Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly

Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly - Printable Version

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Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly - SRv2 - 04-09-2026

Hey all,
First off, I am not great at cabinet restoration, I’m still learning with each radio.
I need some input. For the model 45 butterfly I am working on, I have it stripped and cleaned (might need a couple more passes in some of the groove areas). At this stage, I can’t ever determine if I should do grain filler and toner - or - stick with the coloring the way it is and go to lacquer stage. I haven’t done grain filler on any cabinet. I have done toner for sure. I read Ron’s post about what he did on his butterfly and he did the full grain filler and toner, so leaning that way. I just looks pretty decent after fully stripping the old lacquer and I always pause not knowing which route to go next. Thoughts?

From Ron’s post:
“ I only applied grain filler to the three panels where Philco had used the fancy walnut veneer, as the remainder of the cabinet used the cheap “white wood” which normally has a very tight grain which does not require filling.”

RE: Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly - klondike98 - 04-10-2026

Walnut has open pores and will benefit from grain filler while, as Ron mentioned, the other wood does not have open pores so no need to fill. There are a number of grain filler products out there and numerous posts on the Phorum about how people have gone about filling. It does take a bit of practice. Lately I've used Timbermate to grain fill. Its water soluble, easy to work with and easy to sand. For me it takes a couple of passes to get the grain filled completely. It comes in multiple colors so you should be able to match the wood pretty closely. People often lightly sand the veneer and apply a sanding sealer before doing the grain filling. This helps keep the filler from staining the wood surrounding the pores if its a staining type of filler. some fillers are oil based and different people have their favorite way of doing the filling.

RE: Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly - SRv2 - 04-10-2026

Thanks, Bob, that’s helpful. I have some Mohawk grain filler and I’ll give it a go. I appreciate the feedback and tips.

462ron - 462ron - 04-11-2026

Hi George, it is very tempting for someone like me who absolutely hates doing cabinet refinishing to strip a cabinet and wash it down with mineral spirits and then go to the clear lacquering stage. My 37-116 is a big floor model and after stripping it and wiping it down, it looked so good and I was tempted to just do the clear lacquer. After stripping, it spread the color or tint around so good that all the blemishes and scratches were gone and wiping it down made it really pop so much so I thought why take a chance with rattle cans and possibly ruin what already looked terrific. When Ron was still with us he insisted that I wouldn’t be sorry to do all the steps leading up to the clear finish. I do like the way it finally came out but I can’t help wondering what it would have been like if I just went to clear lacquer after stripping it and wiping it down. It surely would have saved many hours of labor and money. I did just that with a Majestic radio and very pleased with the way it turned out, so much so that that was what tempted me to do the same with my 37-116. So I guess what I’m trying to say is it depends on how much you like or dislike doing cabinet refinishing. Hope this helps more than adding confusion, have fun either way!

Ron

RE: Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly - SRv2 - 04-11-2026

Hi Ron,
This input is really helpful, thank you. I don't yet enjoy the cabinet refinishing process, but I think mainly it is because I am so much more comfortable with the electronic repair, and not much of a wood-worker, so I just hesitate too much due to lack of skills on the cabinet work. But, now that I have time in retirement, I am determined to learn cabinet refinishing better. I figure this "craft" of vintage radio restoration is a two step thing and mastering the craft means digging into both aspects. For this model 45, I am going to go ahead with the full process and see how it goes. I have had some other cabinets where I didn't even get the old lacquer fully stripped down and regretted the final outcome, so I have at least got the stripping process pretty well nailed. I may as well learn the grain filling process on this model since it is only on those three walnut panels. I really appreciate the feedback from this group of veterans, it helps to hear the range of experiences.
George

RE: Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly - radiorich - 04-11-2026

Hello George,
I agree with Ron, and I’m not a fan of cabinet refinishing either. However, I did one years ago, following Ron’s and other members’ advice. It’s a Philco 610B, and here’s a photo of it in our gallery.

1936 (June 1935) - Philco Radio Gallery

Anyway I have always wanted to get a 45 butterFly to restore I do have Philco bullet thou.
Sincerely Richard

RE: Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly - SRv2 - 04-11-2026

Hey Richard,
Wow, that 610B looks incredible, like it just rolled off the assembly line. Probably better, nice job! That gives me inspiration to work on the similar models I have stored up on top of my garage cabinets. Not sure if mine is a 610B. I really like that tombstone look.

462ron - 462ron - 04-12-2026

George, looking at your cabinet in its current stripped condition, it would benefit from a full refinishing process only for the fact that the color on the cabinet is wore through on the edges, wore or stripped down to bare wood. I will attach pictures of my Majestic where I just stripped then wash down with mineral spirits and went straight to clear lacquer.
Richard, your 610 came out top notch!

Ron

RE: Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly - SRv2 - 04-12-2026

Grain filler process complete on the Butterfly. Close up view before and after shows that I filled all the small pits and grooves in the walnut. Next up toner starting this week. Also, Ron, that Majestic unit looks amazing! Nice one!

RE: Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly - Paul Philco322 - 04-12-2026

Looking good sir, keep at it. Paul

RE: Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly - radiorich - 04-12-2026

Hello George,
Thanks, and yours looks like a Philco 610b as well. I even restuffed the capacitors on mine. Ron, you should have seen it before I started—it was painted white with latex paint, the knobs were painted too, and they had used a pillowcase or sheet for the grille cloth. I also used grain filler and Homestead’s TransTint® dyes to even out the color.
Sincerely Richard

https://homesteadfinishingproducts.com/transtint-liquid-dyes/

462ron - 462ron - 04-13-2026

Thanks George, after seeing the way the Majestic turned out, I was so tempted to forgo the grain filler, sanding, and tinted lacquer and go right to clear lacquer after stripping on my 37-116 but I didn’t. Your 45 is coming along spectacularly!
Richard, refinishing a painted cabinet and knobs…just shoot me now, ugh. Never had the pleasure. You have more will power than me!

Ron

RE: Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly - SRv2 - 04-13-2026

Toner day - with my portable paint booth

Front walnut sections toned with medium walnut.

RE: Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly - SRv2 - 04-14-2026

Extra dark walnut toner done. Has anyone used the Seisso resin tube to color the off-white horizontal stripes? I know Ron used fingernail polish, just thinking about trying these resin tubes. Or some other recommended product?

RE: Refinish help needed - model 45 Butterfly - SRv2 - 04-14-2026

Ready for lacquer coats and polish. I used the resin tubes on the pin-stripes. So far so good.
Added a side-by-side shot with the my other older 45C.