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Old 12th May 2019, 4:33 pm   #3
Mike. Watterson
Heptode
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Limerick, Ireland.
Posts: 901
Default Re: Any AMBASSADOR Experts ?

From the 1930s the sets were sprayed. Mass production.
Only very early deluxe cabinets of factory made sets had French Polish which is basically shellac (from a beetle) dissolved in meths and is very labour intensive and needs skill.

Modern Acrylic spray clear paint, like transparent final layers for a metallic painted car is the most similar to the mass produced lacquer coatings. They often used a translucent or opaque base coat spray, called toner, on the raw veneer to change the colour. This can dissolve in some paint strippers.

You can still buy real shellac, for pre-1920s furniture restoration.
"From the time it replaced oil and wax finishes in the 19th century, shellac was one of the dominant wood finishes in the western world until it was largely replaced by nitrocellulose lacquer in the 1920s and 1930s."
I've never understood people "French polishing" radio cabinets, though it's a hobby and why not if you like it. Car Acrylic transparent lacquer spray is closer to authentic and a lot less work.
Polyurethane or some hobby lacquers are trickier, more expensive and less authentic.

Last edited by Mike. Watterson; 12th May 2019 at 4:39 pm.
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