:okay, I was so impressed with the bakelite and Brasso clean up I learned in an email chain that I decided to pose this question regarding wood refinishing. I like big floor models and console set radios. Despite there weight and size I managed to aquire several monsters like the Majestic 92 and General Electric model 71. I mention these because they had and have respectively a dark brown- black finish that hides the wood grain. The staircase in my house had this aged varnish as well. What I do in a case like this is completely strip off the finish with a citris based stripper. Then after a few days of drying , sanding , staining, ect- (the process that takes at week or longer) I put on a clear coat. I have a few wood models though that the finish is not bad enough to strip off and I plan on using terpentine and a 000 steel wool to clean it up. Any better ideas?
HI: Bob was leading you down the right path. I professionally refinish at least one wood cabinet radio weekly and find that lacquer finishes are vastly superior to any varnish applicaiton. You can use nitrocellulose (made from cotton fibre), acrylic, or catalyzed lacquer with excellent results. All high end furniture including pianos are lacquer finished.
Lacquer is fast dry and not subject to dust like varnish and produces a much harder finish. You can also choose to use a water white lacquer which has no color whatsoever and it lets all of the wood grain detail show through. A multitude of toners, glazes, sealers, etc. are available and are all lacquer compatible. You MUST be skilled at spraying if you choose to use lacquers but the end product really is professional. Good luck. |
jim campbell 
Mark 