10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - Printable Version
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10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - OldRestorer - 05-28-2016
I need to get some of my cabinets done so I took 10 empty cabinets and went to work this week..
I am working on an GE Mantle set, Jackson bell swan, General motors 4052, Sparton 65, Zenith 705, Automatic 613X, Utah speaker cabinet, Kadette 87, and an RCA 44. Something else too... Hmmm
I took the ones with solid cabinets and no veneer issues and Stripped them.
I find that veneering before stripping helps color the new veneer to match better when stripping.
The Swan needs a lot of veneer repair , gluing and an arch installed. The RCA 44 needs some gluing and the Sparton 65 needs gluing and veneer repairs.
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - OldRestorer - 05-28-2016
Today was Grain filling day!
Grainfilled most of the cabinets that did not need repairs.
Grain filling:
I am grain filling some cabinets today and if you dont do it....
You are either doing 10x the work To attain that factory correct finish or are not getting it..
First picture is a radio I did many years ago without grain filler..
Second was the redo..
The rest of the pictures are before and after grain filling or side by side to show the difference...
How I do it is to first mix the H**l out of the grain filler. When you buy it, it will usually be a rock under some thinner in the can.
It must be mixed to a batter consistency. I add mineral spirits whe it is a shallow grain or if it is sunny out to prevent premature hardening...
Apply with a credit card or plastic putty knife if you dont have any sort of card.. Casino cards work well, lol
I scrape the grains in an X pattern across the grains. I never scrape with the grains or strait across. You must fill all the grains and WEAR GLOVES.. It absorbs into your skin!
You may have to apply multiple times. It depends on the grain depth.
I am using Medium walnut on these as the toner that I will use will be medium walnut and darker. There are different colors. I only have medium and light walnut.
If you are toning a radio that should be light then you should use Sanding sealer. easily bought at home depot. This will prevent the grain filler from staining the veneer.
I have a different method from others for wiping off the filler. They say to use burlap and rub it hard in circles over the veneer. I feel the rough fabric creates grooves in the grains. I personally find it much easier to fill the grains by using one finger in a plastic glove, covered with a sheet or pillow case material and working it in nice and tight going in circles...
If you do it right then you will tone on a mirror flat surface and use less clear when finishing. It will create 10X less sanding too. If you apply clear right, there can be no sanding but it starts with grain filling
There are many videos online for this so google it if you need a visual.
Here are the pictures: They are not great but you can see the open grains and the the flat surface..
Tomorrow I will smooth everything, clean the cracks and corners, Possibly do some more grain filling on one or 2 and then tape and TONE!
Me
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - OldRestorer - 05-28-2016
Toning time!
24 hours for grain filler to dry and GO!
Most don't need taping so that is awesome.
So I took a few cans of Medium walnut and began toning one at a time to my desired color and shade.
I still have to do work on the Jackson bell, Grain fill the GM, and veneer the Sparton. The rest are toned and ready for finish coats..
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - Ron Ramirez - 05-28-2016
(05-28-2016, 09:48 AM)OldRestorer Wrote: They say to use ?? ...potato sack material... and rub it hard in circles over the veneer. ...I personally find it much easier to fill the grains by using one finger in a plastic glove, covered with a sheet or pillow case material and working it in nice and tight going in circles...
Do you mean I bought all of that burlap (what the potato sack material is called) for nothing?
But seriously, thank you for the great tip!
I am going to try using material from an old sheet the next time I grain fill a cabinet.
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - sam - 05-28-2016
look at all this crap
Where`s the good ones at ?I don`t see any record players or portables
portable Me
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - Kenneth F. Besso Jr. - 05-28-2016
May I send ,,my 620 cabinet (table top) up to you,,,soo,,,you can do this wonderful job,,,at a price----(Of Course),,,I can mail it up,,,and JUST ,,,tell me what you want to finish it,,,,,you name it,,I pay,,,,Thank You,,Ken
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - OldRestorer - 05-28-2016
Get to work Ron,
Sam,
Portables are rarely wooden sam and these are part of the 50 cabinets I have done the chassis for (and Mike). When these are done I will do 10 more of them and then 10 more, and so on until they are all done! I may just sell some unfinished at some point.. The record players will be next year probably unless I have a miracle... Then it is 3 other peoples cabinets! UGH
Kenneth,
I would do your cabinet for you but I am super overloaded with them right now... I have Mikes 620 already. This will be my 4th 620,
Post a picture of it so I can see it.. Veneer issues, cabinet weaknesses, or is it a strait forward restore?
I veneered the Sparton 65 today, Grain filled the RCA and the GM, and worked on the basket case Jackson bell that Mike did the chassis of..
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - morzh - 05-28-2016
Is that the one I have the chassis for?
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - OldRestorer - 05-28-2016
You had the chassis for the GM (bottom right radio).. I have it now...
You have a Majestic 15 and? I think thats it? lol, I don't know..
The Sparton 65 will be coming your way. I worked on it but it is still dead... Maybe deader,
Ecaps were done definitely...
Me
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - morzh - 05-28-2016
No I mean the Philco 50-something.
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - OldRestorer - 05-29-2016
Philco 50? I dont have a 50...
Confused me
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - OldRestorer - 05-29-2016
I took out a few cabinets and decided to clear them but the wind had a different mindset....
I got the Kadette 87, Rola Speaker, and Automatic 613X cabinets cleared. They will need to be sanded to 2000 wet and rotted....
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - morzh - 05-29-2016
(05-29-2016, 03:38 PM)OldRestorer Wrote: I took out a few cabinets and decided to clear them but the wind had a different mindset....
I got the Kadette 87, Rola Speaker, and Automatic 613X cabinets cleared. They will need to be sanded to 2000 wet and rotted....
I thought they have rotted enough..... plus all the rotten treatment they were subjected to.....
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - sam - 05-29-2016
RE: 10 radio cabinet restoration chronicles - shaler78 - 05-29-2016
Stupid question. What do you mean by "rotted"?