How to Repair a Speaker Dust Cap

Tweeter dust caps resonate sound in the absence of a speaker cone.

You can repair a torn or crushed speaker dust cap in just a few minutes. Speaker dust caps cover the inner workings of the speaker to keep out dust particles. These paper, plastic or aluminum discs are glued into the center of the speaker cone and have a concave or convex form. Damage to the dust cap may set the speaker cone off balance and effect the quality of the sound output.

Things You'll Need

• Masking tape
• Scissors
• Razor blade knife
• Rubber toughened Cyanoacrylate (CA) glue

Instructions

1. Pull out dented dust caps with a piece of masking tape that's twice the diameter of the cap. Use the flat side of a fingernail to attach half of the tape's length to the dented section of the dust cap. Slowly peel the strip of masking tape at a 90-degree angle to the dust cap until it pops back into its original form.

2. Repair tears and holes in dust caps by trimming away the frayed material before applying a small piece of masking tape. Tear the tape strip so it's at least 1/2 inch larger than the puncture on all sides.

3. Reattach dust caps that are separating from the cone by first cutting them away completely with a razor blade. Carefully scrape away adhesive residue from the speaker cone and backside of the dust cap.

4. Apply a thin layer of AC glue to the outer rim on the backside of the dust cap and hold it in place on the speaker cone for one minute. The repaired speaker is ready for use right away.

Tips & Warnings

• Once the dust cap has been removed from the speaker cone you have access the clean the speaker interior. Use a cannister of compressed air to blast out any dust the busted dust cap has let through.

• Switching out dust caps or replacing with the wrong size may cause a speaker to rattle.

References

• Woofer Repair: FAQ's
• Olsen Repair: How to Refoam