Here's my latest and first personally re-painted Bakelite.( others I'm known for restoring were painted by a friend using professional-auto paints)

It's a 1946 ARVIN 544.

I re-did the chassis a week or so ago... but since I was busy re-doing that RCA-5X last week I didn't get around to finish/painting/polishing this one until just now.

I also had to completely create a new dial face.. (Photoshop...many hours...lol)
And... of course I had to make a new dial lens this morning too.

Then.. all the photos had to be shot and the cropping and titling in Photoshop now too... a couple more hours....lol

I used Krylon Fusion.
The can said it dries in 15 minuets, handle in 1 hour. ....And re-coat within 24 hours ...or after 7 days!
That red 1st color part came out good..great easy.
.... but...
It took me so many frustrating attempts to get the 2nd color of Tan on the grill without problems.... ( even using the best auto/painter's trim-masking-tape left some marks because, I guess, I didn't let the red dry enough.
.. so after 3 screwed up attempts... complete re-strip-repaints re-tape--etc etc...
.. I finally waited 7 days before taping and painting the 2nd color which now seems ok.
...so...It HAS been 7 -10 days plus now.

I think it looks quite good ....but I wanted a VERY very glossy look... so I was going to maybe spray on a final coat of the Krylon clear gloss acrylic over everything now. But I'm so darned afraid now of accidental wrinkling...so I'm scared to try that.

So I tried several polishes ... Brasso was very good but you can't rub too hard because it's an abrasive... and I tried furniture polish, and butchers wax, and Glayzit etc etc...
They all sort of looked ok.. and some were fine... but just not a perfect even-looking glass-like shine everywhere.

Tonight... I just tried cordovan/red colored Kiwi shoe polish... remembering how I used to "spit-shine" my boots in the Army with Kiwi.
So I just rubbed it on and then used a wet cotton ball to lightly polish it out ...and MAN ...it now really looks like glass!!
So I am VERY happy....
I also tried some Neutral color Kiwi and that's good too... probably didn't need any of the red color from the cordovan Kiwi.

Here it is.... what do you think?

Very nice - I've looked at your other restorations as well can't believe the transformation they take. I recently acquired a table model Philco 38-7 and the chassis could use a bit of cleaning. How do you clean yours?

:Here's my latest and first personally re-painted Bakelite.( others I'm known for restoring were painted by a friend using professional-auto paints)
:
:It's a 1946 ARVIN 544.
:
:I re-did the chassis a week or so ago... but since I was busy re-doing that RCA-5X last week I didn't get around to finish/painting/polishing this one until just now.
:
:I also had to completely create a new dial face.. (Photoshop...many hours...lol)
:And... of course I had to make a new dial lens this morning too.
:
:Then.. all the photos had to be shot and the cropping and titling in Photoshop now too... a couple more hours....lol
:
:I used Krylon Fusion.
:The can said it dries in 15 minuets, handle in 1 hour. ....And re-coat within 24 hours ...or after 7 days!
:That red 1st color part came out good..great easy.
:.... but...
:It took me so many frustrating attempts to get the 2nd color of Tan on the grill without problems.... ( even using the best auto/painter's trim-masking-tape left some marks because, I guess, I didn't let the red dry enough.
:.. so after 3 screwed up attempts... complete re-strip-repaints re-tape--etc etc...
:.. I finally waited 7 days before taping and painting the 2nd color which now seems ok.
:...so...It HAS been 7 -10 days plus now.
:
:I think it looks quite good ....but I wanted a VERY very glossy look... so I was going to maybe spray on a final coat of the Krylon clear gloss acrylic over everything now. But I'm so darned afraid now of accidental wrinkling...so I'm scared to try that.
:
:So I tried several polishes ... Brasso was very good but you can't rub too hard because it's an abrasive... and I tried furniture polish, and butchers wax, and Glayzit etc etc...
:They all sort of looked ok.. and some were fine... but just not a perfect even-looking glass-like shine everywhere.
:
:Tonight... I just tried cordovan/red colored Kiwi shoe polish... remembering how I used to "spit-shine" my boots in the Army with Kiwi.
:So I just rubbed it on and then used a wet cotton ball to lightly polish it out ...and MAN ...it now really looks like glass!!
:So I am VERY happy....
:I also tried some Neutral color Kiwi and that's good too... probably didn't need any of the red color from the cordovan Kiwi.
:
:Here it is.... what do you think?
:
:

