Successful Rexine Restoration - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

camtechman · 11th Jul 2008, 9:45 am

Although this is already posted in the Cabinet & Chassis Restoration & Refinishing section under "Yet Another Bush TR82 Restoration Question", I thought it may be useful for those who have problems with Rexine Restoration and would like to here of a surprising success story.

As a follow up to my original problem I can now report on an accidental & totally unexpected but successful restoration to the faded & patchy blue rexine covering on my Bush TR82C (see thumbnail #1), which was the last stage of completing a full restoration of my Bush TR82C. (see thumbnail #3)

After doing some research on what colour dyes are available, I went for a product by Tarrago, No:16: Midnight Blue.

I've ordered a 35ml Kit and it should arrive in a day or two & in the meantime I dismantled the case assembly, in order to have easy access for ease of application of the dye.

Once the case was apart, I decided to give the faded rexine a degrease before the dye arrives but I'd run out of my usual Methanol/Ethyl mixture and the only other product to hand was Propanol-2 (iso-propyl alcohol).

Applying a liberal amount of the iso-propyl to a clean, white cotton cloth, I wiped it all over the faded rexine and to my utter amazement & almost instantly, the full colour came to the surface and within secionds had dried and after a few moments I buffed it with a soft, yellow polishing cloth.....and was as good as new!!!! (see thumbnail #2).

Seems like I've ordered the Blue Dye for nothing!

PJL · 11th Jul 2008, 8:37 pm

Thats a vast improvement.

I would guess the blooming is from an old finish (perhaps wax) and the IPA dissolved it.

paulsherwin · 11th Jul 2008, 8:54 pm

That's a really useful discovery. I've always avoided using alcohol on Rexine because I expected it to rub off the dye. Your experience suggests that the dye is indeed soluble in alcohol, but there is plenty of dye just beneath the surface which migrates to the surface when dissolved in alcohol. The alcohol would then evaporate leaving new dye.

I wonder if meths would have the same effect?

Paul

mark pirate · 11th Jul 2008, 9:18 pm

Well thought of paul, IT WORKS! i have a scrap tr82c & have had the same problem as camtech after washing the cabinet. another use for meths!

Cheers
mark

chipp1968 · 12th Jul 2008, 11:00 am

I wonder whether this would work on acustic gramophone cabinets ?

11th Jul 2008, 9:18 pm	#4
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: Successful Rexine Restoration Well thought of paul, IT WORKS! i have a scrap tr82c & have had the same problem as camtech after washing the cabinet. another use for meths! Cheers mark

12th Jul 2008, 11:00 am	#5
chipp1968 Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,356	Re: Successful Rexine Restoration I wonder whether this would work on acustic gramophone cabinets ?

11th Jul 2008, 9:45 am	#1
camtechman Nonode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks. UK. Posts: 2,552	Successful Rexine Restoration Although this is already posted in the Cabinet & Chassis Restoration & Refinishing section under "Yet Another Bush TR82 Restoration Question", I thought it may be useful for those who have problems with Rexine Restoration and would like to here of a surprising success story. As a follow up to my original problem I can now report on an accidental & totally unexpected but successful restoration to the faded & patchy blue rexine covering on my Bush TR82C (see thumbnail #1), which was the last stage of completing a full restoration of my Bush TR82C. (see thumbnail #3) After doing some research on what colour dyes are available, I went for a product by Tarrago, No:16: Midnight Blue. I've ordered a 35ml Kit and it should arrive in a day or two & in the meantime I dismantled the case assembly, in order to have easy access for ease of application of the dye. Once the case was apart, I decided to give the faded rexine a degrease before the dye arrives but I'd run out of my usual Methanol/Ethyl mixture and the only other product to hand was Propanol-2 (iso-propyl alcohol). Applying a liberal amount of the iso-propyl to a clean, white cotton cloth, I wiped it all over the faded rexine and to my utter amazement & almost instantly, the full colour came to the surface and within secionds had dried and after a few moments I buffed it with a soft, yellow polishing cloth.....and was as good as new!!!! (see thumbnail #2). Seems like I've ordered the Blue Dye for nothing! Attached Thumbnails __________________ When I die, please don't let my Wife sell my collection for the amount I told her I paid for it!

11th Jul 2008, 8:37 pm	#2
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Re: Successful Rexine Restoration Thats a vast improvement. I would guess the blooming is from an old finish (perhaps wax) and the IPA dissolved it.

11th Jul 2008, 8:54 pm	#3
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,970	Re: Successful Rexine Restoration That's a really useful discovery. I've always avoided using alcohol on Rexine because I expected it to rub off the dye. Your experience suggests that the dye is indeed soluble in alcohol, but there is plenty of dye just beneath the surface which migrates to the surface when dissolved in alcohol. The alcohol would then evaporate leaving new dye. I wonder if meths would have the same effect? Paul