advice on wooden cabinet strip or not ? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Steve G4WCS · 25th Nov 2005, 11:12 am

Ive got a couple of wooden cased radios that I havent started on yet.

Reading the various forums etc there are two schools of thought; strip and start again or restore sympathetically.

I concur with the second, and would like some advice on how best to go about it. The cabinets are dirty, and some areas of lacquer are scratched off or otherwise missing.

What products and techniques have you had success with ?

Radio_Dave · 25th Nov 2005, 11:29 am

Hi Steve,

I recently restored a Bush SW43 "sympathetically" because it didn't seem bad enough to strip.

Firstly I gave the cabinet a good going over with T Cut then cleaned everything with white spirit. When completely dry I simply gave it a couple of coats of Danish oil, applied with a rag

I've attached a couple of before and after photos. The good thing is the the "whiteness" of the scratches is removed but you can't do alot with the depth of the scratches

..........OK I'll probably strip it next year

Regards
David

Ken · 25th Nov 2005, 12:12 pm

Hi All

I have had some sucess with wooden cases that have had quite bad scratches. I first try to clean the surface as completely as possible with a foam cleaner. I then try to polish out the worst of the scratches using a paint "colour restorer" (similar to T-Cut) or brasso. I then use this lightly over the whole surface but not logos. I then use "Rustin's Scratch Cover and Polish" There are two versions of this, one for light wood and the other for medium and dark wood. I use several applications of this on the scratched areas then a couple over the whole surface. I repeat the whole surface treatment from time to time. I have also tried filling bad scratches using coloured waxes but I think these are better for small holes etc. All of the above is easily reversable if you dont like the result.

Regards,

Ken.

Radio_Dave · 25th Nov 2005, 1:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken

I then use "Rustin's Scratch Cover and Polish"

It's worth mentioning that this product will stain the wood and if in the future you decide to completely strip the cabinet you will be left with a very patchy surface. Unfortunately I know this from experience

Regards
David

Ken · 25th Nov 2005, 3:00 pm

Hi Dave

Thanks for the infor on the Rustin's stuff. I didnt know it could stain the wood probably because I have never gone back and striped a cabinet on which it was used.

Regards,

Ken.

25th Nov 2005, 11:12 am	#1
Steve G4WCS Heptode Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 632	advice on wooden cabinet strip or not ? Ive got a couple of wooden cased radios that I havent started on yet. Reading the various forums etc there are two schools of thought; strip and start again or restore sympathetically. I concur with the second, and would like some advice on how best to go about it. The cabinets are dirty, and some areas of lacquer are scratched off or otherwise missing. What products and techniques have you had success with ? Last edited by Darren-UK; 15th Jul 2011 at 2:10 pm. Reason: General tidying.

25th Nov 2005, 11:29 am	#2
Radio_Dave Nonode Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 2,543	Re: advice on wooden cabinet strip or not ? Hi Steve, I recently restored a Bush SW43 "sympathetically" because it didn't seem bad enough to strip. Firstly I gave the cabinet a good going over with T Cut then cleaned everything with white spirit. When completely dry I simply gave it a couple of coats of Danish oil, applied with a rag I've attached a couple of before and after photos. The good thing is the the "whiteness" of the scratches is removed but you can't do alot with the depth of the scratches..........OK I'll probably strip it next year Regards David Attached Thumbnails

25th Nov 2005, 12:12 pm	#3
Ken Hexode Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Near Glasgow, UK. Posts: 309	Re: advice on wooden cabinet strip or not ? Hi All I have had some sucess with wooden cases that have had quite bad scratches. I first try to clean the surface as completely as possible with a foam cleaner. I then try to polish out the worst of the scratches using a paint "colour restorer" (similar to T-Cut) or brasso. I then use this lightly over the whole surface but not logos. I then use "Rustin's Scratch Cover and Polish" There are two versions of this, one for light wood and the other for medium and dark wood. I use several applications of this on the scratched areas then a couple over the whole surface. I repeat the whole surface treatment from time to time. I have also tried filling bad scratches using coloured waxes but I think these are better for small holes etc. All of the above is easily reversable if you dont like the result. Regards, Ken.

25th Nov 2005, 3:00 pm	#5
Ken Hexode Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Near Glasgow, UK. Posts: 309	Re: advice on wooden cabinet strip or not ? Hi Dave Thanks for the infor on the Rustin's stuff. I didnt know it could stain the wood probably because I have never gone back and striped a cabinet on which it was used. Regards, Ken.