Interesting approach. I like the two-tone scheme, and how it's placed. How did you get the dial to look so 3-D? How did you make the bezel? I have this radio, though I was just going to polish the bakelite (brown marble). I, too, have had much trouble with paints. I have the best luck with lacquers, though they are brittle. If baked on, they do alright. Baking must be done at 200 degrees or lower, though. If you wait 7 days or longer, you can usually avoid wrinkling, but I know what you mean. A fan that I have been trying to restore for my brother has given me such bad luck. First I tried using epoxy paint, but if it is applied too thickly, it stays soft underneath for like eternity. Then I used automotive grade enamel, which is supposed to be strong. It is strong, but takes for ever to get hard (can be dented if objects are rested against it). I have also had trouble with wrinkles when multiple coats are applied, and also if I try to bake it. I kind of gave up for now, like I always do, since I have such terrible luck with refinishing (unless I use varnish and a brush...anything with a spray can will drive me insane). Another fan I refinished for my brother I used engine enamel. It worked very well, and produced an extreme shine, though in places it was difficult to get to lay down smoothly. The paint is also rather brittle, and doesn't adhere well (can be chipped off fairly easily), though it improves with baking. One thing I didn't do with that fan, though, was prime it, which is probably why the paint doesn't adhere properly. A good primer always helps adhesion.

T.

:Interesting approach. I like the two-tone scheme, and how it's placed. How did you get the dial to look so 3-D? How did you make the bezel? I have this radio, though I was just going to polish the bakelite (brown marble). I, too, have had much trouble with paints. I have the best luck with lacquers, though they are brittle. If baked on, they do alright. Baking must be done at 200 degrees or lower, though. If you wait 7 days or longer, you can usually avoid wrinkling, but I know what you mean. A fan that I have been trying to restore for my brother has given me such bad luck. First I tried using epoxy paint, but if it is applied too thickly, it stays soft underneath for like eternity. Then I used automotive grade enamel, which is supposed to be strong. It is strong, but takes for ever to get hard (can be dented if objects are rested against it). I have also had trouble with wrinkles when multiple coats are applied, and also if I try to bake it. I kind of gave up for now, like I always do, since I have such terrible luck with refinishing (unless I use varnish and a brush...anything with a spray can will drive me insane). Another fan I refinished for my brother I used engine enamel. It worked very well, and produced an extreme shine, though in places it was difficult to get to lay down smoothly. The paint is also rather brittle, and doesn't adhere well (can be chipped off fairly easily), though it improves with baking. One thing I didn't do with that fan, though, was prime it, which is probably why the paint doesn't adhere properly. A good primer always helps adhesion.
:
:T.
Peter I am with thomas how did you get the dial to look so good also did you glue this to another piece of metal? com'on share some of your expert experiance
my dials never look that good , one problem I have is never able to get it to print the right size either too big or too small, do you use photo shop?
Thanks
E.

I use Photoshop CS or CS2 ( haven't installed CS3 yet though it is here) for the dials.

I scanned the old dial at 600dpi just to get lots of detail. I usually can then maybe repair the old text and colors using the actual old image.
But in this case I replaced EVERYTHING... lol.
.. but I did it bit by bit over-laying each item in the same place as the old.
As far as size... If I scan it in, at say 600dpi, at 100% of actual size and then I don't change that size at all even if I change the resolution down later to say 300dpi and re-sample.. I still ensure to keep the same size.

As far as 3D look... Photoshop has a section/pallet on embossed lettering schemes and styling.. it allows you to bevel and shade and high light and shadow etc. It's one of the tool pallets.

I know that even though I know my way around Photoshop enough to get nice stuff... I am probably NOT using it as expertly as I should and probably doing something cave-man like... lol

For instance all those beveled gold bars at the station numbers and the pattern in the center...as well as the outside perimeter beveled lines were all drawn as alphabet letters...( because I don't know how to bevel regular lines but I can bevel lettering) either dash symbols or a lower case "L" ... and then rotate and/or I stretched them by scaling both the length and width.

I printed it using my old 4-color inkjet printer Epson 760 stylus color ( even though it does not have the 6-color (extra 2 photo colors) like my canon-s820 does... but I was out of yellow ink on the Canon)

I printed it on 4x6 high gloss photo paper. Then later I sprayed Deft gloss lacquer over it to seal and protect it as well as add more gloss.

