Liquid Gold wood finish treatment. Light application of that on a soft rag or paper towel always worked well for me. It will glisten up the wood grain nicely and result in more light being reflected, hence protecting the finish from light exposure. |
cover them when not in use. sunlight works fast. |
Bee's wax works for me, and yes keep them out of direct sunlight. |
I think that I have heard of furniture treatments that contain sunscreen, anyone else know who makes it? |
Only two viable options. Either cover them up as suggested, or invest in ultra-violet sunscreen film for your glass. I've got an 8' x 8' glass patio door by my system and installed sunscreen film. It cuts down on glare, enhances the energy efficiency of the door, and stops 99% of the uv light that damages fabric, wood, and art. Plus, it actually improves the view. It has an effect like wearing polarizing sunglasses, the sky looks much bluer. |
2nd the Liquid Gold.This happened to my Virgos,when I lived in Wi.This restored the lustre. |
Another wax product I use is Sunwax with UV protection...combines UV inhibitors with a unique blend of carnauba wax, beeswax and orange oil. |
Bees wax is the best I have found. Liquid Gold can tend to dry out and require more applications. I have switched to a bees' wax product and buff it it lightly between applications. And as a accasional measure I use a citrus cleaner to remove any wax build up and re-apply the bee's wax. As a a final not I mean no offense to those who use Liquid Gold I used it for years and have just found something I like better. |
One thing an owner needs to consider is the type of finish on wood. Most speakers of modern manufacture are going to be finished in some sort of catalyzed impermeable finish. No amount of beeswax, oil, or whatever is going to have an iotas effect on the wood. It may make the surface look pretty, but it's not going to affect the actual underlying wood unless you have an oil or wax finished veneer. And those are fairly rare these days. Conservators wouldn't trust sunscreen products to protect any valuable wood item. They may help a little, but don't be lulled into a false sense of security and think they'll stop sun bleaching, especially in places like Florida, Arizona, or Hawaii. |
curtains on windows work pretty good |
Photon46 is correct. Two options, curtains, or a UV filter film (made by 3M) installed on your windows. Also, periodically, switch your left with your right speaker around to get an even tan. |
Try to protect the grills too.Also the sun may shine through the grill,damaging the drivers. |
I just had my west facing windows covered with window tinting. It will achieve 3 major improvements to a room. First 98% of the uv light will be blocked-the most critical portion of light that causes fading. Second it will block 50-85% of the infrared wave length( infrared accounts for 50% of light's thermal energy). Third it will improve the accoustic's of the glass which is often a source of reflected sound perceived as bright,and fatiguing. 3-M is a good brand but there is a German brand Huber that is the best if you want your window protected but no tinting. This brand is used by museums that want maximum light but blockade of the uv and infared. It uses 3 layers of plastic each tuned to a different wavelength. It has no metallic sheen to it like 3-M. It is the best.
David Pritchard |
Yes, as mentioned above theres little that can be done to totally stop yellowing of Maple, or any veneer for that matter. Some alter colour more than others, wether exposed to uv light or not. Wenge for example, a timber which is known to be dark brown, with almost black streaks, is in fact blonde when first cut, the exposure to light changes the colour to the dark we know. So your Maple will yellow over time regardless. The amount of yellowing will be affected by several aspects, ie exposure to light, and the anti-yellowing properties of the lacquer used. Some are better than others in this regard, and i'm not sure what Totem use, but most likely either a 2 pack Acid Cat, or a 2 pack PU, which is better if good quality catalysts are used. The thought that they may still be using pre-cat is possible as it is low cost, and will change colour.
So there is unfortunately no magic protection that can be applied to stop this. All modern coatings are designed to be maintenance free, application of waxes or oils is not necessary, and will build up over time and look cloudy.
The best advice is to cover them when not in use, and at all cost avoid direct sunlight!
Enjoy them above all though, they are tools to do a job at the end of the day..
Regards,
PS |
Bri wax works great in sunlight but it will build up. Only the manufacturers clearcoat will protect the wood from sun. if they used a good finish then whatever they recoment.
All my speakers use general finished "Arm-R-Seal" which fully protects the wood. If Totem uses an automotive grade laquer, you should be fine... |
bet wood has plastic coat so you can treat like plastic I suggest a polish for motorcycles its has UV blocker will keep dust from building up. nothing but curtains or a cover will prevent UV damage to drivers. |
