The PHILCO Phorum
38-690 Refinish June Update - Printable Version

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38-690 Refinish June Update - tbone - 12-28-2017

I am looking at refinishing my 38-690 cabinet. Appears to be done over with polyurethane with a few runs and rough finish. Looks like it was slathered on too thick.

I was curious if there is any photo finish on this radio, especially the front. From what I can tell it's veneer but sometimes it's easy to be wrong. I tried to strip a slightly hidden spot with lacquer thinner, and it appears to be veneer as there are grain pores visible.

I don't want to strip it and find out that I ruined the cabinet.

Also, what wood type is this cabinet? Seems light for walnut, but it has open grain so it's possible.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/152428891@N04/37311717061/in/dateposted-public/

RE: 38-690 wood and is there photofinish? - morzh - 12-28-2017

As far as I'm concerned there is no photofinish on this radio: strictly veneers and toning.

RE: 38-690 wood and is there photofinish? - klondike98 - 12-28-2017

No photofinish on the 38-690. Ron generated a handy list of models that have photofinish and its in the Tech Section.

RE: 38-690 wood and is there photofinish? - tbone - 12-28-2017

Ok that makes sense. I think it was around 1940 when they used photo finish quite a bit.

Thank you.

This is going to be quite a job, but I should be able to use a citrus stripper to do this in sections. The hardest part will be the roll top which is on canvas. Not sure about that yet.

RE: 38-690 wood and is there photofinish? - tbone - 12-28-2017

Thanks for the link Bob!

RE: 38-690 wood and is there photofinish? - morzh - 12-28-2017

A radio of this class and photofinish kinda make little sense together.

RE: 38-690 wood and is there photofinish? - Radioroslyn - 12-28-2017

Midway thru 1936 ('37 model year) and there after was BIG on the Philcocoat (photo) finish.

RE: 38-690 wood and is there photofinish? - Phlogiston - 12-29-2017

(12-28-2017, 08:14 PM)tbone Wrote:  Ok that makes sense. I think it was around 1940 when they used photo finish quite a bit.

Thank you.

This is going to be quite a job, but I should be able to use a citrus stripper to do this in sections. The hardest part will be the roll top which is on canvas. Not sure about that yet.

Philco had a lot of photo phinish by 1937.

I doubt that "citrus stripper" is going to work on poly, it hardly works on lacquer.

RE: 38-690 wood and is there photofinish? - morzh - 12-29-2017

Chemical paint strippers seem to work on poly effectively, but are stinky and you have to wear gloves as they really harsh on skin.
Water based paint stripper also work but much slower.



The photo finish, as I understand it, was mostly used on tabletops in 1937? The consoles I saw, especially the expensive ones, like 37-116, don't seem to have it?

RE: 38-690 wood and is there photofinish? - Ron Ramirez - 12-29-2017

Mike

Some of Philco's low end consoles, including the 37-33, 37-34, 37-60 and 37-61 (among others), used photofinish on the front panels. You are correct, the high end consoles such as 37-690, 37-116, 37-675 and others, used real wood veneer and no photofinish.

I made some additions to the list Bob linked to in post #3 above. Philco used photofinish on some 1941, 1942 and 1946 models also, as well as some models in later years (which are not in the list).

RE: 38-690 wood and is there photofinish? - tbone - 12-29-2017

Thanks to Ron and everyone for the information which will be helpful going forward.

I will be stripping the cabinet myself, and most likely will be using a citrus gel stripper I have had good results with before.

Does anyone know what type of wood the main cabinet is? Reason I ask is that I would like to buy something close to experiment on so I can get the coloring correct. Kind of a practice piece.

Thanks again.

RE: 38-690 Refinish has begun - tbone - 03-03-2018

I have started the refinishing project on my cabinet. I was able to easily strip off the Polyurethane and give everything a light sanding and lacquer thinner wash. An off the shelf stripper worked well and I spent about two long afternoons to get to this point.

The roll top did not have Poly on it, so a light sanding was all that was needed. I'll post a pic of that later on.

Next I will be preparing a Mahogany test piece so I can try various stains and processes to get my color correct. This will take a bit of time, but it's easier than putting product on the cabinet and finding out you don't like it. It may take a little extra time, but why rush something like this.

Pictures are attached.

RE: 38-690 Refinish has begun - Phlogiston - 03-03-2018

If you just have to use stain - and you don't have to, I would stick to using it just on the hardwood trim (poplar or ?) at the base and the edge of the top, not on the veneers.

RE: 38-690 Refinish has begun - tbone - 03-03-2018

I was actually thinking about toners for the base (feet) which is not the best wood, grille bars, and the rim around the top. I agree that the dark veneer and pretty much the whole front should be left as is.

I will know more once I get to the Grain filler step. I believe that only the top, sides, and front panel around the dial will need this step. The dark veneers around the front are not that open of a grain.

RE: 38-690 Refinish has begun - Electrothaumaturgist - 03-03-2018

The veneers on that cabinet look beautiful. That is going to look awesome when you're phinished!  Icon_biggrin