Thomas:
I make the dial lenses the way I found on-line.

http://members.aol.com/EB062559/DIALCOVERS.html

I draw the opening on 3/8 masonite. Then, using a scroll saw I cut it out leaving a 1/2 inch frame around it.
Then file the inner and outer frame so there is some slop in between them and clean up the cut edges.
The I use polycarbonate sheet plastic 20-mils. I cut a piece the size I want ( larger than the masonite center piece) plus a border of 1/2 inch or so.
Then place the clear plastic over the center piece on a cookie sheet and place in oven at highest temp for about 5-10 mins then you'll see the plastic melting and drooping down over that center form. Then take it out and quickly slip the outer "collar" frame down around it and it will sharpen up all the edges.
Then when cool trim the excess w/scissors.
That's it.

:I use Photoshop CS or CS2 ( haven't installed CS3 yet though it is here) for the dials.
:
:I scanned the old dial at 600dpi just to get lots of detail. I usually can then maybe repair the old text and colors using the actual old image.
:But in this case I replaced EVERYTHING... lol.
:.. but I did it bit by bit over-laying each item in the same place as the old.
:As far as size... If I scan it in, at say 600dpi, at 100% of actual size and then I don't change that size at all even if I change the resolution down later to say 300dpi and re-sample.. I still ensure to keep the same size.
:
:As far as 3D look... Photoshop has a section/pallet on embossed lettering schemes and styling.. it allows you to bevel and shade and high light and shadow etc. It's one of the tool pallets.
:
:I know that even though I know my way around Photoshop enough to get nice stuff... I am probably NOT using it as expertly as I should and probably doing something cave-man like... lol
:
:For instance all those beveled gold bars at the station numbers and the pattern in the center...as well as the outside perimeter beveled lines were all drawn as alphabet letters...( because I don't know how to bevel regular lines but I can bevel lettering) either dash symbols or a lower case "L" ... and then rotate and/or I stretched them by scaling both the length and width.
:
:I printed it using my old 4-color inkjet printer Epson 760 stylus color ( even though it does not have the 6-color (extra 2 photo colors) like my canon-s820 does... but I was out of yellow ink on the Canon)
:
:I printed it on 4x6 high gloss photo paper. Then later I sprayed Deft gloss lacquer over it to seal and protect it as well as add more gloss.
:
:Thomas:
:I make the dial lenses the way I found on-line.
:
:http://members.aol.com/EB062559/DIALCOVERS.html
:
:I draw the opening on 3/8 masonite. Then, using a scroll saw I cut it out leaving a 1/2 inch frame around it.
:Then file the inner and outer frame so there is some slop in between them and clean up the cut edges.
:The I use polycarbonate sheet plastic 20-mils. I cut a piece the size I want ( larger than the masonite center piece) plus a border of 1/2 inch or so.
:Then place the clear plastic over the center piece on a cookie sheet and place in oven at highest temp for about 5-10 mins then you'll see the plastic melting and drooping down over that center form. Then take it out and quickly slip the outer "collar" frame down around it and it will sharpen up all the edges.
:Then when cool trim the excess w/scissors.
:That's it.
:
:

Peter, that's it is an understatement. That is beautiful work all around, paint and print and dial. I have Photo CS2 and can't get past the point where I crop with the crop tool and then can't figure out how to get rid of the tool! Real klutz. PL

I have Photo CS2 and can't get past the point where I crop with the crop tool and then can't figure out how to get rid of the tool! Real klutz. PL

Just hit ENTER after you've dragged the tool over the area desired.

also ..anytime you can't seem to get rid of a tool ...try esc

: I crop with the crop tool and then can't figure out how to get rid of the tool! Real klutz. PL

For what it's worth see: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/designcenter/search.cfm?product=Photoshop&go=Go
Adobe has a tutorial site for their products... the way it looks it can be about as daunting as Photoshop is in itself.. My limited experience with Photoshop is that it is an ongoing learning process which only gets steeper with each update :O) I still use Version 7 (aka Neandrathal IV)
Peter that little set looks great to me and I am also impressed with the dial face job!
Bob E.

Great !..what an improvement..... over that previously Puh-lain Jane cabinet.....but, when you gonna slip us in a Candy Apple Red color on an appropriately newer- modernistic styled, plastic or dulled bakelite cabinet?

