought CRC adhesive from "SpringfieldSpeakerRepair.com"...worked Great!!

[FrankieT/A]

I've repaired sub woofer suspension with 5200. Worked perfectly...

[77poncho]

I damaged a brand new subwoofer a long time ago while installing into the cabinet. I slipped with the drill and punctured the surround. I did basically same thing your trying to do. I used a bit o f silicone on a small paint brush and painted a few layers on it. Held up VERY well. Attached pic is what I used.

[steve25]

These are Altec Lansing 418 models.
The cones are perfect, its the surround and the spider that's on the loose side , but mainly the spider.
I have cut out and replaced surrounds while keeping the original cones on many speakers, but spider replacement can't be done without distroying too much!

Thanks to all for the possible glue cures, no pun intended!

[78w72]

have you checked with places like simply speakers? they can do a surround replacement with the correct or very close materials & complete recones for many vintage speakers. if not they will have the proper speaker repair glues.

http://www.simplyspeakers.com/

[1968GTO421]

Originally Posted by 78w72

have you checked with places like simply speakers? they can do a surround replacement with the correct or very close materials & complete recones for many vintage speakers. if not they will have the proper speaker repair glues.

http://www.simplyspeakers.com/

Thanks, 78w72, for this link. I have several speakers with foam problems...this is a great site...Appreciate it.

[78w72]

they do top quality work at very good prices & have the correct surrounds & complete cones/spiders for many speakers old & new. & if they dont have correct looking ones they can make your speakers function just as good if not better with a universal surround/cone.

but if its just foam surround issues with your speakers you can watch some of their youtube videos & probably replace them yourself. ive replaced surrounds before & its not hard at all.

as for surround/spider repair, ive had great results with permatex ultra-black gasket sealer. its very strong & flexible & doesnt dry out or get brittle over time.... think its paintable too. ive repaired many different types of surrounds with it from foam to rubber to accordian type fiber. dries a semi gloss black & can barely tell its there on black surrounds & speaker cones.

[gtofreek]

Would liquid latex be a viable solution? It can be had at costume supply places.