Nathan's Philco 201X Cabinet - Seeking Advice
Posts: 1,874
Threads: 212
Joined: May 2015
City: Seattle
State, Province, Country: WA
So I've got this lovely new Philco 201X that needs some cabinet help on the top where the original lacquer has been lost.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4811...5c07_c.jpg]
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4811...b70c_c.jpg]
I've done full refinish jobs on tabletop sets so I'm comfortable stripping the top and refinishing (at least it's flat). My only reservation is matching the rest of the original finish.
Would this be a candidate for resurrecting the original finish? I'm wondering if I should try cleaning the top really well, lightly sand the finish with fine grit and then apply a coat or two of clear lacquer (after masking off the rest of the cabinet really carefully!) just to see what it would look like. It seems like there wouldn't really be anything to lose in trying it.
I'd love to know your thoughts and advice.
Posts: 365
Threads: 76
Joined: Oct 2014
City: Winter Haven, FL
Nathan,
I'm not one to put band aids on a wound that needs stitches. Why not strip it down and start anew? Since the trim is toner, I think you'd get away with just doing the top by itself. Certainly would be easier. But I'd do a complete job on the top.
Here's a pic of the one I did (I did the entire radio).
Pat
[Image: https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/r...fit=bounds]
Posts: 1,874
Threads: 212
Joined: May 2015
City: Seattle
State, Province, Country: WA
Thanks for the advice Patrick. Your 201X sure is beautiful. 
Posts: 13,776
Threads: 580
Joined: Sep 2005
City: Ferdinand
State, Province, Country: Indiana
I agree with Patrick. So much toner is already gone from the top of your cabinet, your only real option is to strip and redo the top.
And congratulations on your acquisition!
--
Ron Ramirez
Ferdinand IN
Posts: 7,288
Threads: 268
Joined: Dec 2009
City: Roslyn Pa
+1
The fortunate thing is that they are on two different plains so generally you don't see both of them together. I think the tricky part is getting the proper sheen so that refinished area doesn't look too "new"
GL
When my pals were reading comic books
I was down in the basement in my dad's
workshop. Perusing his Sam's Photofoacts
Vol 1-50 admiring the old set and trying to
figure out what all those squiggly meant.
Circa 1966
Now I think I've got!
Terry
Posts: 1,874
Threads: 212
Joined: May 2015
City: Seattle
State, Province, Country: WA
Awesome advice guys - thank you. I know what I must do. Will post pics on progress.
Posts: 1,874
Threads: 212
Joined: May 2015
City: Seattle
State, Province, Country: WA
Today I got started on refinishing the 201X top.
Removal
At first I was worrying about how to protect the rest of the cabinet while refinishing the top - but I remembered seeing someplace (Philco Serviceman article? Service bulletin) that the 37-690X had a removable top to make refinishing it easier. Damage to the top of radios has clearly been a problem since they rolled out of the factory. Anyway I wondered if the 201X might be assembled in a similar way that might permit the top to be removed.
In fact it does come apart.
I removed the screws holding going vertically into the top and then gently tapped the top with a rubber mallet around the edge from inside the cabinet.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4815...5b7b_c.jpg]
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4815...c276_c.jpg]
It's probably not really intended to be disassembled since there's evidence that glue was used - but here's one example of weakened 85 year old glue being helpful.
Ready to be stripped:
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4815...a3d6_c.jpg]
Stripping
I used CitriStrip to strip the top and trim. Here it is after stripping:
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4815...c277_c.jpg]
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4815...10b8_c.jpg]
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4815...8d04_c.jpg]
Pretty clean - but it looks like maybe the lacquer issue was due to water on the top since the wood there is a bit lighter in color.
I'm hoping that putting back the finish will make the color more uniform and help blend that area. I know there are ways to bleach water damaged wood lighter - but in this case it doesn't seem like that would help.
Sanding Sealer
I lightly sanded the top (hoping that the color might blend better - it didn't much).
Then I gave it a coat of sanding sealer.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4815...04c4_c.jpg]
Grain Filler
Finally, I filled the grain with walnut color grain filler. This actually helped blend things better - makes sense since now theres matching color in the grain in both areas.
[Image: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/4815...970c_c.jpg]
Hopefully the toning lacquer will further blend things.
Posts: 365
Threads: 76
Joined: Oct 2014
City: Winter Haven, FL
And you thought it would be tough!  Nice job so far.
