have 2 old radios that have a black bakelite? front panel.
One shines like a car, the other lookslike a tire. Is, there anyway to make it look all black and shiney, again? other than black paint. Don't want to have the white lettering go black.
Saw one on youtube and it shined like a car.
thanks

Gently clean with warm soapy water...Then polish with some fine paste wax... Bakelite can not be "polished" per say ..because of the fibers in it...When it is originally made it was pressed under high pressure and heat. Once it goes dull you can not get back the original finish...SOOOOO I simply clean with warm soapy water and give a nice "polish" of a paste wax and buff....As for the lettering: I use a white Crayola cran and work into lettering and buff off residue...

Most early radio front panel materials were made of either phenolic or vulcanite. Vulcanite, being hard rubber, is more susceptible to aging (sunlight/atmosphere) than is phenolic (bakelite). But both can deteriorate over the years. You can use a motor-driven flannel buffing wheel charged with rouge to remove the damaged outer layer from either of these panels, but of course that will mean removing the panel.

Alternatively, you could use a polyurethane wiping varnish after you cleaned the panel. This would be a lot faster and wouldn't demand total panel disassembly, but the results probably wouldn't be as mirror-like as would be possible with a buffing wheel.

:Most early radio front panel materials were made of either phenolic or vulcanite. Vulcanite, being hard rubber, is more susceptible to aging (sunlight/atmosphere) than is phenolic (bakelite). But both can deteriorate over the years. You can use a motor-driven flannel buffing wheel charged with rouge to remove the damaged outer layer from either of these panels, but of course that will mean removing the panel.
:

Thanks, It's an old Standardyne trf
:Alternatively, you could use a polyurethane wiping varnish after you cleaned the panel. This would be a lot faster and wouldn't demand total panel disassembly, but the results probably wouldn't be as mirror-like as would be possible with a buffing wheel.
:

::Most early radio front panel materials were made of either phenolic or vulcanite. Vulcanite, being hard rubber, is more susceptible to aging (sunlight/atmosphere) than is phenolic (bakelite). But both can deteriorate over the years. You can use a motor-driven flannel buffing wheel charged with rouge to remove the damaged outer layer from either of these panels, but of course that will mean removing the panel.
::
:
:Thanks, It's an old Standardyne trf
::Alternatively, you could use a polyurethane wiping varnish after you cleaned the panel. This would be a lot faster and wouldn't demand total panel disassembly, but the results probably wouldn't be as mirror-like as would be possible with a buffing wheel.
::
:
:
One other thought good old (black shoe polish wax) Works pretty darn good. A white paint stick works well for the numbers and lines.
Also I picked up a couple tubes of Bakelite polish from the UK on Ebay. This stuff is fabulous it puts the shine back on even the worst bakelite and is really easy to use. I will never be without it the stuff is remarkable. It doesn't have a brand name on the tubes so I don't know who makes it but it comes in a white tube. Best 2 U, George T

Simichrome polish works very well, too. It is a metal polish but works great on all plastics. I've used it for 30+ years. Available in many antique stores and (of course) through eBay.

I used to use the old formula Brasso. Not sure how the new formula would work. Wright's brass polish likely works. Nevr Dull works. All of these remove the 'dead' layer of Bakelite, and do a really fine job of polishing the Bakelite to a high lustre.

Might also try 'Flitz.'

Years ago, I bought a spray can of Glayzit, which was recommended for cleaning and revitalizing bakelite. I never got any favorable results.

I used tung-oil varnish to restore some bakelite sets that were so badly chalked and faded that I was originally going to part them out and chuck the cases. After wiping them with the varnish I could hardly believe they were the same sets. Then I had to electrically restore them because they looked too good to throw out.

As Thomas noted old formula Brasso (in the metal can) was best for reviving Bakelite. Unfortunately the new formula stuff in the plastic container is nowhere near as effective. I contacted the manufacturer to ask why they had changed the formula and I was told it was to comply with the latest EPA requirements. They also suggested that the new stuff works just as we'll but demands repeated application and more aggressive hand polishing.....not so...I've tried it. I managed to find a few cans of the old formula stuff in a small-town hardware store in Canada. Should last me until I croak .