IM IN THE PROCESS OF RESTORING THE CABINET ON MY 1940 RCA VICTOR 24BT-2 AM RADIO. I HAVE THE ENTIRE CABINET STRIPPED OF ALL THE OLD CLEAR COAT AND STAIN AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF RESTAINING. MY QUESTION IS WHERE THE VOLUME AND TUNE CONTROLS ARE THERE IS A PIECE OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN EXTREMELY THIN PIECE OF EITHER VENEER OR SOME KIND OF A SCREEN PRINTED "STICKER" WITH A WOOD GRAIN PATTERN ON IT THAT RUNS THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE FRONT OF THE RADIO AND IS ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES TALL. THE WOOD GRAIN PATTERN ON IT GOES VERTICAL WHILE THE REST OF THE RADIO GOES HORIZONTAL. I TRIED TO SAND THE CLEAR COAT OFF OF IT BUT I SANDED RIGHT THROUGH THE "STICKER" AND INTO THE SOLID WOOD BELOW IT. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL THIS IS? I CAN FIND SIMILAR PATTERNS OF WOOD GRAIN CONTACT PAPER BUT I DONT KNOW IF THAT IS CORRECT AND IT MAY BE TOO THICK FOR THE CORRECT APPEARANCE. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!

:IM IN THE PROCESS OF RESTORING THE CABINET ON MY 1940 RCA VICTOR 24BT-2 AM RADIO. I HAVE THE ENTIRE CABINET STRIPPED OF ALL THE OLD CLEAR COAT AND STAIN AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF RESTAINING. MY QUESTION IS WHERE THE VOLUME AND TUNE CONTROLS ARE THERE IS A PIECE OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN EXTREMELY THIN PIECE OF EITHER VENEER OR SOME KIND OF A SCREEN PRINTED "STICKER" WITH A WOOD GRAIN PATTERN ON IT THAT RUNS THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE FRONT OF THE RADIO AND IS ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES TALL. THE WOOD GRAIN PATTERN ON IT GOES VERTICAL WHILE THE REST OF THE RADIO GOES HORIZONTAL. I TRIED TO SAND THE CLEAR COAT OFF OF IT BUT I SANDED RIGHT THROUGH THE "STICKER" AND INTO THE SOLID WOOD BELOW IT. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL THIS IS? I CAN FIND SIMILAR PATTERNS OF WOOD GRAIN CONTACT PAPER BUT I DONT KNOW IF THAT IS CORRECT AND IT MAY BE TOO THICK FOR THE CORRECT APPEARANCE. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!
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Sounds like the painted veneer that were used on so many radios. Actually, there are kits to make your own type of wood grain. Play around a brown paint and some yellows. Then dry brush a thin watered black paint. I have done it with great success. But there are places that sell different veneers in stores and online. Can you post a pic of it? Would be more definitive in order to help.

THANKS FOR THE INFO CINDY. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS VENEER TOO, BUT THIS STUFF IS EXTREMELY THIN. IT APPEARS TO BE THINNER THAT A PIECE OF PAPER. AND WHERE I DID SAND THROUGH IT APPEARS TO HAVE SOME KIND OF A TAN PAPER BACKING TO IT. IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A LABEL WITH THE WOOD GRAIN SCREEN PRINTED ONTO IT. THE REST OF THE CABINET IS VENEER THAT IS ABOUT AN 1/8 INCH THICK AND THE FRONT IS SOLID WALNUT BUT THIS ONE AREA IS WAY DIFFERANT.
:Sounds like the painted veneer that were used on so many radios. Actually, there are kits to make your own type of wood grain. Play around a brown paint and some yellows. Then dry brush a thin watered black paint. I have done it with great success. But there are places that sell different veneers in stores and online. Can you post a pic of it? Would be more definitive in order to help.
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First of all, here is an image of the specific model in question (Courtesy of Radio Attic.com and Randy Forrest):

The wood grain you speak of is called a "Photo Finish" and sometimes repairable, sometimes not....depends on how badly the finish is damaged.

It is simply an image of woodgrain printed om a thin film of paper material that is adhered to the wood underlayment of a cabinet. As you discovered, sanding it simply damages the finish even further.

Repairs are usually made by hand-painting the wood grain over damaged areas....takes a bit of skill obviously.

Googling "Radio Photo Finish Repair" will turn up lots of hits to help you decide what path to take.

CLICK HERE for an example of but one project.

Good luck. I myself intentionally avoid those photo finish radios. Too many headaches.....but if you enjoy a challenge.........

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This is basically a woodgrain decal- a wood design photoprinted onto a thin paper or celluloid-like backing which is then adhered to the cabinet. It is surprising that it didn't melt when you stripped the cabinet. I'm guessing that you have the paper variety- the celluloid kind turns to goo when stripper hits it.

You can buy thin, paper-backed real wood veneer in a variety of wood types- even burled walnut, if that suits your taste. After stripping and sanding but before staining, just use 3M spray contact adhesive to bond a razor-cut strip of the thin veneer to your cabinet and proceed with staining/final coating. This approach works very well since you are using real wood; the disadvantage is that it "sits proud" above the rest of the cabinet a small amount- something that I personally don't find objectionable, but it somewhat defeats the illusion of an inlaid wood strip.

I refinished a Motorola 9Y with this approach 25 years ago and it still looks nice.

Welcome to the wonderful world of faux finishes. Don't be in to big of a rush to get it done. Time spent researching this could pay off. Chech out water slide decals. If you can find a pic of the grain pattern you can print your own decal. Chech it out and take your time.

:Welcome to the wonderful world of faux finishes. Don't be in to big of a rush to get it done. Time spent researching this could pay off. Chech out water slide decals. If you can find a pic of the grain pattern you can print your own decal. Chech it out and take your time.
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OOPs, most of us have been there at one point in our restorations. If you have any of the pattern left you can scan it or take a photo of it, then if you have Pro paint or something like it you can reproduce the grain in Black and White and print it to regular paper. Use spray adheisive and stick it to the radio and stain it or you can stain it before you put it on the radio. The ladder is less forgiving.
I've also layed out an ivory base coat where the pattern is at and came back with toners sprayed onto several different sponge patterns and dabbed over the ivory starting with the lighter colors and finishing up with the dark ones. Do some research and find a method you feel comfortable with and you'll get er done. Good Luck, George T