Started today on this big project, this will be mu fourth 1000Z that I had my hands on repairing & refinishing the cabinet. This one will need new walnut veneer on the top due to original veneer coming off from water damage probably from a live plant who would guess. That veneer has been removed already in one of the pictures. Over all the cabinet is tight and all other veneer is in great shape and tight but does have some small issues here & there. I have started to stripp the old finish off after i had takin everything apart like the doors and speaker board and speaker grill fabric. The cardboard backer for the fabric that goes on the L&R vertical slotted columns have starting to fall apart and I will also need to be replaced with new hand made fabric backer. So this is where i am at now. Thanks for looking

Updating for those who are interested , everything is coming right along . Cabinet has been stripped twice and all repairs are completed like nicks, scratch's and any veneer issues which was very little except for the top. The top had a big piece of veneer missing on one top side shoulder and the center section was lifting up some from water penetration probably from a plant so it had to be replaced so all the top section veneer was removed.I installed new American appalachian Walnut veneer all across the top section in a consecutive pattern from left to right as the factory did it and all across the top will match perfectly. The cabinet then was finely detailed again with some sanding and cleaning before any grain filling was done. Always lightly blow off the veneer or any wood surface with a hand blower to remove any fine dust that is trapped in the pores of the wood before grain filling, some pictures shows the entire cabinet grain filled and is drying . Sanding the grain filler off is next step tomorow God willing. Thanks for looking

Continued.

Looking good Fred, keep the pictures coming.

Joe

Finished up the Stratosphere yesterday I must it s looks great. Color & toning looks a close to factory as you can get, new custom hand made back screen is finished as well and fits perfectly, I used a powder coated aluminum mesh screen, suppose to be charcoal color buts seems to be a blue color in the pictures. This Heavy duty light weight screen is far superior than a factory rear cover screen IMHO Much time spent on detailing all the veneers and entire cabinet before any color or sealer was applied. Prep work has to be done correctly to insure a bueititful lacquer finish. Finish has a few sealer coats applied first then several coats of Mohawks Instrument furniture Lacquer in a 70% gloss level. Inside of cabinet was cleaned and lightly sanded before a few light coats of black lacquer was sprayed on for a clean fresh look. New factory correct speaker grill fabric was installed thanks John & Jean Goller for the fabric. Thanks for looking

That is simply gorgeous Fred.
What a beautiful job you have done and continue to do on these and other radios.

Joe

Continuded

Continuded

This is absolutely gorgeous! Nice work.

Thank you

Another beautiful job, Fred. Stunning!

Looks great Fred, thanks for all you are doing to save these sets.

Lenny

Hi Fred, looks great, I see that you have a veneer roller in one of the pictures, are you using contact cement now??
Rich

Thanks for the compliment's, no I don't use contact cement I am using heatlock veneer glue on backed veneers and hot hide glue for non backed veneers. That steel roller i've had for many years and used it when I was installing vinyl tops on cars, does work well on anything you want pressed down good.

Just beautiful, Fred.