I replaced every capacitor including micas... and all NOS tubes as well.
I re-coned the speaker as well... and WOW what a beautiful sound it has now too.
After stripping the old finish ( I used EasyOFF oven cleaner bule can) ...
That got the old paint off... then I used 50/50 Lacquer thinner and Acetone to remove the original alligatored finish under the paint.
Then I did a through sanding... and a rubdown w/ 00 steel wool.
I stained it with Minwax's Special Walnut first ... but didn't like that.. so I re-stained over that with Jacobean... but still not satisfied ... so I re-stained it again with ...of all things, Ebony ... that finally gave the wood the look I wanted.
Later while rubbing it out I got the idea for the black trim.
I did that in flat-black enamel paint.
Everything was finally coated with several coats of Satin Polyurethane.... first coat brush-on... last 2 coats spray on.
I might have normally gone for lacquer but felt the Poly would hold up better with a daily family use where children are involved.
I will give it a light coat of paste wax also before I send it.
I think the flat black under the Poly looks richer than gloss black might have.
I'm sure some of you will like it.. and others will perhaps crucify me for it... lol
But it is what it is... and I really like it! 
:
:I replaced every capacitor including micas... and all NOS tubes as well.
:I re-coned the speaker as well... and WOW what a beautiful sound it has now too.
:
:After stripping the old finish ( I used EasyOFF oven cleaner bule can) ...
:That got the old paint off... then I used 50/50 Lacquer thinner and Acetone to remove the original alligatored finish under the paint.
:
:Then I did a through sanding... and a rubdown w/ 00 steel wool.
:
:I stained it with Minwax's Special Walnut first ... but didn't like that.. so I re-stained over that with Jacobean... but still not satisfied ... so I re-stained it again with ...of all things, Ebony ... that finally gave the wood the look I wanted.
:
:Later while rubbing it out I got the idea for the black trim.
:I did that in flat-black enamel paint.
:
:Everything was finally coated with several coats of Satin Polyurethane.... first coat brush-on... last 2 coats spray on.
:
:I might have normally gone for lacquer but felt the Poly would hold up better with a daily family use where children are involved.
:
:I will give it a light coat of paste wax also before I send it.
:
:I think the flat black under the Poly looks richer than gloss black might have.
:I'm sure some of you will like it.. and others will perhaps crucify me for it... lol
:But it is what it is... and I really like it!
:
Peter; Nice job !!! I love getting those old beat up wooden radios,stripping,sealing,staining and lacquering,and bringing their original beauty back to life.
Andy
------------------
:I just refinished a nice old ET-066 as a gift for my daughter and her family.
:
:I replaced every capacitor including micas... and all NOS tubes as well.
:I re-coned the speaker as well... and WOW what a beautiful sound it has now too.
:
:After stripping the old finish ( I used EasyOFF oven cleaner bule can) ...
:That got the old paint off... then I used 50/50 Lacquer thinner and Acetone to remove the original alligatored finish under the paint.
:
:Then I did a through sanding... and a rubdown w/ 00 steel wool.
:
:I stained it with Minwax's Special Walnut first ... but didn't like that.. so I re-stained over that with Jacobean... but still not satisfied ... so I re-stained it again with ...of all things, Ebony ... that finally gave the wood the look I wanted.
:
:Later while rubbing it out I got the idea for the black trim.
:I did that in flat-black enamel paint.
:
:Everything was finally coated with several coats of Satin Polyurethane.... first coat brush-on... last 2 coats spray on.
:
:I might have normally gone for lacquer but felt the Poly would hold up better with a daily family use where children are involved.
:
:I will give it a light coat of paste wax also before I send it.
:
:I think the flat black under the Poly looks richer than gloss black might have.
:I'm sure some of you will like it.. and others will perhaps crucify me for it... lol
:But it is what it is... and I really like it!
:
:
:I replaced every capacitor including micas... and all NOS tubes as well.
:I re-coned the speaker as well... and WOW what a beautiful sound it has now too.
:
:After stripping the old finish ( I used EasyOFF oven cleaner bule can) ...
:That got the old paint off... then I used 50/50 Lacquer thinner and Acetone to remove the original alligatored finish under the paint.
:
:Then I did a through sanding... and a rubdown w/ 00 steel wool.
:
:I stained it with Minwax's Special Walnut first ... but didn't like that.. so I re-stained over that with Jacobean... but still not satisfied ... so I re-stained it again with ...of all things, Ebony ... that finally gave the wood the look I wanted.
:
:Later while rubbing it out I got the idea for the black trim.
:I did that in flat-black enamel paint.
:
:Everything was finally coated with several coats of Satin Polyurethane.... first coat brush-on... last 2 coats spray on.
:
:I might have normally gone for lacquer but felt the Poly would hold up better with a daily family use where children are involved.
:
:I will give it a light coat of paste wax also before I send it.
:
:I think the flat black under the Poly looks richer than gloss black might have.
:I'm sure some of you will like it.. and others will perhaps crucify me for it... lol
:But it is what it is... and I really like it!
:
Hi Peter,
When doing artistic restoration, which is what this is, I think what we want is to restore the artist's original intent.
It looks to me that you did that. I could see a radio like this being very attractive in the department store, and being the center of attention at home. Well done!
Best Regards,
Bill Grimm
Looks good. I take short-cuts like you did with the poly over flat black. The expense and troubles using toning lacquer has forced me to mix custom color acrylics where the tone had originally been opaque. If not opaque, a weaker mixture (add water) or light sanding does the trick. Several coats of poly or clear lacquer over the acrylic looks just like the original. Obviously this won't do in all cases, and certainly not for the purist, but has saved a great deal of time, expense and trouble I've had applying toners.
marv
:I just refinished a nice old ET-066 as a gift for my daughter and her family.
:
:I replaced every capacitor including micas... and all NOS tubes as well.
:I re-coned the speaker as well... and WOW what a beautiful sound it has now too.
:
:After stripping the old finish ( I used EasyOFF oven cleaner bule can) ...
:That got the old paint off... then I used 50/50 Lacquer thinner and Acetone to remove the original alligatored finish under the paint.
:
:Then I did a through sanding... and a rubdown w/ 00 steel wool.
:
:I stained it with Minwax's Special Walnut first ... but didn't like that.. so I re-stained over that with Jacobean... but still not satisfied ... so I re-stained it again with ...of all things, Ebony ... that finally gave the wood the look I wanted.
:
:Later while rubbing it out I got the idea for the black trim.
:I did that in flat-black enamel paint.
:
:Everything was finally coated with several coats of Satin Polyurethane.... first coat brush-on... last 2 coats spray on.
:
:I might have normally gone for lacquer but felt the Poly would hold up better with a daily family use where children are involved.
:
:I will give it a light coat of paste wax also before I send it.
:
:I think the flat black under the Poly looks richer than gloss black might have.
:I'm sure some of you will like it.. and others will perhaps crucify me for it... lol
:But it is what it is... and I really like it!
:
Great cabinet job and a spit-shined chassis to boot! The way you loving describe this restoration, it sounds like you're having second thoughts about sending it into a house full of kids. Perhaps that old Bakelite Philco hidden in the basement would look much better with your daughter's decor anyway.......