My latest - RCA T7-5 - Printable Version

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My latest - RCA T7-5 - exray - 03-28-2011

It has been about a year since I have found any project fodder so my buddy Pete Bertini offered up this one.

[Image: http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q18/billynaty/xrca600_zps078dc2e2.jpg]

Not as bad as it looks

With a couple of days of gluing I've transformed it into a good solid cabinet. Had to replace the bottom floor and some of the lower front panel stuff. It will get new veneer on the sides. I think I can save the front. Chassis isn't so bad and it came with spkr and knobs. Its coming along nicely.

-Bill

[Image: http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q18/billynaty/zbottom600_zps980f858f.jpg]

[Image: http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q18/billynaty/z2bottom600_zps42fc9661.jpg]

[Image: http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q18/billynaty/z3bottom600_zps75e3a59e.jpg]

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - Radioroslyn - 03-28-2011

Hey Bill
Your set is looking a bit FLAT! But I have complete faith in you! I know YOU can make this pile of sticks look like a brand new radio set.
Have fun with your project !
Terry
ps Gee that reminds me I've got a Philco 20 & 21that need some cabinet work.

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - exray - 03-31-2011

Here it is a couple of days ago after the "first sanding". Its a good solid box now.

[Image: http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q18/billynaty/repair_first_sanding600_zps126eb228.jpg]

I've since added the veneer on the sides. Did "second sanding" and grain-filled, stained the inside, did some detail work. Its almost ready for some spraying.

-Bill

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - Ron Ramirez - 03-31-2011

WOW!

Great job, Bill, as always.

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - calmark - 03-31-2011

Ron Ramirez Wrote:WOW!

Great job, Bill, as always.

I second that, excellent job.

Mark

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - hbogie - 04-02-2011

Now that's bringing one back from a kindling pile! I have a T7-5 that I was lucky to find pretty well preserved. It's a nice RCA set you will enjoy when it's finished. Keep up the good work!

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - TA Forbes - 04-05-2011

Bill, that is one super resurrection job.

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - Uffda - 04-06-2011

Holy Cow! Nice work. That looked like a 100% pile of despair to this klutz. You have quite the knack, Bill.

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - exray - 04-07-2011

Thanks, y'all. I'm getting to the tricky part now. I've only done one other radio cabinet in the past two years and I'm losing my knack I'm making a lot of mistakes.

First setback was thinking I could get by without grain-filling the original top and front since they were sanded and not stripped. Thought it was minor enough to let the sealer coat take care of it. Nope, it wasn't to be. I re-did the the top properly and after letting it sit for about 48 hours I found I could do the grain-filling on the front without stripping off the sealer coat. I hear of people doing stain, etc on top of the sealer. Then re-sealed it. It actually worked out fine. That's not a recommendation, however!

Anyway, here's a pic of it all taped up for toning. At least I didn't screw that up.

[Image: http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q18/billynaty/0407toner600_zps6ce4cc51.jpg]

I also got the first 'coat' done later in the day. I used a lightly tinted clear lacquer. It went on good but I now see in the flash photos I need to even out some toning issues. It actually looks much better in person - haha.

[Image: http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q18/billynaty/0407first600_zpsbaaee5ba.jpg]

The big embarrassment is the veneer on the right-hand side. (not shown) I was down to scraps and had to use three pieces. The joints aren't all that good and they didn't really lay down good and flat. There's a bit of a bubble that can be seen now that the shiny lacquer is on it. Ugh. Not bad enough to totally re-do that side at this point. That side has a slight warp to it and I guess my clamping wasn't adequate.

Waxing philosophical - my Dad is an artist. He taught me a few things. One is that you don't see some obvious errors until you go away for a while and come back. The other is that you run the risk of making a small problem much worse if you fret over it too much. That advice certainly applies here.

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - Ron Ramirez - 04-07-2011

Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - Steve Davis - 04-08-2011

Bill, You did a fantastic job.
Steve

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - Arran - 04-11-2011

Hmm, box should have said, "Some assembly required". Did the front panel have shaded areas around the dial and up the grille bars too? It sorts of looks like it would have, like a pair of stripes going from top to bottom and around the dial, many makers did that.
Regards
Arran

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - exray - 04-12-2011

Nope, no shading or toning in those areas.

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - exray - 04-19-2011

Blogging along. I'm calling the cabinet done. I put on three good coats of semi-gloss lacquer and rubbed it out. Still need to cut out a backing piece for the grille because it is very weak. I busted a place in the fretwork while I was rubbing out the lacquer and had to reglue. Ugh, another 'apology' flaw.
Got the chassis working FB. These are easy radios to work on and it fired up first time after recapping. Performs great and aligned great. I've been listening to the chassis on the bench for several days and I'm tickled with it.

Almost there!

[Image: http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q18/billynaty/repair_almost600_zpsff3eb65f.jpg]

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Re: My latest - RCA T7-5 - w4rtc - 04-19-2011

All I can say is: you do good work. And you must have a lot patience. Joe

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