Faded veneer - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Aerodyne · 8th Aug 2007, 5:35 pm

Hard to advise without seeing the thing at first hand, but for what its worth, this is my approach, first when using toner: I use two-part wood filler to fill small areas. I guess the lighter 'normal' colour would be best with a bleached cabinet, though it can be bought with pigment already added, or you could add a LITTLE stain to the two-part mix to darken the stuff. This is then carefully sanded and smoothed, the spraying and toning process generally concealing the repair well. If using Danish Oil as a finish, the bleached wood probably would have to be stained before the oil is applied. Missing veneer can be filled afterward with Beaumontage (wood coloured wax sticks, Axminster again).
-Tony

Panrock · 8th Aug 2007, 7:23 pm

My feeling is it would be safer to get the bleaching over with before the filling.

I use plastic wood for filling, sometimes reinforced with superglue, especially around the edges of the repair.

There's a blow-by-blow account of a complete cabinet repair HERE with details of all the tricks I find work for me

. Many will have seen this before - it's part of the TV restoration I recently publicised.

Also see HERE and HERE. Hope you find it helpful.

Steve

Aerodyne · 8th Aug 2007, 7:48 pm

Steve pointed out:

Quote:

My feeling is it would be safer to get the bleaching over with before the filling.

Absolutely - sorry I didn't make that clear.
-Tony

Radio_Dave · 10th Aug 2007, 3:16 pm

I've considered the comments about filling after bleaching, but I've decided to do the filling first.

My reason is that I don't know how far the bleach will penetrate the veneer and if I start spot sanding around the filled areas I'll end up with a patchy colour again... I guess time will tell

Thanks
David

Radio_Dave · 12th Aug 2007, 1:10 pm

I got up early this morning and bleached the cabinet with oxalic acid.

The results were mixed but surprising. The bleach didn't do what I expected and 'bleach' the colour, but it seems to be refreshed and brightened it (see photo). I certainly won't be staining it

.

The 'greyness' and black, dirty, marks have gone. The colour is more even, but it's far from perfect. I think I'll just have to accept that this radio was in a very poor state to start with

.

The only real downside was the amount of liquid that I had to pour over the poor old thing. The cabinet had to be flooded with the oxalic acid to get it to 'sit' on the veneer, for the required time. Then it had to be washed, thoroughly, with neutralizing solution and then clean water! I'll have to leave it, for quite a few days, to dry out before I do anything else. Lets hope the veneer doesn't fall off

David

Ian B · 12th Aug 2007, 5:39 pm

That looks 1000 times better already Dave!. I had a similar problem with the oxalic acid, it doesn't seem to "wet" the surface easily.
Keep up the good work.

Ian Blackbourn

Nickthedentist · 12th Aug 2007, 6:31 pm

Yes, that's going to look stunning... especially when you compare it with the "garden shed" wreck you started with.

Nick.

8th Aug 2007, 5:35 pm	#21
Aerodyne Octode Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hampton Vale, Peterborough, UK. Posts: 1,698	Re: Faded veneer Hard to advise without seeing the thing at first hand, but for what its worth, this is my approach, first when using toner: I use two-part wood filler to fill small areas. I guess the lighter 'normal' colour would be best with a bleached cabinet, though it can be bought with pigment already added, or you could add a LITTLE stain to the two-part mix to darken the stuff. This is then carefully sanded and smoothed, the spraying and toning process generally concealing the repair well. If using Danish Oil as a finish, the bleached wood probably would have to be stained before the oil is applied. Missing veneer can be filled afterward with Beaumontage (wood coloured wax sticks, Axminster again). -Tony

8th Aug 2007, 7:23 pm	#22
Panrock Nonode Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,534	Re: Faded veneer My feeling is it would be safer to get the bleaching over with before the filling. I use plastic wood for filling, sometimes reinforced with superglue, especially around the edges of the repair. There's a blow-by-blow account of a complete cabinet repair HERE with details of all the tricks I find work for me. Many will have seen this before - it's part of the TV restoration I recently publicised. Also see HERE and HERE. Hope you find it helpful. Steve __________________ https://www.radiocraft.co.uk

10th Aug 2007, 3:16 pm	#24
Radio_Dave Nonode Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 2,543	Re: Faded veneer I've considered the comments about filling after bleaching, but I've decided to do the filling first. My reason is that I don't know how far the bleach will penetrate the veneer and if I start spot sanding around the filled areas I'll end up with a patchy colour again... I guess time will tell Thanks David

12th Aug 2007, 1:10 pm	#25
Radio_Dave Nonode Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 2,543	Re: Faded veneer I got up early this morning and bleached the cabinet with oxalic acid. The results were mixed but surprising. The bleach didn't do what I expected and 'bleach' the colour, but it seems to be refreshed and brightened it (see photo). I certainly won't be staining it. The 'greyness' and black, dirty, marks have gone. The colour is more even, but it's far from perfect. I think I'll just have to accept that this radio was in a very poor state to start with. The only real downside was the amount of liquid that I had to pour over the poor old thing. The cabinet had to be flooded with the oxalic acid to get it to 'sit' on the veneer, for the required time. Then it had to be washed, thoroughly, with neutralizing solution and then clean water! I'll have to leave it, for quite a few days, to dry out before I do anything else. Lets hope the veneer doesn't fall off David Attached Thumbnails

12th Aug 2007, 5:39 pm	#26
Ian B Hexode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Arlesey, Bedfordshire, UK. Posts: 401	Re: Faded veneer That looks 1000 times better already Dave!. I had a similar problem with the oxalic acid, it doesn't seem to "wet" the surface easily. Keep up the good work. Ian Blackbourn

12th Aug 2007, 6:31 pm	#27
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,864	Re: Faded veneer Yes, that's going to look stunning... especially when you compare it with the "garden shed" wreck you started with. Nick.