The PHILCO Phorum
Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - Printable Version

+- The PHILCO Phorum (https://philcoradio.com/phorum)
+-- Forum: Philco Radio Discussions (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: Philco Cabinet Restoration (https://philcoradio.com/phorum/forumdisplay.php?fid=9)
+--- Thread: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration (/showthread.php?tid=15339)

Pages: 1 2

Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - klondike98 - 09-01-2016

I’ll be starting on this cabinet shortly.  

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/m2q0aihh6ktkhky/Philco50_01.jpg?raw=1]

It’s the early version 50 that used a 70 cabinet with a re-drilled bottom.  There is some loose veneer that needs gluing before anything else but the grill cloth will need replacing so I need to get it ordered.  Here’s a shot of what was on the cabinet.

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/q75m8eqwo6n20ua/50_27.jpg?raw=1]

It looks a lot like Kenneth’s Whiskey Rayon (scroll down page to get to it) to me and the folks at RadioDaze have a cloth they suggest for the 70 cabinet.  I’ve bought the Whiskey Rayon but have not actually seen the RadioDaze product.  Any thoughts on which would be the best fit?  Thanks!!

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - OldRestorer - 09-01-2016

Finally,
I cant wait to see her progress..

I go with Kenny but have used the RadioDaze one.. They are very similar.
Both are a little too gold for me so I tone them a bit with perfect brown...

Me

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - klondike98 - 09-05-2016

thanks Kirk.  I've used Kenneth's before as well, very good, but its currently on backorder.  I've ordered the RadioDaze cloth for now.  Here's a pic of the re-drilled bottom section you see on these early 50s and I always take those pesky Philco Pheet off the bottom of the cabinet...they do nothing but scratch the heck out of everything you put them on.  I replace them with brown fiber/felt stick on feet.  While this cabinet has seen better days, the veneer is still pretty much all there.  Its loose on the grill section but not broken (and some of the base layer wood is loose as well).  The front arch veneer is coming off in many places as well but I'm uncomfortable trying to get it all off and reglued so I'm using the "work some glue in under the veneer and clamp" method to stabilize it.  It does have some chipping around the edges but hey...its older than I am and I have a few chips around the edges too.... Let the gluing begin   Icon_biggrin


[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/imt4tn2bp37g0a6/50_28.jpg?raw=1]

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/izbmw3gjj6u6huc/50_29.jpg?raw=1]


[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yik5yebn7sjwru9/50_30.jpg?raw=1]

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pcqrijwlsi1doqo/50_31.jpg?raw=1]

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - Arran - 09-06-2016

 Areas like that front arch are where using a hypodermic needle/syringe comes in useful to inject glue in the cracks and under the layers.
Regards
Arran

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - klondike98 - 09-06-2016

Thanks arran! I use one with a 2" long large barrel needle to get glue in and the spatulas helps gently lift the veneer and spread the glue a bit.

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - klondike98 - 09-10-2016

Have been gluing a number of spots since the last post.  Here's that syringe I use in addition to those spatulas.  This particular tip is a 2" blunt tip, 14 gauge which is pretty large, smaller would be better in many cases (amazon sells them, look up "dispensing syringe").  

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2cn901oi158yatj/50_32.jpg?raw=1]

Some veneer chip fixing on the back edge...

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qvln35x9ymmwkmv/50_33.jpg?raw=1]

...and stripping the front piece.  Next will be bleaching the water stains out.

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xcbz6wq62mhu10l/50_34.jpg?raw=1]

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - OldRestorer - 09-11-2016

Looking good there Bob....

Icon_clap Icon_clap

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - klondike98 - 09-13-2016

Have the stripping mostly done, perhaps a few more wipes with lacquer thinner.  The front piece is just sitting in the cabinet so I could see if the black water stains were visible.  Looks like I've gotten most of them with about 60 minutes of oxalic acid (1 tablespoon in 1 quart of hot water).  Brush the solution on the stained area and scrub lightly with a toothbrush every 10 minutes or so to keep the area wet.  

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/01juv2pgqv69jfw/50_35.jpg?raw=1]

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - OldRestorer - 09-13-2016

Beautiful!

Oxialic acid is a real slow process... It is well worth it though...

Icon_smile

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - klondike98 - 09-13-2016

(09-13-2016, 04:24 PM)OldRestorer Wrote:  Oxalic acid is a real slow process... It is well worth it though...

These stains we not too bad but yes it is slow.  Thanks for the encouragement Kirk!  

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - klondike98 - 09-13-2016

I still need to grain fill but I'm starting to think about toners.  I've looked at a lot of photos of Philco 70s and early 50s cabinets and there are many shades and varieties of restored cabinets but not many originals.  The restored early 50 in the gallery looks monotone.  The 70 in the gallery looks to have a darker tone to the columns.  

If you look at the picture of my 50 before I stripped it, (I'm thinking the traces of toner would be original) you can see traces of a dark toner on the vertical columns, the trim around the front arch and also on the base trim.  I'm thinking a dark walnut or perfect brown ultra classic for the dark sections while the rest of the cabinet is probably a light coat of medium brown walnut ultra classic.  Any thoughts or recommendations?

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - OldRestorer - 09-15-2016

When I did Mikes, I did tone the column indents. Yours looks like it was too.
I cheated. I toned the whole area then rubbed off the toner on the outer areas Icon_lol

Off to Terry's house..
See you guys there or see you all on Sunday on here...

Me

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - klondike98 - 09-15-2016

Toned and first round of clear....  I still haven't mastered the grain filling skill.  I know a lot got filled because I could see the filler in the grain but after the first coat of clear I could see where I had missed  Icon_sad   Its not terrible and the lacquer will fill some as well but I need more practice!  Where's the next radio  Icon_biggrin , probably in Kutztown. 

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fpdkkog1l0ez25t/50_36.jpg?raw=1]

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - klondike98 - 09-21-2016

so....I did some sanding on the first round of gloss clear and .... managed to sand down into the toner layer and make a mess of things on the front arch.  Thought I could reapply some sanding sealer and bingo when I did it blushed like crazy...it was much too humid outside when I did it.  I didn't take a pic but the arch was streaked with white blush.  Today the humidity was lower so hit it with Mohawk No Blush and that cleared it up.  Followed up with some light re-toning and another round of clear gloss.  Its glassy gloss now but will let it dry/cure for awhile and either do another round of lacquer or try rubbing it out to see how it looks.  

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/j3d2ompcca5cvuz/50_37.jpg?raw=1]

RE: Philco 50 (early) cabinet restoration - KCMike - 09-21-2016

Looking good. Icon_thumbup