[fields 100]

Can someone tell me which toning lacquer should I use for the 38-2670?
I am thinking medium walnut, but not sure.Also, there is a darker 2" band at the bottom and 1.5" at the top of the radio face panel.
Do I just tape off these areas and spray separately, or go first with a lighter coat and then go over with a darker one? I would like to use Mohawk products
and will be using Binks touch-up.

[Ron Ramirez]

I used Medium Walnut overall on my 37-670B (same cabinet), and Perfect Brown on the top and bottom. I'm not really satisfied with the result...I think the top and bottom could have been slightly darker...but I do not know what shade to recommend for the top and bottom. Extra Dark Walnut would be too dark...way too dark.

[fields 100]

Thanks, Ron,
So,do I have to tape off and cover them separately or go over the whole thing with a Medium Walnut and then top it with a Perfect?

[Ron Ramirez]

There is no harm in going over the entire cabinet with Medium Walnut, and then masking off all but the top and bottom areas that receive the darker lacquer and spraying those areas.

[OldRestorer]

Extra dark is too dark. It will come out almost black with proper coating. You can get dark walnut or just use medium walnut and give it a few extra coats. it will darken with more coats.

I have A model 15 halson I coated the top in extra dark (not fully coated yet)and a philco 37 I used perfect brown and a GE with dark walnut so see the colors.

   
   
   

Kirk

[fields 100]

Thanks, Kirk,
So, how did you spray the console? Did you have to go once over the center, then tape it off and then spray the same toner multiple times
to achieve much darker color? I am talking about the light colored vertical strip.

[OldRestorer]

Spraying more coats to darken will use up your toner fast. I actually did not multi tone the tall 37-640 cabinet. those are the natural veneers but it would work the same way. You can coat the whole cabinet with perfect brown or medium walnut but again it will waste toner. I would tape off the parts you want lighter and then add the darker toner. then do the opposite and tape off the dark areas and tone the lighter shades. Tape and newspaper or craft paper work well.

Add the toner very lightly at first holding the can a foot away. very important so you don't get little dark round spots or fish eyes as they are called. (I have been getting them due to contamination and it stinks). If you just lightly sand them with #0000 steel wool. If you have to sand down to the bare wood you should strip it with lacquer thinner and start over. So a couple of light coats then you can add regular coats using a constant spray. make sure to start spraying away from the cabinet and then spray past the cabinet never stopping the flow. (this is because the can can spit when you first start spraying) go back and forth until you have fully coated the cabinet. then wait about 10 minutes or so and re coat. You can even very lightly sand between coats if you want it really smooth They say to wait until the finish is tacky but you would have to touch the cabinet for that. When you are satisfied wait a day and then tape off the opposite and follow the same directions.

It may sound hard and you will probably waste a can or 2 before getting it right like I did but you will get it. get some extra cans! Then go over it with clear lacquer a few times sanding lightly between coats. You can go to http://www.woodshopproducts.com/default.asp and buy the mohawk products which are cheaper than the mohawk site and they are on sale right now. Shipping is crazy so order more than you need just in case. Go pick tone finish toners and here is a list of the walnuts.

M101-0205 TONE FINISH TONER MEDIUM WALNUT

M101-0206 TONE FINISH TONER LIGHT WALNUT

M101-0207 TONE FINISH TONER MEDIUM BROWN AMERICAN WALNUT

M101-0209 TONE FINISH TONER EXTRA DARK WALNUT

And then there is

M101-0249 TONE FINISH TONER PERFECT BROWN

Ask anything and post some pics during the restoration. We love pics, or I do

[fields 100]

So, if I understand correctly,different veneers of the same type of wood (walnut in my case) may produce different shades, therefore should I spray with a lighter toner (medium walnut) the entire cabinet and see the result, after that, if needed, tape it off leaving exposed the strips which have to be darker and spray them with,say, perfect walnut?
I also would like to know how important wood filler and wood sealer are.I realize that after stripping the cabinet must be sealed, but should I seal between the coats?
Thanks.

[OldRestorer]

No, If the radio is one shade now, adding toner will not change it. It will make everything darker and stay uniform unless you already have contrasting colors on the radio. You can tone the cabinet perfect brown first and then see. I would not use medium walnut since it is very similar to perfect brown. Maybe use light walnut then medium walnut.

As for the second half, Please know that wood filler and grain filler are totally different. You would use grain filler since walnut is porous and it will fill the grains and make for a glass like finish. Not a necessity but it definitely helps the look and keep it true to its original look. Sealer is not something I use much, the clear lacquer and toners are going to seal the wood.

Kirk