Since you are getting into doing the spray finishing yourself, instead of the other person doing it, I might offer you the most useful tip that I have been using for quinti-decades. And, in the reviewing of the photo shots lighting, I see that you definitely already have some of the equipment, and that would be the lamps with the reflectors, but the smallest unit that can be hand held and easily manipulated would be the preferred choice.
When I am spray painting, there is a reflector flood in my left hand and the spray gun in my right. The light is positioned forward and upward but with its beam directed on the surface to be sprayed. In that manner just as soon as you start that first spray movement the reflection off it from the light lets you see EVERY little nuance in spray coverage, uniformity of coverage and lets you perfectly interleave laps.Once you have tried that technique, you will realize that prior efforts were comparative to working in the blind.
On one of your photos, the strong lighting from the 48-96 in ? strip flourescent lamp seems to show up the underlying surface coating the best, and looks like the present texture is not quite to the MULTIPLE coats and accompanying micro fine sanding that begets an olden Grundig or Telefunken wood cabinets glasslike finish .

Two adjunct topics:

One would be on plastic dial cover fabrication, if there are any first time constructors that want to minimize costs on their first attempts. If one will check their grocery store or even fast food places, there are clear plastic covers on, salads, etc that are flat surfaces large enough to permit them to be cut down to get pieces to use in the molding of a cover from that plastic sheet. Realize that the quality can vary in wavelike surfaces or abberations. BUT, you are not wanting to end use that particular piece, but to enhance your fabrication proficiency as well as confirming to see if you made a close enough tolerance of pattern with your cut out fiberboard / masonite intermeshing mold pieces.

Then, other good news is that Christmas is near...with massive packaging to be discarded.... and if one will merely keep their eyes peeled, there are some products that are semi enclosed, or have package windows with plastic that is of the thickness and plate glass smoothness/optical clarity of that higher dollar hobby shops sheeting. Doll and toy boxes mainly come to mind but I did get ~48 4in by 6 in pieces from a Levellor blind box a couple of years back.


Lastly was the ARVIN's dial scale, looks like the bottom mountings for the two screws at the bottom ended up out of view, but looked like that might have been a point where you had to freehand those 2 mounting screw holes and the semicircles just to their sides.Also, I see that you ended up using balusters and pillars for the scales outer borders, and not mitering the corners or interleaving the center cross bar, along with not using internal shadow box shading.

Seems like just about all of the round dial scales that we see are tied into a tuning condenser that has the dial pointer being at the left side with 550 referencing being at the laft and 1700 being at the far right. The exception being the few units that end up being 180 degrees different, and they just look wierd to me.This set even has the nice feature of using the alternate ends of the dial pointer to compensate for not being able to jam all of the logging frequencies on the top circle of the dial scale. In this manner twice as many frequencies can be placed on the alternate top and bottom halves of the dial scale.


Should it have been my set to have to build up the dial scale from scratch, I probably would have made a lay out like the third dial scale, such that the top left half of the circle starts with 550 Kc and ends with 1700 on the top right half. ( That original starts with referencing to 550 with the right end of the dial pointer over to the bottom right of the dial scale.)




73's de Edd






:: I crop with the crop tool and then can't figure out how to get rid of the tool! Real klutz. PL
:
:
:For what it's worth see: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/designcenter/search.cfm?product=Photoshop&go=Go
:Adobe has a tutorial site for their products... the way it looks it can be about as daunting as Photoshop is in itself.. My limited experience with Photoshop is that it is an ongoing learning process which only gets steeper with each update :O) I still use Version 7 (aka Neandrathal IV)
:Peter that little set looks great to me and I am also impressed with the dial face job!
:Bob E.

Really great EDD.. how did you go about mitering the corners?

Edd:
Thanks some more..
I also agree with ....and I do like your painting tips. I do have those lamps you refer to but currently I only use a swing-arm desk lamp attached to the adjacent workbench and positioned at the best angel for each side I do as I do it.

I can't really handle both spay can and lamp very easily if at all...lol..
... I lost all the fingers of my right hand some years ago in an auto fire ( I was (50%total burn... many many reconstruction operations) ... so yeah I lost most of right hand and half of face, ear, hair, arm blah blah etc... but just happy to be here now..so I don't ever complain... I just adapt. ( had to learn to write lefty too...lol)
But you are right Edd... when the light is set at a proper angel you can hardly make a mistake... especially when spraying with clear coatings where you have no color to help guide you.

