[klondike98]

Having finished the 66B chassis, its time to start the cabinet.  Here's the as received:

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ymrexcaqo4xwfa....jpg?raw=1]

This cabinet is actually in pretty nice shape although the finish is not good it is nice and solid.  So far just the usual strip and glue down a couple of veneer corners that are starting to lift off.

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/sklxgv0an95wkl....jpg?raw=1]
[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hqxwf4ee30pern....jpg?raw=1]

When stripping the cabinet there have been more times than I care to admit that I've forgotten to measure the position of the PHILCO decal.  So this time I made sure I had the measurements.  I imagine at the factory they did so many of them that it came naturally to just position the thing.

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wn0kwi7uef22sz....jpg?raw=1]

[klondike98]

The veneer is glued.  A closer look at the sides show they are not walnut and are much darker than the front.  I do not yet have all of the original toner off I am sure but you can see the grain.

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/s5c6milx7y4xkp....jpg?raw=1]

[Image: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mcqilyasb8iqt5....jpg?raw=1]

The sales brochure for the 66B says, "It was finished in Walnut brown Mahagony, set off with a jet black trim.  Hand-rubbed finish."  Indeed the remaining toner on the sides and top comes off with a reddish tint on the rag.  I will wipe the cabinet down with lacquer thinner in the next "outdoor" session to take off some of the remaining toner.  I think I will plan on UltraClassic medium brown walnut for the front panel but a pigment based toner for the sides.  Not sure yet what color I'll do on the sides and top.  The grain pattern on my set is very different from that of the 60MB cabinet that Bob Andersen did and from the 60MB that I did.  The trim will be....jet black...

I want to cover the side and top grain on this 66B so may use the pigment based medium brown mahogany M101-0387 (although the color in the color chart does not look right) or a brown mahogany (M101-0229).

[Radioroslyn]

That looks a lot like the 66 I did in the spring. I was expecting some sort of open grain veneer on the sides like mahogany or walnut but it looks a lot like plywood. The good news is no grain filler required!.

[klondike98]

While the 60MB and the 66B share the same cabinet style, they apparently used different wood on them.

[Ron Ramirez]

Your 66B cabinet is just like the one I refinished earlier this year. Mine likewise required no grain filler on the sides. In that thread (page 3, post #35), Steve Davis said the wood on the sides was fir plywood.

[klondike98]

Your 66B cabinet is just like the one I refinished earlier this year. Mine likewise required no grain filler on the sides. In that thread (page 3, post #35), Steve Davis said the wood on the sides was fir plywood.

Thank you Ron!!! I thought I remembered your work on that but for some reason drew a blank when looking for it. Very helpful.

[Arran]

I think that the bean counters at Philco probably wanted to build the 66MB cheaper then the 60MB cabinet of the previous year, so cheap plywood and dark tone spray took the place of ribbon mahogany veneer on the top, and sides, all in all probably saving them $.05 per cabinet. I don't know whether it is fir plywood or not, it could be poplar, or some sort of pine, the only way to tell would be to strip off what's left of the finish and sand it, Doug Fir looks sort of pink when fresh grain is exposed. Ironically if it was fir ply, it would have turned to an almost burgundy colour by now if they had only clear lacquered it, which would have made a nice match for the mahogany on the front. If it were fir then a baking soda solution will darken it to that burgundy colour. 
Regards
Arran