Bruises in Veneer - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

alanworland · 18th Apr 2013, 9:38 pm

I seem to remember reading of a method of removing buises from wood (in this case veneered ply) but can't find it now!
I thought it involved applying steam to expand the damaged area?
Has anyone experiece of doing this? and does it work?

Alan

Nickthedentist · 18th Apr 2013, 10:18 pm

Hi Alan,

Using the search terms DENT and STEAM got me to one of Howard's threads: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ead.php?t=7454

N.

ValveMan · 18th Apr 2013, 10:43 pm

Hi Alan,

I recommend applying some masking tape to the area then applying steam until the wood swells slightly, this causes the bruise in the veneer to rise making it almost unnoticeable if not completely. The reason to apply tape before doing this is to protect the wood finish however you may find that you still need to refinish the area. I've found that the kettle works best however it's whatever works best for you.

Hope this helps,

Regards, Dylan

alanworland · 18th Apr 2013, 11:20 pm

Thanks, I thought I had read it in one of my books - perhaps my brain cell is playing up!
Should also work on veneered ply I would have thought.
They are only shallow marks but I didn't want to risk thinning the veneer by trying to sand them out.

Alan

ValveMan · 19th Apr 2013, 11:27 pm

Yes, It should work fine on ply. As plywood is made up of layers sandwiched together I'd think that it should work exactly the same as solid wood if not better. I would never sand a radio case unless I planned on re-finishing the entire case. I suppose some would say to leave small marks such as these for character's sake however we all like different things. The question is what's character and what isn't?

Kind Regards,
Dylan

kevinski · 1st Jan 2014, 1:46 pm

I used a steam iron on my home made plywood plinth. I put a wet tea towel over the bruise and used the iron for a few seconds at a time until it had gone.

Kevin

alanworland · 1st Jan 2014, 2:56 pm

I'd forgotten all about this post, glad it worked for you Kevin!
Because my bruises were so local (more grooves) I ended up using a small pipe connected to a steam generator and directed the 'blast' along the damaged areas and it worked a treat - in the final finish you would never know marks were there!

Alan

mark pirate · 1st Jan 2014, 3:10 pm

I have a small domestic steam cleaner that might be worth trying, I have a small nozzle attachment that should be fine for this.
I will experiment on a scrap cabinet to see how well it works, if not too good I have an old Iron in the workshop I can try, as I have a couple of sets that need refinishing.

Would it be better to steam out the dents before removing the old finish?

Mark

alanworland · 1st Jan 2014, 4:10 pm

Hi Mark,

I used a fibreglass abrasive pen to remove the varnish in the groove, then the steaming process to the cleared area followed by complete varnish removal with a Wilkinson stripper. I found this to be fairly 'mild' compared to Nitromoors - as in more gentle to the veneer!
Go carefull, the veneers are generally quite thin.

Alan

18th Apr 2013, 9:38 pm	#1
alanworland Heptode Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Southend, Essex, UK. Posts: 803	Bruises in Veneer I seem to remember reading of a method of removing buises from wood (in this case veneered ply) but can't find it now! I thought it involved applying steam to expand the damaged area? Has anyone experiece of doing this? and does it work? Alan

18th Apr 2013, 10:18 pm	#2
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,865	Re: Bruises in Veneer Hi Alan, Using the search terms DENT and STEAM got me to one of Howard's threads: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ead.php?t=7454 N.

18th Apr 2013, 10:43 pm	#3
ValveMan Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 16	Re: Bruises in Veneer Hi Alan, I recommend applying some masking tape to the area then applying steam until the wood swells slightly, this causes the bruise in the veneer to rise making it almost unnoticeable if not completely. The reason to apply tape before doing this is to protect the wood finish however you may find that you still need to refinish the area. I've found that the kettle works best however it's whatever works best for you. Hope this helps, Regards, Dylan

18th Apr 2013, 11:20 pm	#4
alanworland Heptode Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Southend, Essex, UK. Posts: 803	Re: Bruises in Veneer Thanks, I thought I had read it in one of my books - perhaps my brain cell is playing up! Should also work on veneered ply I would have thought. They are only shallow marks but I didn't want to risk thinning the veneer by trying to sand them out. Alan

19th Apr 2013, 11:27 pm	#5
ValveMan Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 16	Re: Bruises in Veneer Yes, It should work fine on ply. As plywood is made up of layers sandwiched together I'd think that it should work exactly the same as solid wood if not better. I would never sand a radio case unless I planned on re-finishing the entire case. I suppose some would say to leave small marks such as these for character's sake however we all like different things. The question is what's character and what isn't? Kind Regards, Dylan

1st Jan 2014, 1:46 pm	#6
kevinski Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 330	Re: Bruises in Veneer I used a steam iron on my home made plywood plinth. I put a wet tea towel over the bruise and used the iron for a few seconds at a time until it had gone. Kevin

1st Jan 2014, 2:56 pm	#7
alanworland Heptode Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Southend, Essex, UK. Posts: 803	Re: Bruises in Veneer I'd forgotten all about this post, glad it worked for you Kevin! Because my bruises were so local (more grooves) I ended up using a small pipe connected to a steam generator and directed the 'blast' along the damaged areas and it worked a treat - in the final finish you would never know marks were there! Alan

1st Jan 2014, 3:10 pm	#8
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: Bruises in Veneer I have a small domestic steam cleaner that might be worth trying, I have a small nozzle attachment that should be fine for this. I will experiment on a scrap cabinet to see how well it works, if not too good I have an old Iron in the workshop I can try, as I have a couple of sets that need refinishing. Would it be better to steam out the dents before removing the old finish? Mark

1st Jan 2014, 4:10 pm	#9
alanworland Heptode Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Southend, Essex, UK. Posts: 803	Re: Bruises in Veneer Hi Mark, I used a fibreglass abrasive pen to remove the varnish in the groove, then the steaming process to the cleared area followed by complete varnish removal with a Wilkinson stripper. I found this to be fairly 'mild' compared to Nitromoors - as in more gentle to the veneer! Go carefull, the veneers are generally quite thin. Alan