Peter,
Would a light weight batt powered white LED attached to the spray gun/can help? Most white LED's run on 3.6 VDC @20ma, which is typical of cordless phone batts.

marv

:Edd:
:Thanks some more..
:I also agree with ....and I do like your painting tips. I do have those lamps you refer to but currently I only use a swing-arm desk lamp attached to the adjacent workbench and positioned at the best angel for each side I do as I do it.
:
: I can't really handle both spay can and lamp very easily if at all...lol..
:... I lost all the fingers of my right hand some years ago in an auto fire ( I was (50%total burn... many many reconstruction operations) ... so yeah I lost most of right hand and half of face, ear, hair, arm blah blah etc... but just happy to be here now..so I don't ever complain... I just adapt. ( had to learn to write lefty too...lol)
:But you are right Edd... when the light is set at a proper angel you can hardly make a mistake... especially when spraying with clear coatings where you have no color to help guide you.

:Peter,
:Would a light weight batt powered white LED attached to the spray gun/can help? Most white LED's run on 3.6 VDC @20ma, which is typical of cordless phone batts.
:
:marv
:

thanks..
Y'know it might work Marv... I did just get a bright but small lightweight led flashlight.
About 5 inches long on a little lanyard .... might be small enough to wrap around the stump of a thumb I have there and squeeze it with my palm.

I try to spray in bright sunlight. One trick I use when I put on too much paint is to keep changing the position of the object. I rotate it in all directions, which usually eliminates runs.

You could make a lamp that would clamp to your arm. It would be brighter and more thorough (broad flood of light) than an LED. Make sure that the clamp is easily removable, in case the light starts the paint on fire or something. You want to be able to escape without taking the burning lamp with you.

T.

Thanks guys

Pete: Great looking radio!! Admiring this radio and some of your past efforts - I am somewhat in awe that you can do with one hand what most of us have trouble doing with two - a real testament to us all. Keep up the excellent work. Watson

:Pete: Great looking radio!! Admiring this radio and some of your past efforts - I am somewhat in awe that you can do with one hand what most of us have trouble doing with two - a real testament to us all. Keep up the excellent work. Watson

Peter:
I agree wholeheartedly with Watson! Just when I think I can't be awed by anything, I see something like your work and what you have to do it with, and I am amazed all over again. My hat's off to you, sir.
Lewis

Thanks guys for the thoughtful comments.

Now I wouldn't want to downplay the difficulty I deal with in the slightest. No way.
Yes.. it is a pain.
. however that being said... y'know, once you realize that you can't ever go backwards..lol..And what you lost is gone forever...
then... you just learn to accept what you have.... and then it's surprising how you learn to work with what you have left.

It becomes a matter of adjusting to doing things with the stuff you have left... and not so much be-moaning what you don't have any longer... if that makes any sense...lol
In other words you get used to it.

:Thanks guys for the thoughtful comments.
:
:Now I wouldn't want to downplay the difficulty I deal with in the slightest. No way.
:Yes.. it is a pain.
:. however that being said... y'know, once you realize that you can't ever go backwards..lol..And what you lost is gone forever...
:then... you just learn to accept what you have.... and then it's surprising how you learn to work with what you have left.
:
:It becomes a matter of adjusting to doing things with the stuff you have left... and not so much be-moaning what you don't have any longer... if that makes any sense...lol
:In other words you get used to it.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Peter,
All that - a fine craftsman with an awesome attitude along with a measure of humbleness to boot - you are my hero. Life has dealt me a few crappy hands in the past and I've managed my way through them - but with nothing like the courage and spirit that shine in you. "I wanna be like Mike?" - heck no, I wanna be like Pete. I hope you have a great Christmas - with your amazing outlook on life, I'm sure you and all those around you will.:

:-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
:Peter,
:All that - a fine craftsman with an awesome attitude along with a measure of humbleness to boot - you are my hero. Life has dealt me a few crappy hands in the past and I've managed my way through them - but with nothing like the courage and spirit that shine in you. "I wanna be like Mike?" - heck no, I wanna be like Pete. I hope you have a great Christmas - with your amazing outlook on life, I'm sure you and all those around you will.:

Boy... thanks...
y'know...
It's hard to take credit for my attitude... I mean I understand what you mean.
.. but somehow it never made any sense to me to feel sorry for myself or to languish in my sorrow or live my life in a constant pity party..
just simply doesn.t make sense... what would that get me?.. nowhere...right?
So.. to me it's just logical to pick myself up.. brush myself off .. and get on with my life.

