[ODPILOT]

    Hi all. I am restoring a B1750 radio phonograph (1954) as shown, except mine is the blonde wood version. I am having a local paint store match the blonde stain color for me but I have a choice of oil based or water based stain. Is there a preference, is there is a difference in the quality?? Although I know there are water and oil based paints, I never thought about having a choice for stains as well. Thanks.

[Warren]

Most old radios use toner laquer, not stain. I would check into that unless someone else chimes in that knows if they used stain on that.

[jerryhawthorne]

OP, I would guess a stain and not a lacquer toner. The did not do that on blond and I would guess at the vintage of your radio they did not use lacquer at all. As for the type of stain, water or oil, others perhaps know. After application you may need to seal it with something like a wipe on poly. Especially if you chose a water base.
Heck, what do I know?
Jerry

[ODPILOT]

I've done research since I posted this question on oil or water based stains. It seems they did use some sort of colored lacquer spray on these 1950's units. When I used a gel type paint remover and a scraper, it produced a blondish colored yucchy slurry - so all the paint must have been sitting on top of the wood. I don't know how possible it will be to duplicate tinted lacquer process - so I'm going to stain it and it seems that a water based stain is less smelly, less toxic and better to use on wood that has already been painted or stained. Will post a pic when I'm done. thanks

[Warren]

Toned Laquer is not hard to duplicate. If you get a color close to original you just add coats if you need to make it darker.\ until you get what you want. Im sure someone here and advise you on a toner color by looking at a picture of your unit. A Stain will more than likely give it a whole different look.