[Fred Taylor]

Starting new project , I will post new pictures as progress continues , I thought some of you would like to see how some basic refinish procedures, ask questions I ill try to answer them as time allows me to do so, I thought it would be cool for you guys to  see start to finish in a couple weeks time, this is my radio and I have to get customer stuff done as I do this monster of a cabinet. Sure will look nice when finished, it a fine piece of furniture. 

[Fred Taylor]

A few more pics

[klondike98]

Thanks Fred! Very helpful.  What is the putty knife scaping off?

[Fred Taylor]

Thanks Fred! Very helpful.  What is the putty knife scaping off?

 In that picture I am stripping the old finish, the stripper and old finish is what in scraping off, going with the grain make sure there are no burrs on the edge of putty knife or you can scratch the wood.

[klondike98]

Thanks!  What stripper is it?  In the pic it looked like a coat of paint.

[Fred Taylor]

Thanks!  What stripper is it?  In the pic it looked like a coat of paint.

It is sprayed on, stripper I got at lowes and forgot the name of it, maybe called crown stripper ,comes in spray can.

[Fred Taylor]

Zenith coming along , some of you guys wanting more info on cabinet refinishing, ill do my best to show some things on how I do my refinishing. I use Mohawk products.

[KCMike]

Thanks Fred for taking time to post the progress of refinish. I'm always looking for how to get that really nice original look. And I need lots of practice. Great work!!

[Alan Douglas]

That's gorgeous. Is it my imagination, or are the four panels shaded around the outside?

[Fred Taylor]

That's gorgeous.  Is it my imagination, or are the four panels shaded around the outside?

Yes I did some air brush shading on cabinet, that will give it an antique look even though its has bran new finish, and I added some recent pictures showing cabinet and parts with 2 coats of sanding sealer, these will be sanded again using 600 or so grit sandpaper dry. then I will be ready for the top coats of clear, 6 coats should be enough, and im thinking of doing piano high gloss finish since this was a high end set , maybe just the top and rest a semi gloss, what do you guys think, high gloss and buffed or semi gloss ? This zenith will look like when finished as if you had it delivered to your house back in 1929. It is an antique radio still even with new finish, just the finish is new, done correctly you cant lose . That finish should look factory or better than factory. It will look like a new antique radio.

[Arran]

 I would go with a buffed out gloss lacquer since that's likely what it had to begin with. I've seen some consoles from that era with a good all original finish, and that was how they looked.
Regards
Arran

[sam]

call me crazy
but I like the antique  flee bitten look  not glossy or new look
after all they are antique no ?
sam

[TimC]

Looks great Fred!

[Arran]

call me crazy
but I like the antique  flee bitten look  not glossy or new look
after all they are antique no ?
sam

They are old, maybe vintage, but not antique, that would mean they would have to be over 100 years old and these have a few decades to go before that happens. Even if they were over 100 they were mass produced in a factory, and if the finish was ruined to begin with a proper refinishing job doesn't hurt the historical or monetary value in any way.
Regards
Arran

[Fred Taylor]

I am now almost finished with the zenith 39a cabinet, have decided to go with semi gloss finish with the exception of the large cover that's opens to view the radio, that will be  a piano high gloss finish that will be a smooth as the finish on a Rolls Royce, that I still need to do , have to wait about a week to rub out and buff top. I think I did good on my toning and color . I did some air brush toning to give the new finish a antique look, that's resembles the old colors but with a bran new look, also adding some of my special touches that really bring out the design of the cabinet , now I will get radio playing soon and all cleaned up and put her in the museum. I will post pics when all done . Fred Taylor