I have been trying to make some zenith pinched knobs but can't seem to get them quite right .This pic has my 4 attempts and 1 original knob which isn't too hard to pick out.I would welcome any sugestions.Butch

I obviously must not be a puritan, but those are some nice knobs!

The last time I told someone they had nice knobs she slapped me in the face .

One of are members makes perfect replicas of these. Why not just contact him and buy some? (blacksmith)
Stan Ski

which one is the original, and what is the problem you are having?

Purist, not puritan. The latter is a no-no word here.

Isn't the one on the far right the real one?

The problem I see is that they don't look consistent in shape.

The problem is as nick says they are close but not exact in shape.I know i could buy some as stan says but the main reason i fix old radios is i like the cabinet repair and get satisfaction when an old wreck is made to look nice or when i can replicate a part.The pic is not very good so i'll try another but i think my camera is just not good enough.The original knob is the 2nd one from the left in both pics.I guess i shouldn't be so fussy as the original knobs i have arn't perfect either.Butch

I THOUGHT 2nd from left was the one as the material looked different but the far right looked the best to me.

Seems to me you need a more rigid mold, by making a box to pour the casting compound into, with the part being on the bottom. When cured you pop the part out, and you have a fairly rigid mold for casting. A brush on latex mold will not keep it's shape unless you layer it with gauze.

Just my experience

there is no mold these are made of black walnut but i think the original may have been english walnut as its a bit lighter.butch

Butch - I have seen a bunch of these knobs, and yours are just as good as the originals. I understand perfectionism, but I think you are being too hard on yourself.

Brett

they look good to me, thought you had cast them as the pics look like they were. You will need an entire set so they will look matched.

i guess if they look good enough to you guys they are good enough for me.i will put them on a couple sets and start trying to make a few of the small round ones as the sets use a couple of each.thanks for all the nice replys.butch

They look good to me. The only thing I could see is that you maybe should sand down the lightning bolt on the replicas. All around, it is a good job though.

They look good to me. Would you share your methods here?

Ed

I too assumed they were cast, and thought they were perfectly acceptable. I was surprised to learn they were carved, and totally impressed by that.
Great job!

-Sam T.

Would you share your methods here?ed
i will try .i first cut blanks with a hole saw and a drill press making sure i was drilling end grain as thats the way the originals were.i turned them down on a small lathe.i used a 1/4 inch steel tube or a dowel and a drill chuck on the lathe depending on whether it was going to be a half circle slip on or a set screw knob these cut off when the knob is finished.i used a dremal rotary tool with the larger size drum sander to do the sides.the top was transfered by putting scotch tape on the original knob and cutting out the pattern with an exacto knife.the pattern was then cut out with a dremal engraving tool with removable bits .i just ground down and honed some pieces of broken 1/8 inch drill bits to make some chisel tips of various shapes.when the tape was centered on the new knob i cut the pattern with the exacto kife into the new knob as it makes a fine guideline.the rest is artistic ability which i have little of but i do have a critical eye which is why i thought they didn't look very good.the other thing is if you look closely at the originals there is a bumpy pattern around the lightening bolt which i haven't been able to duplicate.butch

I'm impressed that people have the time to devote to create such things as this. Lookin good. How much time to make one knob?

How much time to make one knob?
i never really kept track as i would get bored and go turn a few knobs one time maybe do the sides another time then just sit them on the table.when i was just sitting there doing nothing i would finish one of them.i would guess it took 2 or 3 hours to finish a knob but then i am old and decrepit someone else with better techniques and tools could do it much faster.i just look at it like an old guy sitting around whittling something, it occupies your mind and keeps your hands busy.i dislike watching tv and use this as amusement while listening to one of my radios although its hard to hear it when the engraver is running.butch

I can see turning round profile knobs on a lathe but man that must be alot of work to make odd shaped ones.