[ducretet]

Hello,
I have two questions:
1.- I have noticed that you restore the cabinet with lacquer. But, sure that initially the cabinet were made with lacquer ?. Didn't they do it with varnish on the wrist and shellac?
2.- What is the best product you recommend to remove rust from the chassis? And that it has the color most similar to the original.
Thanks and regards

Ferran

[Phlogiston]

I thought of how to answer your question, but, the answer would be difficult not knowing the models or the date of manufacture. The date may be most pertinent to your answer.

[ducretet]

There are radios that I think look too "shiny". I'm talking about the 1930s. I think they would have to look matte. Like antique furniture. Well, it's a personal opinion. I can be wrong. Of course.

I need to know the product to clean the rust. I have tried some products, but I don't quite like them.

I think Philco had a zinc-based finishing touch. It gave it a color between gray and green.

I will appreciate your opinion !!!!

[klondike98]

I did a quick search of the Phorum for some threads that might help you with the rust question. It has been a topic a number of times over the years. These are just a few...

https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthrea...light=rust
https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthrea...ght=derust
https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthrea...ght=derust
https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthrea...8#pid57238
https://philcoradio.com/phorum/showthrea...#pid107423

[Phlogiston]

You are correct, about the chassis color.

Are you going to re-plate it as original or use paint on the rust spots?

Russ

[RodB]

I restored an early 30s Crosley console a couple years ago and checked with the Crosley Forum to see if anyone could tell me what the original finish was. The response was that almost every manufacturer used lacquer till way after the war. Some used a shellac. I personally don't like to use varnish. To me it gives an unnatural look and feel. Lacquer is much easier to work with, brings out the grain nicely and you can get a gloss or satin look.

[ducretet]

The truth is, it is not easy to work with varnish. But if you know how to use it correctly it is impressive.
I have personally worked on it and it works.

Yes. I have visited some discussions on the topic of rust.

Russ, I'll try the studs first.

Thank you all for your advices.

Regards,

Ferran

[John Bartley]

Shellac was used until the late 1920's, and during the '20's it started being phased out in favour of lacquer. The toning and cabinet colours are NOT stains. They are sprayed coats of tinted/toned lacquer.

As far as gloss vs matte goes, most high production radios (the average radio) were sprayed with a high gloss finish. These are not multi-coat piano gloss finishes. They are the glossy result of normal spray practices.

In most cases the "matte" finish we see today in original finishes is the result of oxidation, aging, and many decades of cleaning products applied to a finish that started out glossy.

[ducretet]

Hello,
Thanks. He was really confused about the subject of the painting. I did not know that they did it with hairspray.
One thing: H2SO4 is sulfuric acid. You mean HCL, hydrochloric acid ?

[ducretet]

I enclose photographs of the PHILCO 44, restored using varnish and shellac. It does not look bad.

By the way, this model is extraordinary. I have come to tune in to many foreign stations.                

[radiorich]

Hello Farran,
Wow that Philco looks great!
One of the radios that I need to clean up a couple rust spots on is a Customer's set that i am starting soon it's a RCA model 811k .

Sincerely Richard

[morzh]

>>If you just have a few spots of rust, I use hydrochloric acid, H2SO4

God forbid you use that

HCL is your muriatic hydrochloric acid.

H2SO4 is sulfuric acid and it will burn just about anything organic on contact.
It is very dense and is easy to swim in.....but this will be your last swim.

[ducretet]

[ducretet]

thanks Richard

[Phlogiston]

I do actually use the sulfuric acid.

While I might apply the paint with my finger - not the acid.