Hi Mark, thanks for the reply. I thought I read about people painting speakers and being told they shouldn't do it because the weight would change the cabinets resonance or something.
Although axioms do sell paintable speakers.

Now that you mention wood maybe I am remembering reading about doing a reveneer on the speakers, I did want to change the color. That might be where I read the weight thing.

I just want to cutout a top piece the same shape as the top of the m80 and sew a side piece to go down the length of it out of velvet.