At first I was going to completely refinish it, but A) I have no refinishing experience B) I'd RATHER save an original finish. I just don't know if it's too far gone or not. It needs some veneer glued in places (loose) and that one chip in the front which of course is a special patterned veneer . The bottom is shot. I need to repair and glue the bottom, and probably refinish(?). Also on the top, where two veneer pieces joined, it seemed to have shrunk a bit, so there's a 16th to an 1/8" gap in the veneer (how do I fix that?)
Also, there are 3 pin stripes on this radio. The top middle one is worn off, which is a bummer. How can I go about fixing that?
Anyway, the finish is pretty rough to the touch. The sides as you can see still even have a nice shine to them, and are a bit smoother to the touch. There are no gouges or deep scratches. It's biggest problem is that it's old and dry, the original lacquer is crazed and you sure can feel it.

I did a search of the forums, and I'm bouncing between Howards or a Minwax stain? I don't want it to be perfect. It doesn't have to be perfectly smooth either. It's not going to be entered into a Radio Show I would just like a little shine, and even finish. Something nice to look at. I need it to last. Howards I hear doesn't?
What color stains/howards should I get for this one?

And then again, there's the thought of refinishing the whole thing, I just don't think it's TOO far gone. What do you think???

Looks like there is a lot of issues with this radio. If I had it, I would totally strip of all of the old finish. Then I would fix all the veneer issues. Then shoot it with Mohawk lacquers. But thats just me.

The stripes are painted on, so stripping would remove them. As it is, it's the top of the cabinet thats the deal breaker for just trying to revive the finish, as you have a lot of stains and loss of lacquer it looks like. It would be hard to just strip the the top and have it match the rest of the cabinet. So I would say strip the cabinet as well, bleach the top to get rid of the stains, then restain the whole cabinet, hit it with a few light coats of lacquer, sand smooth, put on the new stripes, then hit it with more lacquer to suit your tastes.

Don't jump on the refinish bandwagon. It's a thing that collectors seem to like, just to one-up everyone else with their shiny [insert item]. Retouching is more rewarding and more challenging than getting it naked and redoing it. I for one dislike antiques that look new... unless they survived that way. I'll only rescue basket cases. It looks like you have a happy old radio as it sits, just in need of some help here and there.

I would go over with Howard's, fix the feet and be done.

Everybody else - don't kill me, now!

Nick, I won't "kill" you because I totally agree.
A good going over of "The Treatment" would help a
bunch. It won't be perfect, but then it's NOT NEW,
it's over 70 years old.
The feet can be touched up and I think the top will
clean up nicely too.
If it was mine that's what I'd do.

glue and clamp what needs to be. Strip base trim and lacquer with toner. Fill in gap on top with toned filler, patch any missing veneer. Howard restore afinish the cabinet and finish off with a couple coats of Formbys Tung Oil, wiping it on with a cloth. JMO

I totally agree with the previous posters. That finish is easily revivable without the need for stripping and starting with bare wood.

I will try and save the original finish. Is it true that Howard finish does not last? I wish the pin stripe was still intact. Will howards finish remove what is left? Can I do a howards refinish and THEN fix the veneer chip/issues? I just want it to look somewhat presentable for this Christmas. Howards doesn't hurt anything, and I can always go back and refinish the whole radio, right? What color Howards should I get? I have a little table top that I'd like to try it on first. I don't know what color the radio is exactly. It's a Silvertone 6051. Golden oak, or maybe walnut?

How should I go about applying the howards for the best appearance?
I don't know if I'll have time to do the base and all that this season. But I just want it to look a bit nicer and still be original, that's all.

Thanks for the tips guys!!!

I agree with holding off on the refinish. There is a lot you can do to make that a very presentable radio, and if you aren't pleased with the results you can always refinish at a later date.

I would probably redo the base where needed, give the cabinet a good cleaning with Go-Jo or Goop hand cleaner, maybe patch and touch-up the veneer if some is missing in an obvious spot or two. Then I'd hit the cabinet with a generous application of Howard's or Old English (dark walnut) followed by a few coats of Johnson's or Min-Wax wood paste wax. Do a search on methods that others have used to save a cabinet w/o a total refinish.

