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Philco 45 "Butterfly" - Printable Version

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Philco 45 "Butterfly" - rfeenstra - 10-28-2020

I decided to refinish my previously refinished in black Butterfly 45.  The veneer on the front pieces is messed up and I want to replace it.  Does anyone know what it is?  it looks like burled walnut, but not sure.  And, does that look like the original grille cloth? 

   

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - morzh - 10-28-2020

Rob

It's not that obvious it's messed up.
Maybe up close.....but on the photo it looks fine.

It does resemble walnut, but I think natural cherry would look as good.

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - rfeenstra - 10-28-2020

Yes, the photo looks better than the real thing. it has been sanded through in a couple of places and a piece was broken off and re-glued. And the panels are delaminating from the radio. So I'll have to do regluing anyway. With a little heat, I've already removed the panels since they were half off. I will try my hand at making new and veneering. I think it will be an interesting project. If it turns out lousy, I can always replace the original pieces. I have a piece of .8 mm ply that I used on my airplane. I'll use that as the backing for the veneer, use a shape following router to shape the pieces just like the original. I'll look at some cherry to see if I like it. The burled walnut I've looked at is a little too "figured".

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - rfeenstra - 10-30-2020

it took a lot of work to get all the black off from the radio.  It appears that Philco used a stain to color the white wood and the plywood.  This is the cabinet stripped and sanded.  I need to glue some veneer to the shaped plywood for the the decorative pieces before I glue them to the radio.  I will experiment with some wiping stain on the cabinet to even out the color, then use toner to get the final color.  I believe I read somewhere Ron recommending the cabinet be toned with dark walnut toner and the decorative pieces with medium walnut.

           

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - morzh - 10-30-2020

I never ventured in this realm........if you see me near a wooden structure that is taken apart - it is likely I fell on it.

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - rfeenstra - 10-30-2020

Icon_lol

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - rfeenstra - 10-30-2020

So did what little grain there is in the "white" wood and the plywood show through the Dark brown toner? Or, did they use an opaque toner that hid all of the characteristics of the wood?

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - rfeenstra - 11-03-2020

So, after stripping all of the black from the cabinet, replacing the decorative pieces, toning the cabinet with dark brown walnut toner and medium brown on the decorative pieces, here is the result so far.  I had to use an air brush with the dark walnut toner to even out the finish before the final coats of toner.  The cabinet turned out deep red-brown (red because the cabinet was quite red after the stripping process plus walnut brown toner tends to be a bit red).  Medium brown walnut also turns out a bit red and the camera accentuates that, but on the whole it's ok.  I hope it's not too far from original.  I have to believe it is closer than the black paint that was on it previously!

   

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - rfeenstra - 11-05-2020

Hmmm.  Mixed up some white, yellow and black fingernail polish.  It looked good in mixing container but after on the radio, it is way to white to suit me.  More sanding, mixing and spraying!

       

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - Paul Philco322 - 11-05-2020

I recently saw one of these on a Perry Mason episode. In somebody's apartment. Your's is sharper too look at Icon_smile.

Paul

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - rfeenstra - 11-05-2020

Thank you, Paul! I have redone the off white to a bit more yellow then "sprinkled" a bit of light walnut toner on it. Lacquer is drying now. I like it better but still may be a little too dominant. The original finish 45's I've seen on line have it more subdued. But, I can't keep putting lacquer on it! I think I'll live with it now. Pic will be coming.

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - rfeenstra - 11-06-2020

Lacquer has  dried a bit.  Here is the "toned down" trim color.  This will be the final result.

       

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - rfeenstra - 11-06-2020

Final product.  Finished!  I even decided to tin plate the tube shields.

               

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - LarryFS - 11-06-2020

That's a beauty! I have one with black paint and missing wire insulation caused by mice. I've been hesitant to start working on it; but, yours inspires me.

RE: Philco 45 "Butterfly" - Paul Philco322 - 11-06-2020

https://radioattic.com/item.htm?radio=1650432

Not anywhere near as nice as the one here in the Phorum.

Paul