Philco 38-62 cabinet restoration
Posts: 811
Threads: 43
Joined: Dec 2008
City: Chicago, IL
Now that I've finished the electrical restoration, I'm turning my attention to the cabinet. The photo finish is fair, but the rest is falling apart.
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8522/85551...d5ba_c.jpg]
The dial has seen better days too.
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/85562...5f36_c.jpg]
So first I glue and clamped all the loose joints as best I could. Then I picked up some basswood for the bottom edge molding and popcicle sticks for the missing laminations around the front edge.
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8248/85550...4d02_c.jpg]
Out of the blue, phorum member "jmac3ky" contacted me and donated a new dial glass and bezel to the project 
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8095/85550...399c_c.jpg]
Next up, I need to deal with this warped split in one side. I figure I'll try steaming and clamping it.
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/85550...d465_c.jpg]
(This post was last modified: 03-13-2013, 07:49 PM by Bob Andersen.)
Posts: 4,870
Threads: 54
Joined: Sep 2008
City: Sandwick, BC, CA
You may be able to straighten that cracked area by wetting the wood, squeeze some glue into the crack. and then clamp it between a pair of plastic covered hardwood blocks.
Regards
Arran
Posts: 811
Threads: 43
Joined: Dec 2008
City: Chicago, IL
Thanks for the tip. I've been brushing on water for a while and the wood is getting pliable.
Posts: 811
Threads: 43
Joined: Dec 2008
City: Chicago, IL
Posts: 4,870
Threads: 54
Joined: Sep 2008
City: Sandwick, BC, CA
I know a lot of places suggest wax paper, and while it does work I find that wax paper still sticks to the glue somewhat, a plastic bag or Saran wrap doesn't. By the way warm water and a stiff brush gets rid of any glue stains if you have any.
Regards
Arran
Posts: 811
Threads: 43
Joined: Dec 2008
City: Chicago, IL
Posts: 4,870
Threads: 54
Joined: Sep 2008
City: Sandwick, BC, CA
Good to know that trick worked in this case, I won't call it mine but I worked it out some time ago. Being very budget minded when I was starting out I ran into a lot of cabinets with similar problems to this 38-62.[/align]
Regards
Arran
Posts: 13
Threads: 5
Joined: Mar 2013
City: Texas
Bob, that's great. Quick question - from the picture you had your clamps apply force perpendicular to that split, versus pressing from above it and below it. I'm a woodworking novice, so forgive my ignorance - why did you place your clamps there, versus the top and bottom of the set? Is it because the top corner is curved and you couldn't properly set clamps there? Or did the wood bow out to the side and you had to push it back in? Just curious, thanks.
Posts: 811
Threads: 43
Joined: Dec 2008
City: Chicago, IL
The wood bowed out to the side and it took quite a bit of force to push it back in - even after softening with water. I also glued a piece of wood inside across the split for additional bracing.
Posts: 2,128
Threads: 18
Joined: Oct 2008
City: Merrick, Long Island, NY
I got lucky a couple of times b using a towel and steam iron. Seems like the glue underneath was somewhat theromplastic after all those years. Who knew?
Posts: 811
Threads: 43
Joined: Dec 2008
City: Chicago, IL
I just finished filling in the last of the cabinet voids. Next, I'll attempt to clean and touch up the photo finish.
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8377/85942...c658_z.jpg]
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/85942...268b_z.jpg]
(This post was last modified: 03-26-2013, 09:37 PM by Bob Andersen.)
Posts: 811
Threads: 43
Joined: Dec 2008
City: Chicago, IL
I carefully sanded down the front with some 600 grit to remove some aligatoring and spots of crud that had hardened on it.
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8528/86173...ae2d_c.jpg]
Here I've wiped it down with mineral spirits for a preview of what it will look like after some fresh lacquer. A little touch up here and there and it will look even better 
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8116/86173...e455_c.jpg]
Posts: 335
Threads: 50
Joined: Apr 2011
City: Apple Creek
State, Province, Country: Ohio
Great work as always Bob. Looking forward to seeing the cabinets progress.
Posts: 811
Threads: 43
Joined: Dec 2008
City: Chicago, IL
Thanks. I decided to give this touchup kit from "The Restoration Studio" a try.
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8404/86195...3af6_c.jpg]
It's not perfect, but a lot better I think. After I level the surface with some lacquer sanding sealer, it should look even better.
[Image: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8393/86195...97b3_c.jpg]
Posts: 309
Threads: 55
Joined: Oct 2011
City: Claremont, NH
WOW! That looks GREAT Bob! You are doing some fine resto there
Gene
Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
|
|
Recent Posts
|
|
Studebaker/Philco AC-2687 car radio
|
| Hello
I am new here and I could use some advice. I am working on my 1955 Stude/Philco car radio and have determined tha...Pdouglaski — 06:43 PM |
|
Philco 42-345 Restoration/Repair
|
| Thank you MrFix55 and GarySP with helping with the Antenna, for now I am placing the Antenna on the back burner and work...osanders0311 — 02:24 PM |
|
The list of my radio & TV collection!
|
| Yes, Michael. But strangely enough, I managed to keep the original veneer. I must admit that I don't really like it, so ...RadioSvit — 02:21 PM |
|
The list of my radio & TV collection!
|
| Good radio.
I bet there was a lot of veneer fixing.morzh — 02:16 PM |
|
Philco 46-480 Electronic Restoration
|
| >> it is because I am retired and a little demented.
You have just the right amount of it. No perfectly sane p...morzh — 02:14 PM |
|
The list of my radio & TV collection!
|
| Old Zenith 5S-29 tube radio. First turn-on after repair and reception quality testing. Demonstration of the operation of...RadioSvit — 01:27 PM |
|
Philco 42-345 Restoration/Repair
|
| Welcome to the Phorum, osanders0311! Regardless how far you intend to restore this set, first priority should be replac...GarySP — 11:51 AM |
|
Philco 46-480 Electronic Restoration
|
| Joseph, it is because I am retired and a little demented. My problem is that I wanted to own a collection that spans th...MrFixr55 — 11:29 AM |
|
Philco 46-480 Electronic Restoration
|
| Wow, here I am with only two restored radios. I’ve got to boost those numbers! If you can’t run with the big dogs, you m...jrblasde — 10:04 AM |
|
Philco 46-480 Electronic Restoration
|
| Hello MrFixr55,
That will for sure keep you out of trouble!
Last Sunday was spent mostly doing yard work anyway the we...radiorich — 09:50 AM |
|
Who's Online
|
There are currently 344 online users. [Complete List]
» 1 Member(s) | 343 Guest(s)
|
|
|
|
 
|
![[-]](https://philcoradio.com/phorum/images/bootbb/collapse.png "[-]")
