How to attach the badges on big 43's?

[martin2395]

Can anyone tell me how are the original "Model 43XX studio monitor" metal badges attached to the front grilles? I know that the there are metal lips with holes in the frame itself but the badge itself doesn't have any adhesive.

[BMWCCA]

The originals had metal tabs attached to the frame of the grilles behind the fabric and the badges had posts that went through the grille cloth and into the metal tabs and were secured with nuts, I believe. I can't tell because mine are Kenrick clones and my badges as supplied have nothing on their backs. I tried neodymium magnets behind the cloth with ferrous metal plates glued to the badges but I didn't like it.

I'd love to hear other solutions but actually in my living room I'm liking my 4345s without badges.

[martin2395]

The badges look original, the metal tabs are present too but the badges have a smooth surface on their backs. No signs of broken off bolts or whatsoever.
Previous owner used a piece of double sided tape to attach two flat head pins to the badges and which then went through the holes in the tabs - not the best looking solution.

Sticking a piece of ferrous metal to the badges sounds like an idea but they may be tricky to align properly.

[1audiohack]

I will have to look back but I thought they used tie pins like tie tacks no?

Barry.

[martin2395]

Mine indeed had a kind of tie pins attached but that double sided tape just did'n look right.

They looked like this but of course without the chain and with a plain flat head pin

[quindecima]

I think I have figured out a way to do this with a screw back attachment but I need a little time to figure it out. I need to attach my 4345 foilcaps so this is a priority.

[speakerdave]

The original grille frames had drilled metal tabs on specially placed struts to nowhere. Pins were glued to the back of the badges. The pins went through the holes on the metal tabs and were held in place by spring loaded clips such as are found on tie tacks and award pins. In my view no method which hangs the badges on the cloth will be satisfactory since in the long run the fabric will pull and/or sag, maybe just a little, but that would be enough to be visually noticeable, even if they hang straight to begin with, which I doubt. Using magnets that way will just add weight. If it were me doing it, I would use struts with magnets glued to them and light pieces of steel glued to the back of the badge. Then they could be left off most of the time, and only brought out for Show and Tell. It's possible the gripping of the magnets will make an impression on the grille cloth fibers, but it might brush out.

[quindecima]

My idea is to use narrow (3/8) light gauge metal strips off of the grill with holes drilled in them to accept small drill stock that is jb welded into the back of the foilcals. I am going to look into this method to see if I can use it. There is no way you can attach the foilcals to the grill cloth and have it come out acceptable.

[Goldjazz]

Looks like a rivet with a flat head on the grill side that must have been bonded or spot welded to the badge. Mine had come off and a previous owner had tried to rebond them then hide the ugliness if the glue with gaffe tape. This repair detatched again at some point and I havent repaired it as I dont use the grills.

[martin2395]

I don't use the grilles too but the speakers are listed for sale and It would've been nice to make them look as good as possible

[hjames]

Its probably not the "right" glue, but I've had good luck with RTV silicon adhesive for attaching dissimilar pieces together.
Commonly available at Home Despot or whatever for $3-4 bucks a tube for the bathroom caulk version of it -
just put a dab on the back of the JBL logo, face down, and stick the head of one of those tie tack into it,
and let it stand that way overnight to cure. Doesn't need a lot of strength to work, and you can peel it apart
pretty easily without damaging the logo/badge at some point if you want to do something else ...

[Wagner]

Its probably not the "right" glue, but I've had good luck with RTV silicon adhesive for attaching dissimilar pieces together.
Commonly available at Home Despot or whatever for $3-4 bucks a tube for the bathroom caulk version of it -
just put a dab on the back of the JBL logo, face down, and stick the head of one of those tie tack into it,
and let it stand that way overnight to cure. Doesn't need a lot of strength to work, and you can peel it apart
pretty easily without damaging the logo/badge at some point if you want to do something else ...

You are absolutely correct
RTV is an excellent suggestion/solution and they make readily available mixes of it that are indeed intended for not just caulking but "gluing" as well

In fact, my "square caps" used with RTV would probably be better from a financial perspective. I only buy contact cement by the pint can at minimum (and it's expensive) as the little brown bottles "for around the house repairs" at "ACE" always seem to be covered with dust and well beyond their expiration date (and anyone that's ever used it knows that contact cement that's old doesn't work, or brush out, worth a shit) Gets stringy and impossible to apply properly
A pint can goes a long way with DIY projects but unless you're going to use it up within a year or so it'd be money wasted for so small a job. I can easily go through a can every 6 months though as it's just so damn useful for so many things

I just like working with it as it allows for fast assembly and the bond becomes stronger over time

[BMWCCA]

Thanks for the pictures.
How many tabs/posts per badge?

If you google "Jewelry findings tie-tack post" you'll find lots of stuff like this which should be easy to attach with some JB Weld or other:

http://www.esslinger.com/tie-tacks-c...-cuff-links-1/

(Probably find similar at local Michaels)

[martin2395]

I suppose you could use some epoxy glue to attach them?

[BMWCCA]

Sorry, here in America JB Weld is a do-it-all two-part epoxy structural repair solution for anything from engine blocks to JBLs. I've even seen people make whole parts out of it. Works on anything that's not flexible.