Refinish speaker in different color

If you got them for a very good price, then maybe it would just be better to sell them and buy the ones you want. I've used plenty of paint stripper when painting my house and let me tell you...if I never see it again it will be too soon...I think that to get the results you want, you will have to put more time and $ into the supplies than it is really worth...and then...what happens if you aren't satisfied with the result? Are you gonna re-do it or possibly kick yourself in the a** for the time and money wasted.

Take the easy route...sell em

just my 2c

Ellery

p.s. remember...I dont know what kind of speakers these are...if they are $20,000 speakers and you got them for a steal refinishing becomes a more viable option vs my $1200 B&W CDM1nt's...so I'm just looking at mine (they are black too) and judging off that...but I liked black anyways. to each his own huh?

I'll add my vote to those who have said restaining is difficult and not worth the trouble unless you can't get what you want. I spent a good part of last summer breathing toxic stripping fumes, cleaning toxic debis, scraping, sanding, refinishing with steel wool, applying polyurethane etc. If your really in the mood you could attempt it but the black will have penetrated the grain of the veneer in places as mentioned above, making a good outcome very uncertain. If you can tolerate a dark streak here or there and are a real DIY then try it. Realizing you may not get the finish you really want.

While I agree that this is a difficult feat, and NOT worth the effort, it potentially could be done. As opposed to stripper, which you will need to remove the polyurethane, acrylic, or lacquer, you will need to bleach the wood to remove the stain. There are three types of bleach(including clorox) used for this, and you may need to try each to find the type that will work.

There is absolutely NO gurantee it will work, and you should either get a different pair of speakers, or look into replacing the veneer completely. In the end, because you are working with black and trying to achieve maple(your cherry would be more attainable), my advice is to LEAVE IT ALONE!

Here's a though:

Why not re-veneer them. I had a pair of B&W DM302's veneered by a local cabinet maker a few years ago. He removed all the drivers, sanded them and attached new veneer using a vacuum press. Granted, it cost $300, which is about what the speakers cost new, but the wife is happy which is the important part.

PS-I'm a weekend woodworker. I haven't done any veneering myself yet; I like to work with solids.

As a few people mentioned above, some types of veneer can be refinished if one is very careful. These veneers are usually used on furniture meant to withstand daily contact (like an armoir or dresser) and are MUCH thicker than those typically used on speaker cabinets which are usually only slightly thicker than a childrens colored contstruction paper. Unfortunately for your situation, it is highly unlikely that you have a refinishable veneer, unless these are VERY expensive speakers.

However, Prpixel has a good idea and probably the only workable option mentioned in this thread (other than reselling the speakers and buying the ones with the finish you want). Having them vacuum veneered is the proper (and best) way to do the job to insure good veneer adhesion, but if you are fairly handy you could attempt a re-veneer yourself to keep the cost down. All you would need is the veneer, adhesive, several sharp blades, a good smooth roller and plenty of time. Be careful and take your time...that is the key. Keep in mind, though, that trimming veneer can be a real PITA. Hope that helps and good luck.