Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
Fred Taylor - 06-07-2015
I wanted to save the original finish on this one but after looking closely and overall inspection there were to many problems with finish. A total refinish will be performed . By looking at photo you cant see the problems that you would see in person so here I go. I gutted the cabinet today and stripped the cabinet . It will look grand once im done with it. There are many different woods on this cabinet and is built solid as a rock like Philco cabinets. Very heavy and thick, that's what I like to work with, the grill cloth will be saved and is thicker than your normal grill cloth. There was very little veneer damage which is great, nothing to lose any sleep over. The radio it self will be getting a total going over for top performance and safety. I will post progress for the next week or so until completed.
RE: Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
Steve Davis - 06-07-2015
Fred, I don't know how you do it. Finishing is my least favorite part of cabinet work.
Steve
RE: Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
Fred Taylor - 06-07-2015
I enjoy doing that type of work, ive refinished autos for 25+ years and that my friend is getting old fast. Radios are different , I love doing em .
RE: Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
Dan Walker - 06-08-2015
My least favorite part of doing the cabinets is the stripping. Once that part is out of the way, the fun begins
It's going to look good when you are done, Fred.
RE: Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
Fred Taylor - 06-09-2015
Up date on refinishing Deforest / Crosley cabinet. The colors and toners came out just like original , very nice and this is what it would have looked like when bran new. The complete cabinet has been grain filled and inner grill openings have been colored black just like factory , compare the original finish to the new finish, exactly the same. How bout that
![Icon_clap Icon_clap](https://philcoradio.com/phorum/images/smilies/icon_clap.gif)
This was a high end radio in its day and deserves the best of the best in refinishing
RE: Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
Fred Taylor - 06-09-2015
(06-09-2015, 06:06 PM)Fred Taylor Wrote: Up date on refinishing Deforest / Crosley cabinet. The colors and toners came out just like original , very nice and this is what it would have looked like when bran new. The complete cabinet has been grain filled and inner grill openings have been colored black just like factory , compare the original finish to the new finish, exactly the same. How bout that
This was a high end radio in its day and deserves the best of the best in refinishing ![Icon_eek Icon_eek](https://philcoradio.com/phorum/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
RE: Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
Dan Walker - 06-09-2015
That is very good Fred. Excellent work, it is just like new from the factory... I noticed that you used a scraper on the grill bars.. Do you use the extra dark walnut on the bars and then scrape the top off to show the veneer?
There are lots of methods to do these things, but you must share this with us..
Once again EXCELLENT JOB
Dan in Calgary.
RE: Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
Fred Taylor - 06-09-2015
That scrapper is a very important tool I use when refinishing, the kit comes with another handle in which you can change tips , rounded, v pattern . You really should have one to do the best possible job. Yes I scrapped the bars after painting the inner grill . That scrapper can get into very tight areas where you could never get by hand, its a must have. I will take pictures of the box it came in. I bought it at auction some time ago, it never seems to get dull must be made out of titanium, or tungsten steel or something.
RE: Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
Paul Philco322 - 06-09-2015
Ever think of refinishing furiture for a living? I know a fella up here who does. Not wealthy, but he is busy and in demand. Up Boston way lots of old stuff to be refinished. Oh yeah, old people to refinish too!
Paul
RE: Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
Fred Taylor - 06-10-2015
Just finished Deforest / Crosley today , Its a beautiful radio and sounds very nice , that one will be a keeper for a while. I am looking for one wooden nob still , the one on right is not correct
RE: Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
Crist Rigotti - 06-10-2015
Speechless!
RE: Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
palegreenthumb - 06-11-2015
Wow, beautiful, stunning, Fred! Great job!
Is that really the original grill cloth from the first picture? Did you dry clean, or how did you get such a dramatic difference?
Rodney
RE: Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
sam - 06-11-2015
great job very nice
RE: Deforest/crosley Project RESTORE! -
Fred Taylor - 06-11-2015
(06-11-2015, 12:55 AM)palegreenthumb Wrote: Wow, beautiful, stunning, Fred! Great job!
Is that really the original grill cloth from the first picture? Did you dry clean, or how did you get such a dramatic difference?
Rodney
I did want to save the original but was unable to so there for I replaced with new cloth. I like the pattern, some people probably wont , one can change grill cloth fairly easily so with that in mind, if someone wanted to purchase radio but didn't like the cloth I wood offer to change it out to what ever they wanted. Its like buying a car with wheels that you don't care for, get different wheels.