Would you hotrod a wood cabinent radio?

I was impressed with the black, and what looks like Jadeite green to me on my screen.
(Jadeite is restaurant glassware that has become collectible if the wind blows right.)

I thought I never would, but I have a wood Hallicrafters that is rough, and homely
at best on a good day. It has a band spreader, and a chassis with enough caps
underside for 3 radios. I'll try a repair, and use it in shop if it works good.
Paint could be in it's future.

But generally, I don't paint wood.

I wouldn't , I would rebuild and refinish the cabinet. I have a couple of bakelites that are broke. I think I am going to try my hand at this and see how I like it on them. If the cabinet is in good shape,no cracks I leave it as is. But this would be a good way to make something out of one thats been trashed.

I had a boring RCA 9X641 with a busted case sitting around for quite a while, my son wanted to try painting it, I got it working and he marbalized it. Results; http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/dd353/celetg/

Hi, and thanks
I sold both to the same guy. The green one was $85 and the blue.. was $90 or so.
I didn't have much into them really. I paid about $10 each about 4 yrs ago. I did repair the cabinet on the blue one. One ended up at his daughter's in CA, the other at his home in CO.

After I first sprayed it first in salmon and cream, somehow it got knocked off the bench, and broke in different places I could chew nails! But like Frank said "pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again".

Took another 3 or so hours to repair, prep and spray.

As is usual, many of us end up working for $3 or $4 an hour, lol. At least I know they went to a good guy, and the sets have a nice home.

By the way, I need to do more painting (hopefully selling too) this Spring.
I've been badly wanting to try this technique. Some of you might also want to experiment wih it. Sounds pretty easy actually.

http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/s ... irlpnt.htm

Either my screen is maladjusted or there are some real retina-burners in here. (kidding)

I've been itching to try marbled paint on something ever since I learned how to do it 8+ years ago (wallpaper paste and dye) but nothing I've found seems to be 'right' for it...

Hi Gang, Just finished a Broken Lady bought from a forum member. For some
reason I went with blue this time. Old Chevelle Marina Blue. Hate to give it up,
but can't afford to keep it. (like some other women )

Very nice.

Here's my Philco 51-532.

nice looking sets.i know these are bakelite but has anybody tried repainting the plastic sets?just wondering how well they take paint and look when done.

Hi hc and All. I can't swear that those Ribbon Delcos are bakelite as we generally
think of it. Kinda thin and fragile. The one pictured kept re-breaking while it was being
worked. They may be more plastic than bakelite. Don't recall what the former owner
used for glue.

Plastic should paint OK, but test a hidden part first. Some paints melt plastic. My painter
friend has primer made for plastic. So many cars now have plastic parts.

Fancy chemicals probably not that important. We don't tend to leave our radios outside
in the weather.

I just love every single one of these radios! You guys are amazing. One day I'm gonna' try something like this and post my pics on this thread too - one day!

Another one. Not my favorite scheme. I should have contributed more input. I
suspect my painter was trying to just get by. Anyway, here it is. My picture isn't the greatest either.
It has crisper lines, and no white spots on the red.

I like them all. It's a good reason to collect AA5's which, otherwise, can get a bit boring. And the bashed up ones come out really nice! Very nice work, thanks for posting them.
Cheers,
Roger

these two tone paint schemes really bring out the era styling on possibly some otherwise plane jane radios. the factory probably would have done the same if it had the spare change to toss around

Not a wood radio but I might try a junker bakelite! I am not very good with spray paint, but I think
it would be fun to try!!

Lynn

Hi again Gang. Sometimes things don't work out so well. I had a bit of trouble getting
the electronic part passable. Wanted to finally be finished. In a hurry.

Bought some paint and tape. Did my prep and masking. Heck! It was getting dark.
No problem says I. Bright porch light should be good enough for this quick spray.
Getting kinda cold too. No problem says I. I'll just warm the cabinet inside, spray,
and bring it in to dry. I am most clever says I.

Sprayed tack coat. Fish eyes! I hadn't gotten all the wax off. Into the heat for fast dry
before second coat. Second coat covered, but I got my shirt tail into the paint.
I'll just flow the blem out with another coat. Then I dropped it. Got some junk in the
paint. I wiped it off... and...Tried to flow the new blem out. The darn thing was getting
heavy with paint, so I thought I should bring it in to cure. For my final trick, I got a big
thumb print in the paint. BTW, the rather expensive plastic tape I bought for the first
time, likes to pull back from where it was placed. I went to bed.

In my opinion there always has to be some room for artisic expression, besides who could get upset when you are taking a radio that would otherwise be junk and making it viable again? Would they rather you just trash it. I think there is times for a historically acurate restore and other times to use your imagination.