Wood Veneer - Cosmetic Issue?

[ThomOfYorke]

Hoping to get some input from any woodworkers here.

I recently got a pair of Harbeth SHL5+XD's in rosewood. They were shipped from Nevada to Michigan. They are less than a year old. When they arrived, I gave them a physical inspection while I waited for them to warm to room temperature. I was scanning the finish up close with a light and noticed some very tiny hairline cracks in the finish/veneer.



Are these likely the result of the temperature/humidity difference between NV and MI? Or could they be a result of QC issues? Some of them look like the finish is over top of them.

In any case, my primary question is whether these are merely cosmetic blemishes? I'm disappointed that they're there, but as I said, you can only see them if you're looking for them. The speakers sound fantastic. So as long as these are cosmetic and not likely to spread, I can live with them.

I've contacted some luthiers in my area to see if they'd be able or willing to refinish these if necessary.

I should note that my other three pairs of Harbeths have no veneer/finish issues like this, but I also bought each of those other three pairs from nearby areas so the temperature/humidity from where they came was roughly the same as here. This is why I'm thinking it's a result of the temp/humidity shift from Nevada to Michigan.

 

[Bob Boyer]

I noticed similar cracks in the veneer on my LSA monitors years ago, but the cracking is confined to the sides which are curved, which makes some sense. Like yours, you really have to be looking for them. The good news is they've remained static for a number of years so I'm in the "let sleeping dogs lay" camp.

Honestly, I'd forgotten about them until you mentioned these...

 

[J!m]

You can repair them but it requires a refinish. Flow water-thin CA adhesive into the cracks and allow to cure (don’t use accelerant). Then block sand the entire side with the damage (if you can match the sheen of the original clear.

 

[Gepetto]

Hoping to get some input from any woodworkers here.

I recently got a pair of Harbeth SHL5+XD's in rosewood. They were shipped from Nevada to Michigan. They are less than a year old. When they arrived, I gave them a physical inspection while I waited for them to warm to room temperature. I was scanning the finish up close with a light and noticed some very tiny hairline cracks in the finish/veneer.

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Are these likely the result of the temperature/humidity difference between NV and MI? Or could they be a result of QC issues? Some of them look like the finish is over top of them.

In any case, my primary question is whether these are merely cosmetic blemishes? I'm disappointed that they're there, but as I said, you can only see them if you're looking for them. The speakers sound fantastic. So as long as these are cosmetic and not likely to spread, I can live with them.

I've contacted some luthiers in my area to see if they'd be able or willing to refinish these if necessary.

I should note that my other three pairs of Harbeths have no veneer/finish issues like this, but I also bought each of those other three pairs from nearby areas so the temperature/humidity from where they came was roughly the same as here. This is why I'm thinking it's a result of the temp/humidity shift from Nevada to Michigan.

I wish that was all I had to pick on for my vintage speakers

 

[ThomOfYorke]

I noticed similar cracks in the veneer on my LSA monitors years ago, but the cracking is confined to the sides which are curved, which makes some sense. Like yours, you really have to be looking for them. The good news is they've remained static for a number of years so I'm in the "let sleeping dogs lay" camp.

Honestly, I'd forgotten about them until you mentioned these...

That puts my mind at ease. Sorry to have reminded you of the blemishes!

You can repair them but it requires a refinish. Flow water-thin CA adhesive into the cracks and allow to cure (don’t use accelerant). Then block sand the entire side with the damage (if you can match the sheen of the original clear.

Yeah, I'm thinking that, if they stay like this, then any attempted repair might do more harm than good.

I wish that was all I had to pick on for my vintage speakers

I'm a bit OCD, lol. I wanted to post this to get perspective and make sure it wasn't anything to worry about.

 

[ThomOfYorke]

This might be ridiculous but I'm worried that if I play them at anything above a low volume, the vibrations of the cabinet will exacerbate the cracks. Is that just wrong?

 

[laatsch55]

Yes, a basic flaw in your thought process when it comes to music.!! If you look at pics of my system it will become clear!!

( in case you didnt recognize irony and sarcasm from being a newbie.....there it is) LOL!

 

[Gepetto]

This might be ridiculous but I'm worried that if I play them at anything above a low volume, the vibrations of the cabinet will exacerbate the cracks. Is that just wrong?

enjoy the speakers and don't worry about those hairline blemishes. Natural has small flaws like that, which separates it from fake...

 

[ThomOfYorke]

enjoy the speakers and don't worry about those hairline blemishes. Natural has small flaws like that, which separates it from fake...

Thanks, I'll take your advice. Once the stands arrive, I'll be able to get them set up properly and just use them rather than sit and look at them up close.

 

[J!m]

Apply lemon oil and ignore.

 

[Bob Boyer]

Switching topics ever so slightly, got to hold some 1/64'" thick plywood at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field in the big D today. They have a model shop that builds all the display models and that seems to be the wood of choice for wings and fuselages. What I held looked like unfinished walnut. Would make beautiful cabinet veneers.

 

[VSAT88]

In the diamond business we would refer to those and "inclusions" making the stone identifiable as yours and yours alone. Totally unique in structure. However I I bought a set of speakers that godam expensive I would look them over just like you did with a very close eye. I would not let those inclusions bother me whatever. Like Joe said. I wish that was all I could find on the veneer of all of my vintage speakers. Those are really nice.

 

[ThomOfYorke]

In the diamond business we would refer to those and "inclusions" making the stone identifiable as yours and yours alone. Totally unique in structure. However I I bought a set of speakers that godam expensive I would look them over just like you did with a very close eye. I would not let those inclusions bother me whatever. Like Joe said. I wish that was all I could find on the veneer of all of my vintage speakers. Those are really nice.

Thanks, @VSAT88. Yeah, I think I'm getting over it now, lol. They still look gorgeous, and they sound amazing. I'm really happy with them.

 

[VSAT88]

Lemon oil like Bob said works wonders! But as nice as those are I could just sit and stare at em and would not give a shit if I even played them! Lol! Beautiful speakers for real man. And, you are very welcome!

 

[ThomOfYorke]

That's why I really love Harbeths. Not only do they sound amazing, but they're gorgeous. I love the minimalistic vintage BBC monitor look. A simple box with a good wood veneer/finish is all I want aesthetically for a speaker.

 

[ThomOfYorke]

Just want to say that I appreciate everyone's talking me down from the ledge and encouraging me to enjoy these, lol. When I first inspected them I was being very critical but now I feel like I overreacted and am happy with them.

 

[Bob Boyer]

Believe me, I'd love to have a pair of those sometime.

 

[VSAT88]

You Good Man! Who hasn't looked at a set of speakers here and said SHIT! before. Even an old set. If I had ( and I have had ) looked at a set of mine and saw a spot like that I would have felt the same! Only difference may have been I would have used quite a few "choice words"! Merry Festivis! I got that from Joe and love it! Certainly applys better than Merry Christmas with me. Not that I don't love Jesus mind you!

 

[VSAT88]

Imagine how I felt when I pulled these basically brand new 1968 or so. Vintage KLH-5's out of the box trying to open them up and dropped one and did this damage to them...

 

[ThomOfYorke]

Those are really nice! I suppose it's one of those things where when they aren't yours, you're much less apt to notice the small things.

Re: dropping speakers, my friend got a pair of Harbeth C7ES3-XDs and they have a kid. Well the kid bumped into one of the speaker stands while running around and knocked it over and the speaker hit the floor (sans carpet) right on the corner and seriously chipped/dented it and ripped the grille fabric in the corner. He died inside a bit after that.