So I just finished my Zenith 5-S-228 This is my second radio. It only has one coat of wax so tomorrow I'll put about 7 more coats. they are in backwards order but you can see what I started with towards the bottom. I want to thank all the experienced guy's that gave me tips and advice I'm really excited!!!!

Jason,
I like it.
The overall look is great and I like how you repaired the speaker cutout
You have brought another damaged radio from the brink of being thrown away back to the realm of usable and collectable.
Do you like the end result.....because thats all that matters you know.

I think you did a great job

~jeff~

btw: Screaming Eagle...(good job)
I was with the 82nd........

What a wonderful restoration you have performed. You have saved another radio.
Congratulations!
Chris

Thanks......I'm real happy with it the grill cutout was a mess I used some old veneer from an RCA to repair it. The 3 black grill bars in the middle I had to make them out of popsicle sticks LOL!!! but they turned out really nice. I couldn't find the exact original wood knobs so I bought a couple from another model on ebay and I'm sure I overpaid for them but I really wanted the wood ones. This radio took about 3-4 weeks with waiting for parts and the work itself. This one goes in the living room. The next one is a severely damaged Emerson cathedral it should be in the trash but it's a hard to find radio and deserves to be resurrected. I owe my success on my radio's to all the help I receive from guy's that have been at it longer than me....Thanks


My last deployment was out of Ft. Bragg Go All American!!! 82nd Abn.
My hearts with Ft. Campbell though

Very Nice. Thanks for the "before" pictures, those are great to see.

Did you use shadow toners on the edges?

I used Mohawk medium walnut for the lighter area's and extra dark walnut on the edges I went with the extra dark because on the middle of the edges there is actually black paint so it is going from black paint to extra dark to medium. I was having trouble finding a black paint that would work I don't remember the brand but they make the flat camouflage in a few different colors I used black and had no problems at all with it. Then went with mohawk gloss lacquer I rubbed it in between coats with 0000 steel wool then on the last coat I rubbed it out again and put a few layers of Johnsons paste wax.

This looks lovely looking, really fresh!

Thanks but I couldn't have done any of this without the help I get on here. I absolutely love restoring these amazing pieces of history. My next 2 are an Emerson cathedral and a Philco model 66. When I get started I will put up picks and probably have some questions