Civilian receiver cabinets.

[andycapp]

Sorry I meant BLO not BOL, andy

[ThePillenwerfer]

It certainly looks a lot better.

Those dinks on the side may steam out. Try putting a wet cloth over them and clapping a hot iron on.

- Joe

[andycapp]

I will certainly give it a go Joe, how hot an iron do you think. Andy

[threeseven]

Originally Posted by andycapp

just to show how good the last person who varnished it was, they couldn't be bothered to mask the knobs or take them off.

Very likely to have been tarted up to sell by a surplus dealer after the war. They bought them cheap in quantity and that was an attempt to make them appeal to to public.

how hot an iron do you think.

On very hot, you can modulate the effect by only pressing for a short time, then a bit longer etc. the idea is to get hot steam into the wood, not to soak it. To limit the area steamed a mask of tin foil is a good idea.

[andycapp]

Many thanks for replies, will put pics on when I get her finished. Andy

[ThePillenwerfer]

Originally Posted by andycapp

how hot an iron do you think. Andy

Full on as you want it to produce steam. This should swell the squashed wood fibres and lift them back to, or at least nearer to, to the level of the surrounding ones.

- Joe

[RADIO DUFF]

If you want to keep the original finish and the cabinet has no scratches and just has ingrained dirt try HG MEUBELINE its great for removing grot and stains it can remove alcohol rings and water stains it can also deal with scratches be careful tho as it can sometimes remove certain finishes but it does work and lifts dirt out ! Always read the instructions

[andycapp]

Many thanks, will have a look for that stuff, Andy

[andycapp]

Can the station dial plate be taken off for cleaning and is it the screw marked on pic that frees it, thanks andy

[David G4EBT]

Originally Posted by andycapp

Can the station dial plate be taken off for cleaning and is it the screw marked on pic that frees it, thanks andy

The central screw holds the disc with the line on it that rotates as the tuning knob is turned. I can't recall from memory how the dial plate is held on - I suspect it was a couple of screws. Frankly, most of the dials are so manky, don't clean up well, and are so simple to strip, re-spray and add new lettering that I didn't bother faffing around with mine, I just re-furbished it, as per the pic attached, using rub-down lettering and spraying with several light coats of clear lacquer. (care is needed with the lacquer - too lavish a first coat will float the lettering off. (Don't ask me how I know that!)

Hope that helps a bit Andy.

[andycapp]

Cheers David, helps a lot, and to be honest the one I am doing at the moment has some hard paint on it just below the wood line, thanks David

[andycapp]

Hi David, what do you mean by rub down lettering. I haven't heard of it, Andy

[Brian R Pateman]

Letraset.

http://www.letraset.com/products/90-Letraset-Transfers/

[David G4EBT]

Rub down lettring is widely available from Stationers' shops such W.H. Smith and Ryman's, though not necessarily the Letraset brand. I sprayed the plate (and the tunind disc behind it) with beige acrylic car paint in a similar shade to the original colour, and used clear acrylic gloss lacquer to over-spray the lettering.

[andycapp]

Are there all types of sizes and can you remember which size you used, Thanks andy

[andycapp]

Hi, Just a few pics of this cabinet now finished except for a coat of Lord Sheraton Polish.

I used very fine wet or dry with white spirit, then wire wool 0000 0000 grade, the wire wool I used with white spirit and then when cleaned and dried I used wire wool again with boiled linseed oil.
When that had soaked in well and was wiped off and dry I gave it a good coat of Lord Sheraton wood balsam.

I am particularly pleased with the way the top sticker looks; many thanks to David G4EBT for the waterslide of sticker, also thanks to Ray of Radio-Workshop in Worthing for doing the speaker cloth, and thanks to 60 oldjohn for selling me the cloth.

I think I did do some of it myself; D. Anyway pics of of before 1st pic and then the after.

Thanks for all help so far now to the chassis.

[David G4EBT]

Originally Posted by andycapp

Are there all types of sizes and can you remember which size you used, Thanks andy

The lettering comes in various sizes and font style. You need a plain 'sans serif' font (ie, letters without twiddly feet or tops) and the letter 'O's (cue The Two Ronnies!) need to be oval rather than circular. They need to be 2.5 - 3mm tall. The ones from Ryman's at the link below look ideal. The font is 'Helvetica' and the upper case letters and the numerals are 3mm tall, and there are many more than you'd need for one dial:

http://www.ryman.co.uk/letraset-helv...Ab_xoC52vw_wcB

Easiest thing to do to satisfy yourself would be to take the dial off and take it to the shop to compare the dial with the transfers. In applying the letters/numbers, just place each one where you want it, carefully lining up and spacing each one to the next, then rub the letter down with a soft pencil. (If you make a mistake, you can easily scrape the letter off with your fingernail).

Incidentally, if you do decide to re-spray and re-letter the dial, you need to apply white primer then beige gloss paint, but if you hold the gloss spray about 30cms away from the dial, the paint mist will start to dry as it hits the dial giving a slightly less smooth and glossy finish, which is ideal for the transfers to adhere firmly to. The letters need over-spraying with several light coats of clear gloss lacquer, so you'll end up with a glossy finish to the dial.

Hope that's of help.

The set is coming on nicely Andy!

[andycapp]

Many thanks for all the info David, certainly very helpful, not too sure if my hands would be steady enough for that I must admit, I did start cleaning the dial yesterday with warm slightly soapy water which I must admit got a lot of the dirt off. The wife is picking me up some t cut today and I am hoping that will get the rest. I don't really worry about getting it all pristine as after all it is a 70yr old radio. You have been a considerable help to me on this David and I do appreciate all of your help along with all the others that have replied. andy

[David G4EBT]

If the dial doesn't quite come up like new Andy, in the antiques business that is seen as 'patina' and adds to the charm (and value!).

It will be nice to see it all back together and on display.

Thanks for your kind comments - happy to help as best I'm able.