:Here's my latest and first personally re-painted Bakelite.( others I'm known for restoring were painted by a friend using professional-auto paints)
:
:It's a 1946 ARVIN 544.
:
:I re-did the chassis a week or so ago... but since I was busy re-doing that RCA-5X last week I didn't get around to finish/painting/polishing this one until just now.
:
:I also had to completely create a new dial face.. (Photoshop...many hours...lol)
:And... of course I had to make a new dial lens this morning too.
:
:Then.. all the photos had to be shot and the cropping and titling in Photoshop now too... a couple more hours....lol
:
:I used Krylon Fusion.
:The can said it dries in 15 minuets, handle in 1 hour. ....And re-coat within 24 hours ...or after 7 days!
:That red 1st color part came out good..great easy.
:.... but...
:It took me so many frustrating attempts to get the 2nd color of Tan on the grill without problems.... ( even using the best auto/painter's trim-masking-tape left some marks because, I guess, I didn't let the red dry enough.
:.. so after 3 screwed up attempts... complete re-strip-repaints re-tape--etc etc...
:.. I finally waited 7 days before taping and painting the 2nd color which now seems ok.
:...so...It HAS been 7 -10 days plus now.
:
:I think it looks quite good ....but I wanted a VERY very glossy look... so I was going to maybe spray on a final coat of the Krylon clear gloss acrylic over everything now. But I'm so darned afraid now of accidental wrinkling...so I'm scared to try that.
:
:So I tried several polishes ... Brasso was very good but you can't rub too hard because it's an abrasive... and I tried furniture polish, and butchers wax, and Glayzit etc etc...
:They all sort of looked ok.. and some were fine... but just not a perfect even-looking glass-like shine everywhere.
:
:Tonight... I just tried cordovan/red colored Kiwi shoe polish... remembering how I used to "spit-shine" my boots in the Army with Kiwi.
:So I just rubbed it on and then used a wet cotton ball to lightly polish it out ...and MAN ...it now really looks like glass!!
:So I am VERY happy....
:I also tried some Neutral color Kiwi and that's good too... probably didn't need any of the red color from the cordovan Kiwi.
:
:Here it is.... what do you think?
:
:

Peter: Very nice job with an A+ on your dial and choice of colors. Being frank with you, which is what I think you want, the weakness of your nice radio is the paint. I suggest you go to automotive lacquers and a spray gun. You can purchase a spray gun for about $25 that will do the job but you must practice and get skilled at using it. You can get auto lacquers in any color, even metallics, not only are they durable but can be "rubbed out" to a mirror or even clear coated. I usually use a white or black auto primer directly on the bakelite prior to applying the top coats. This primer allows you to wet sand the surface to remove any blemishes or uneven spots that might show up in the top coats. These lacquers can be recoated in about 15 minutes and should be allowed to hard dry for about 2 days prior to rubbing or masking tape applications in two tones. Good Luck ---nice work.

:Peter: Very nice job with an A+ on your dial and choice of colors. Being frank with you, which is what I think you want, the weakness of your nice radio is the paint. I suggest you go to automotive lacquers and a spray gun. You can purchase a spray gun for about $25 that will do the job but you must practice and get skilled at using it. You can get auto lacquers in any color, even metallics, not only are they durable but can be "rubbed out" to a mirror or even clear coated. I usually use a white or black auto primer directly on the bakelite prior to applying the top coats. This primer allows you to wet sand the surface to remove any blemishes or uneven spots that might show up in the top coats. These lacquers can be recoated in about 15 minutes and should be allowed to hard dry for about 2 days prior to rubbing or masking tape applications in two tones. Good Luck ---nice work.

Thanks..
Can one still buy lacquer paint?
I thought all the new auto stuff was water cokors that dry in minuets... and then you clear coat over that.
Which is the best way to go?