I've seen some refinish efforts that really come out beautiful, but many just look like a refinish job. Below are some links to get you started with some ideas:

http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/vie ... 7&t=186734

viewtopic.php?t=89789

http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/vie ... =7&t=90315

http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/vie ... t=refinish

P.S. I didn't vote because they are multiple methods of attack on this one. In some cases I use a stain instead of Howard's or Old English.

This is always fun . Bacon grease works too

I gave howards a try on my little silvertone. The top was a bit rough (missing some finish but not bare wood) I gave the whole cabinet a rub down with it. It darkened it nicely (I used walnut, and after seeing little change, went to dark walnut). It is nice, but now I know what it's capable of, and what it's not. The problem is YES I can use it and it will probably work very well on the sides and front of the radio, BUT the top is shot. Since it's curved, I can't restore just the top.
I'm just mulling it over. Maybe I'll rub some howards on, I can always do that to see and then refinish later, right? I'm just afraid of the howards gets to the bare wood, it will stain the veneer and then I'll be in trouble. No?

After seeing some professionally refinished cabinets, it's hard to want to just restore a finish it. As much as I want an original finish, glossy and new IS pretty nice...thinking about my options here.

Thanks guys.

P.S. Ken, bacon grease does wonders in place of car wax. Bacon on, bacon off .

'restoring' a finish with Howards is like 'restoring' a paintjob on a car with ArmourAll

you still have all the crap that turned you off about the original finish, its just covered up

I just applied a good coat of howards. I'll post pictures in a bit. Yes it's not perfect BY ANY MEANS, but a lot of the scratches completely went away, and it looks alive again. BIG difference.
At least it'll look nice in the meantime while I'm deciding whether to restore it or not. Although, I think I like the way this came out........The finish underneath all the scratches is more there, than not there. I'm amazed, actually...

This is two coats of howard restore a finish. Rubbed on liberally with #0000 steel wool (with the grain). For nooks and crannies I used a tooth brush. I let it sit and soak in for 15 minutes each coat, and then buffed off with a clean soft rag. The dark stain you see on the top in my original photos blended in more because the whole top darkened! It's still rough, but very nice. As far as the rest of the finish, 98% perfect. It shines now! I'd like to give it another coat, this is two coats. BUT I'm afraid it will get too dark. Will it continue to darken?

For a few bucks on supplies, I can't complain..................I'm amazed, actually.

Time to stock up on bacon grease!!!

Looking good Picker! Always try the least destructive method first, refinishing can always be a later option, but once started is irreversible. Now spend just a few more bucks on some Johnson's or Minwax wood paste wax, apply a few hand rubbed coats and you'll be even more pleased than you are now.

Me too! I thought the bottom of the cabinet was hopeless but it looks great, at least at this resolution

Brett

Yeah, I just went crazy and slathered it on the base. Yes, where it was bare it is not glossy, but it looks 150% better.
The only thing I'm worried about is, did it get too dark? I used dark walnut. I think I like it darker though...I'm not sure if the original finish was light, or faded, but I would like to coat it again and keep working it in because the woods so dry. It darkened fast. I just don't want it to turn like ebony

What's your guys' opinion on the color?

I think it looks very good at this color.

if you want to put on more, use neutral, it's as clear as water.

Brett

Yes, right now I'm very pleased with the color. I just want to seal the howards in somehow. I don't want to start spraying lacquer. I'd like to get a LITTLE more gloss, and to make it last longer, if not forever. By forever I mean I'd like to seal that color in, I can always apply more wax if need be. Also if I can smooth it out a bit. Maybe coats of wax will even things out and make the surface smooth to the touch? (Not necessarily on the top, that's too far gone I think, but everything else).
Aside from lacquer, what's the next best thing to get a little more shine and preserve the "new" finish?
Should I go for that minwax finish paste? What's different from that, compared to say, Gliptone?

Thanks guys