I went into a local Habitat For Humanity store today, and found some great deals on new and used wood of all types. They have an entire wall for lengths of trim of all kinds. I looked through it and found several pieces suitable for missing radio cabinet parts. I also found a nice 4' length of walnut 1x6, and a 22-1/2" X 100" roll of cherry veneer. Got it all for about $15.

They also have a used furniture and cabinet dept that will make a great resource for radio cabinet veneer and wood stock.

Their housewares dept yielded ten old 10" records and a tiny old Bulova 870 series transistor radio, w/case in near perfect condition. The records are $1 each, and the radio was a whopping .75.

If you have anything like this in your area, you really need to check it out. It's a gold mine for all kinds of household and electronics related stuff.

I stopped at the Habitat store while visiting in Green Bay. Bought about a half pound bag of 6-32 x 1/2 screws (new) for 50 cents. I felt so guilty, I gave them a buck and wouldn't take change.

Rich

Keep a look out at your local IKEA as well. They all have somewhere where damaged or items with missing parts are sold off cheap: I call it 'crash corner'. And of course look out for sale items.

Redoing the Den and radio collection room at the moment. The work area and PC desk is a sale, two 4 drawer units, with a top from 'crash', all in light beech.

The main display table (again beech, everything is going to be in this as I want a nice light look) was a sale item reduced from £149.99 to £37.50! For more display units I bought a wardrobe, incomplete with no doors for £15. Such a lot of material for so little money. You do have to be good at the carpentry to use it though... been working with chip and other boards for over 40 years so no probs to me. Dont be put off that this chip isnt melamine covered but actually papered (well old radios were as well). It is actually easier to use as it doesnt spilter and chip like the melamine as long as you use a sharp, fine set and toothed saw. You wouldnt use it for areas of high abrasion, work bench etc.

Then there are book shelf units and other stuff etc... goes on and on

Another thing to look out for in crash is high density chip shelving. I bought a lot of it and wish I had got more, working through it. You will know it when you see / hold it as its much heavier and then try flexing it ... real hard. Its thicker than usual and I guess they use smaller particles and better glue and pressure.

May post a pic or two when done except I'm nervous of derision from Ron in Radio Heaven!!

Gary

Don't let that stop you. He isn't God. Neither is anyone else here.