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Cabinet and Chassis Restoration and Refinishing For help with cabinet or chassis restoration (non-electrical), please leave a message here. |
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21st Oct 2008, 7:02 pm | #1 |
Retired Dormant Member
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Cleaning tired veneer
Can anyone suggest something that will clean the accumulation of 70 years of sh**e off of the veneered finish of a cabinet?
My "new" Philco has a tired, I assume, original finish. I'd like to keep it as such as it still has the original "Philco" transfer under the tuning dial. Regards John |
21st Oct 2008, 8:05 pm | #2 |
Hexode
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Arlesey, Bedfordshire, UK.
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
If the original finish is dull but not badly scratched I'd try T-cut (used for reviving car paintwork) - try a test patch on a bit of one side first. I had excellent results on an old Marconi set that had spent 30+ years in a loft.
If it's scratched through to the veneer in a lot of places, it might be better to use the Gerry Wells finish reviver: third pint linseed oil third pint turpentine (not turps substitute) third pint vinegar teaspoon sugar. Shake the mixture well, and shake frequently in use as the vinegar tries to separate out. Apply liberally, leave for a few minutes, and polish off. In a recent BVWS bulletin there was an article about using liquid paraffin in a similar way, but I've not tried it myself. Ian Blackbourn |
21st Oct 2008, 8:09 pm | #3 | |
Dekatron
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
Quote:
Anyone here tried it? It's easy enough to obtain, e.g. from pet shops: http://www.petmeds.co.uk/p-3517-liqu...fin-500ml.aspx Nick. |
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21st Oct 2008, 8:16 pm | #4 |
Pentode
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
hi john,ive used dampened fine wire wool impregnated with bees wax polish,with stunning affect, im assuming your philco is the wooden cabinet, and not the 'peoples set'
theres a thread in the archives here sugesting the use of brasso on wood finishes, but just do a small area first somewhere to see how it reacts. good luck in your endevour, regards maitiu. |
22nd Oct 2008, 8:19 am | #5 |
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Crayford, London, UK.
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
On looking at the Philco this morning, someone has stained it, over the Philco transfer. Now I have the problem of removing the stain back to the original wood.
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22nd Oct 2008, 8:32 am | #6 | |
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
Quote:
I haven't looked lately but liquid paraffin always used to be available from any pharmacy. |
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22nd Oct 2008, 8:40 am | #7 |
Rest in Peace
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
Re the liquid paraffin .,After reading the article i wanted to try but as yet havnt been able to source any. The chemist doesnt do it anymore . i will try the petshop .
With reference to this thread , If the cabinet has been varnished over , its not easy to remove the bad finish from the one underneith . I did once do this with great success on a walnut chair using t cut ! rubbed away the upper finish . then revived the original . was impressed , but hard work and care needed |
22nd Oct 2008, 9:49 am | #8 | |
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
Quote:
I think the Bulletin article implied it was usually something that a pharmacist would have to order specially for you (so possibly expensive, and potentially embarrassing too!). I too plan to try the pet shop in the first instance. Nick. |
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22nd Oct 2008, 10:07 am | #9 |
Hexode
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bristol, UK.
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
Can't you buy liquid paraffin for paraffin heaters any more? Wouldn't any decent hardware store keep it?
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22nd Oct 2008, 10:21 am | #10 |
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
There are many more pet shops than "decent" hardware stores round here, Patrick, but good point.
Is it definitely the same stuff though? N. |
22nd Oct 2008, 10:33 am | #11 |
Hexode
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bristol, UK.
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
Dunno. But it's great for starting bonfires!
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22nd Oct 2008, 10:43 am | #12 | |
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
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22nd Oct 2008, 12:00 pm | #13 | |
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
Quote:
Hand cream such as 'Savlon' could be used maybe, at least it keeps your hands nice and soft there is also a liquid paraffin emollient from chemists called 'Double Base' but that might be available on prescription only, other liquid paraffin products from chemists are Dermol hand creams. Geof |
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22nd Oct 2008, 1:06 pm | #14 |
Heptode
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
Hello there does seem to be a problem with chemists supplying it, the one I use said that they couldnt get any. Try Ascott smallholdings supplies Ltd. Veterinary supplies. £6-50 for 2 litres (inc. vat.) Buying it through a chemist, if you can works out at over £1-00 for 100 ml.
It does seem to work very well, the radio I have was bleached almost white and the wood was completely 'dry', it has now come up to a lovely walnut with the grain figured beautifully, considering the state it was in it's great. Cheers. Geoff. PS. to remove the dirt etc. I gave it a rub down with white spirit to start with. |
22nd Oct 2008, 3:42 pm | #15 | ||
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
Quote:
Quote:
Nick. Last edited by Nickthedentist; 22nd Oct 2008 at 3:50 pm. |
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22nd Oct 2008, 3:48 pm | #16 |
Dekatron
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
And in the past, constipated people! It is a clear liquid with the consistency of thin oil.
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Mike. |
22nd Oct 2008, 3:51 pm | #17 |
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
Hmm, onto poultrykeeping now......
Nothing humane about neck snapping! The liquid parrafin does look like a good price though - I wonder from those that have tried - does it leave the surface sticky? Cheers Sean
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Engineers make things work and have spare bits when finished |
22nd Oct 2008, 4:20 pm | #18 |
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
If it is just general grime then Swafega hand cleaner would be as good as anything. But most hand creams have liquid paraffin as a base.
Geof |
22nd Oct 2008, 6:16 pm | #19 |
Heptode
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
AH well the first question I was asked was 'Was I going to consume it?' No said I it's for a radio cue strange looks and 'We cant get it now'.
When it's gone off then it is not sticky at all. Cheers. Geoff. |
22nd Oct 2008, 7:12 pm | #20 | |
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Re: Cleaning tired veneer
Liquid paraffin:
Quote:
Not tried it on a cabinet yet, but I might when the need arises.
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