Posts: 5,088
Threads: 270
Joined: Nov 2012
City: Wilsonville
State, Province, Country: OR
Posts: 330
Threads: 30
Joined: Aug 2017
City: Hay Lakes, Alberta,Canada
I've used oxylic acid in the past, to blend water damaged areas of cabinets. It works quite well to make plant rings fade out.
Posts: 1,874
Threads: 212
Joined: May 2015
City: Seattle
State, Province, Country: WA
Thanks Brad - yeah after reading about it a bit more I think I should have tried that. I may still do that but since I've got the base finish on I'm going to see how noticeable it is with toner.
Easy enough to strip and try the oxalic acid if it doesn't.
Posts: 1,874
Threads: 212
Joined: May 2015
City: Seattle
State, Province, Country: WA
So the discoloration wasn't as well hidden as I would like so I decided to restrip it and try the wood bleach route.
Brad- would you apply it to just the stained area or the whole top?
Posts: 7,288
Threads: 268
Joined: Dec 2009
City: Roslyn Pa
I had a similar issue with a Crosley Trirdyne lid. Has several black spots and was able to get them out by bleaching. Unfortunately I don't remember what I used for bleach. If I had to guess I think it was just regular laundry bleach. Kirk could answer as to what I used. Worker well. Just apply just on the areas you want to lighten not over the whole top. On the darker borders of the stain use a qtip or small brush. You want to keep the bleach contained just the stain and the darker the stain area the more bleach and time it will take. A little bit goes a long way so take your time. https://www.flickr.com/photos/53710524@N06/11198613343/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/53710524@N06/11198452535/
Hope this helps.
When my pals were reading comic books
I was down in the basement in my dad's
workshop. Perusing his Sam's Photofoacts
Vol 1-50 admiring the old set and trying to
figure out what all those squiggly meant.
Circa 1966
Now I think I've got!
Terry
(This post was last modified: 07-24-2019, 11:45 AM by Radioroslyn.)
Posts: 1,874
Threads: 212
Joined: May 2015
City: Seattle
State, Province, Country: WA
Thanks Terry!
I bought this wood bleach product:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VBGH82
Posts: 5,088
Threads: 270
Joined: Nov 2012
City: Wilsonville
State, Province, Country: OR
I have used that product successfully to get some water stains out.
Users browsing this thread: 3 Guest(s)
|
|
Recent Posts
|
|
New Philco Repair Bench
|
| I am sure this is the archive, and not the Chuck's site.morzh — 09:50 PM |
|
Made mistake & did not label connection
|
| It's not like we are good friends with that wire and can tell it from other ptetty identical looking wires.
Why'n't you...morzh — 09:49 PM |
|
Made mistake & did not label connection
|
| I'm not sure why that wire wasn't covered in the video. I'm pretty sure the 6A8 won't work until that pin is grounded. Y...RodB — 09:47 PM |
|
Made mistake & did not label connection
|
| You'll have to forgive me, I am not sure what you mean. Can you explain what you are really saying. If anyone does not...georgetownjohn — 08:05 PM |
|
Made mistake & did not label connection
|
| Those are details better left to the ones who know. Maybe you disconnected the wrong end of the wire.RodB — 06:22 PM |
|
Made mistake & did not label connection
|
| Maybe this is starting to make some sense in my hard head. Is this why the wire in question was not in the great Ron Ra...georgetownjohn — 04:34 PM |
|
Made mistake & did not label connection
|
| I was correct with the 6A8 pin connection's, 7 and 8 are connected to ground as well as the tube shield (the broken line...RodB — 02:41 PM |
|
Made mistake & did not label connection
|
| What does the dotted line representing that surrounds the tube in the schematic?georgetownjohn — 02:17 PM |
|
Made mistake & did not label connection
|
| Hello John,
I have been there either label got lost or was not labeled !
Sincerely Richardradiorich — 02:15 PM |
|
Made mistake & did not label connection
|
| Sorry, it is a Philco 37-640. Does that help?--Johngeorgetownjohn — 02:14 PM |
|
Who's Online
|
There are currently 6834 online users. [Complete List]
» 1 Member(s) | 6833 Guest(s)
|
|
|
|
 
|
![[-]](https://philcoradio.com/phorum/images/bootbb/collapse.png "[-]")
