[jayoungs]

Hey g8waygtr,

IF the front panel is not in bad enough shape to require stripping, but the rest of the cabinet is, I've handled this same dilemna on some other consoles by:

1) Masking off all but the front panel and then using Restor-A-Finish with a heavy textured rag. It will bring the finish back and will not harm the decals. I usually apply two rounds.

2) Then, mask off the front panel tightly with a sheet of aluminum foil with edges overlapped with double thickness of heavy painters tape. Refinish the rest of the cabinet. NOTE: R-A-F will not take lacquer over it, so hence the necessity to mask it off. I use foil to repel any stray stripper getting to the panel.

3) Assuming you're putting a rubbed lacquer finish. At the point of having rubbed it down well, I then un-mask the front panel and apply/buff a good paste wax on the entire cabinet and then a couple of heavy coats of beeswax polish -- letting the first coat sit for a good 30-45 min before wiping out.

Hope that helps,

Joe