Ron's RCA T7-5 Cabinet Rescue
Posts: 13,776
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City: Ferdinand
State, Province, Country: Indiana
Fall has arrived in Southern Indiana. The high today was in the low 60s. So this evening, I took the T7-5 cabinet out to the garage to give it a couple coats of clear lacquer.
Things went smoothly on the front, as I had the cabinet laying on its back for that. I also had no troubles with the top of the cabinet.
However, I have managed to run into trouble with every cabinet I've worked on this year. Today was no exception. I had sprayed the right side of the cabinet and was about to spray the left side when I realized that the clear lacquer on the right side was running like crazy!     Yes, I had allowed myself to get sloppy and sprayed too much lacquer at one time on the right side, so naturally, it ran.
Not knowing what else to do, I quickly (and carefully) picked the cabinet up by placing my hands inside the cabinet, being careful not to touch the outside of the cabinet. I then turned it sideways and carefully balanced it with one hand while I sprayed the heck out of the runs with the can of clear lacquer held in my other hand.
This worked (thankfully!) and the runs disappeared as I held the cabinet sideways.
I held it that way for over 15 minutes before I finally set it upright.
All that is left of the near-disaster is a very slight sag in the lacquer which will be easily wet sanded out.
I do not know when I will get to spray lacquer again. The highs here will only be in the 50s over the next several days before warming back up to the upper 60s near the end of next week...so it will likely be next weekend before any more lacquer spraying takes place here, God willing.
At least the decals are now well sealed and protected. 
No new photos. The cabinet basically still looks the same, just shinier (I'm using gloss lacquer).
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
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City: West Bend, Wisconsin
I have been there with lacquer runs, Ron. It's a sickening sight, for sure, but you did some quick thinking that saved the day. 
Having learned the hard way, I try to stay at least 7 to 8 inches away from the cabinet with the spray can at all times when spraying on the clear coat (or toner). I have the cabinet at eye level when I do it so I am aiming straight at the cabinet and can see exactly where the stuff is going. Don't tell the sanitation department but I use their green recyclable cart with the yellow lid on wheels, with a sheet of plywood on top to set the radio cabinets on to spray toner and lacquer!  Works great because I can quickly wheel it back into the garage a bit if it gets too windy.
Greg V.
West Bend, WI
Member WARCI.org
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So...
Before:
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...18_009.jpg]
After:
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...-5_122.jpg]
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...-5_123.jpg]
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...-5_124.jpg]
[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/images/phorum...-5_125.jpg]
Today the sun finally came out after days of cloudy skies and frequent rain, and it is the first time in several days that the high made it above 60 - and it may be the last time it makes it above 60 this year as the highs go back down into the 50s tomorrow and for the next several days. So I decided to lightly wet sand the T7-5 and give it a couple more coats of clear.
It is looking pretty good at this point and I think I can call it good enough, save for a final rubdown which will depend on how things go. The decal lines no longer show. The blemishes turned out fairly well. I'm satisfied with this cabinet overall. It certainly looks better than it did to begin with!
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
Posts: 5,084
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City: Wilsonville
State, Province, Country: OR
Posts: 1,523
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Joined: Sep 2012
City: West Bend, Wisconsin
Excellent work, Ron! It looks better than the T7-5 I just sold, that's for sure!
Greg V.
West Bend, WI
Member WARCI.org
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City: Jackson, NJ
It's a good looking cabinet.
In general I like RCA radios.
They are on the imposing side, but there is class to them.
People who do not drink, do not smoke, do not eat red meat will one day feel really stupid lying there and dying from nothing.
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City: Lexington, KY
John KK4ZLF
Lexington, KY
"illegitimis non carborundum"
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State, Province, Country: CT
What a transformation, great job Ron!
Tony
“People may not remember how fast you did a job, but they will remember how well you did it”
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City: Kansas city, MO.
Very well done.
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City: Menlo Park
State, Province, Country: CA
That is a really nice job Ron. Well worth the extra effort - you should be proud 
I don't hold with furniture that talks.
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City: Linn Creek, MO
Very good!
Steve
M R Radios C M Tubes
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City: Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Wow Ron nice job. It looks fantastic!
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City: Lapeer
State, Province, Country: MI
Simply gorgeous!
Joe
Matthew 16:26 "For what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world, yet lose his own soul?"
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