Good Evening Gentlemen,
Well I have two Grebes both of which are working fine now.
Now comes the cabinets, would anyone know a good CD,Book,website, ANYTHING that could guide me through the work necessary to restore these cabinets.
Regards and thanks in advance.
Steve

Here's how I do it: http://antiqueradios.com/features/lacquer.shtml

Alan, There you go, it didnt take long for the "Knowledge" to appear.
Thankyou for the pointer.
Steve

Whoa! What model Grebes? That's really important in this context. The older CR-# are very collectible and a newbie finish might ruin/kill the desirability. If your Grebes are typical 30s models then you probably can't hurt them by sprucing them up.

What models do you have?

Hi Jack thanks for your comment. Both MU-1 ..original everything.
I see your concern regarding the cabinets, very valid indeed.
Hopefully I can retain the same coloring, the current woodwork is not bad but it does need filling and the joints are loose. Hard to say how far to take it.
Steve Humphries
Instructor Pilot
NetJets Aviation
A Berkshire Hathaway Co

Restoration Grebe Cabinet(s)
Gentlemen "How Far" do you cut back the color of these old cabinets. I know its hard work but most of the stain has gone leaving a "Light Brown" coloring which is now impossible to remove without cutting into the wood. Ideas...Thank you...Steve

Hi. I would like to suggest that you might consider using a product that temorariy liquifies the SURFACE of the original finish. It is called Finish Feeder. Do a google on that name you will likely come up with a source or two. Unless there is NO finish on the wood, I believe that you will be AMAZED at the results! It is applied with 4x0 steel wool in a circular motion. You then wait for the surface to become a bit dull/cloudy and use a clean, soft cloth to remove the surface residue, along with the impurities which HAD been trapped in the finish. It will also remove an "alligatored" pattern in a finish that has developed over the years. I have been using this stuff for almost 25 years and I LOVE it! Dave

Dave, thanks so much for the wealth of knowledge, gee and I thought I knew everything, well thats what I tell my children anyway !!!...thanks again Sir...Steve

Dear Dave, Having a little difficulty with the understanding of the Finish Feeder.
Is this a polish, or a surface/shelac/laquer remover or a product to refinish the existing surfaces. If it "Liquifies the surface", what/which product name is the one you recommend.
There appears to be only a polish with beeswax ??..(Still learning)
Hope I am not a nuisance...Steve

This sounds like exactly what I've been looking for.
I've been comtemplating stripping this cabinet, but the finish is 90% intact..



The dark spots on top are where the finish is mostly gone...

Then on the front corners...



Does this seem like Finish Feeder is the ticket ?

Where can I buy it? I get a message from thier shopping cart saying "paypal is unable to complete this transaction, please contact the supplier" I didn't see it in any other locations...

Thanks, Rich...

I would liike to share a link to the Finish Feeder Company. You can order the product there. I believe that once you have tried it, you will be HOOKED! I started using this product back in the mid 80s and I ALWAYS keep some handy! Dave http://www.finishfeedercompany.com/index.htm

I have another link on my home PC for a hardware store in Wisconsin(??) where I have purchased Finish Feeder several times. I will post that link later today. Dave

Steve and Rich and ANYONE else.... Here is the additional link that I mentioned. You will find that this webpage does a very decent job of explaining the USE of Finish Feeder. So here you go....... http://www.kilianhardware.com/finfeed16oz.html
Let all of us know how the product WORKS for you! Dave

Well, I followed the link I just gave you and I see that "the manufacturer has discontinued production". I will continue to search this out and let you know WHERE the product might be had! dave

I found 1 can on Epay, for $10 + $20 shipping...
It was under "Duck Decoys" But, I'm sorry, that's shipping extortion in my book...
I'll keep looking...

Rich...

Good morning to ALL. Well, I just got off the phone with Kilian Hardware and they tell me that it has been over a year since they were able to get some Finish Feeder in their doors. They have been told by the manufacturer that the company is OUT of business. There is bound to be some older stuff hiding out somewhere. I intend to keep looking! Dave

Wonder if Howard's Feed-n-Wax is a similar product?
If you have a can of Finish Feeder, could you list the ingredients here please?

Hi Sam! I will be home for lunch shortly and I will take a look at the Finish Feeder can. I am not familiar with the product you mention, BUT it may be one of the few options since, it would appear, the Feeder is "finished" at least for now. BOOOOOOO! Dave

I have taken a look at the can of Finish Feeder and the only specific ingredient mentioned is Turpentine. it claims to also have "natural oils and liquified beeswax". What can anyone tell us about the Howards restore-a-finish product?? I would guess that it is simliar, but I have never used it and I would not vouch for results. Dave

Looks and sounds like you have a pretty nice cabinet. They may be candidates for using my "concoction" which is economical and does wonders. No, not selling anything. Just wanting to help. PM me if you're interested in seeing the recipe. I've tried it on several cabinets and it is simply amazing what it does.