DuPont, RM, Nason, no longer distribute it as far as I can tell. There may be others but, PPG still makes, and markets their acrylic lacquer under the brand Duracryl. The problem is each State and county has the ability to ban the use and or sale of it. Here in Texas it is not sold in Dallas, Tarrant or Harris County. The shops in those counties can not use it, although they can cross the county line and buy it, if they get caught using it, they can be fined. I can still buy it in my county from one jobber. Here is a Jobber that ships http://www.tcpglobal.com/autocolorlibrary/
Check with your auto painter friend, there may be local regs that effect if you can use it, legally.
It is the easiest material to use ever made.

:
::Peter: Very nice job with an A+ on your dial and choice of colors. Being frank with you, which is what I think you want, the weakness of your nice radio is the paint. I suggest you go to automotive lacquers and a spray gun. You can purchase a spray gun for about $25 that will do the job but you must practice and get skilled at using it. You can get auto lacquers in any color, even metallics, not only are they durable but can be "rubbed out" to a mirror or even clear coated. I usually use a white or black auto primer directly on the bakelite prior to applying the top coats. This primer allows you to wet sand the surface to remove any blemishes or uneven spots that might show up in the top coats. These lacquers can be recoated in about 15 minutes and should be allowed to hard dry for about 2 days prior to rubbing or masking tape applications in two tones. Good Luck ---nice work.
:
:Thanks..
:Can one still buy lacquer paint?
:I thought all the new auto stuff was water cokors that dry in minuets... and then you clear coat over that.
:Which is the best way to go?
Peter: You can still purchase lacquer from a variety of sources. Sherwin Williams sells lacquer in clears, basic colors, and you can order automotive metallics.
Coronado (based in Florida) sells lacquers in clears and basic colors. You can also purchase reds, whites, blacks, and greens from Advance Auto Parts Stores.
I use clear lacquers and sealers on all of my wood cabinet radios as they were originally done. You can purchase these from many sources such as Mohawk (on line), Woodworking Supply, and others. The modern auto paints are latex based color coats followed by a urethane clear coat . . .you can choose to go that way as they also provide a very nice durable finish and are available in a host of color choices.
In my previous message relative to purchasing a spray gun, I assumed you had a basic air compressor of at least 3 HP which you will need.
One other thought, you can still find some auto parts places that sell the DupliColor brand of aerosol
lacquers, these are fairly high quality but make sure they are indeed lacquer based. This would give you enough to spray a table radio such as yours. Good Luck, Dr. T.

Thanks.. I've been told now of water colors that get a water base auto paint:
" "AutoAir" spray paint has many colors to choose from and being water base clean up is easy and there is no harmful odors .
The paint is dry before it hits the floor and the paint dries very quickly and can be pushed with means of a hair dryer. It does finish flat and a bit rough looking but it "melts" down with the clear and locks in tight."
At a website called:
http://www.kustomkulturelounge.com/forum/index.php for lots of pics and more info on this paint."

I like the water base idea and no fumes... also don't want to have to build a spray boot in my garage.

:How do you view the photos of this radio?

Here's my latest and first personally re-painted Bakelite.( others I'm known for restoring were painted by a friend using professional-auto paints)
:
:It's a 1946 ARVIN 544.
:
:I re-did the chassis a week or so ago... but since I was busy re-doing that RCA-5X last week I didn't get around to finish/painting/polishing this one until just now.
:
:I also had to completely create a new dial face.. (Photoshop...many hours...lol)
:And... of course I had to make a new dial lens this morning too.
:
:Then.. all the photos had to be shot and the cropping and titling in Photoshop now too... a couple more hours....lol
:
:I used Krylon Fusion.
:The can said it dries in 15 minuets, handle in 1 hour. ....And re-coat within 24 hours ...or after 7 days!
:That red 1st color part came out good..great easy.
:.... but...
:It took me so many frustrating attempts to get the 2nd color of Tan on the grill without problems.... ( even using the best auto/painter's trim-masking-tape left some marks because, I guess, I didn't let the red dry enough.
:.. so after 3 screwed up attempts... complete re-strip-repaints re-tape--etc etc...
:.. I finally waited 7 days before taping and painting the 2nd color which now seems ok.
:...so...It HAS been 7 -10 days plus now.
:
:I think it looks quite good ....but I wanted a VERY very glossy look... so I was going to maybe spray on a final coat of the Krylon clear gloss acrylic over everything now. But I'm so darned afraid now of accidental wrinkling...so I'm scared to try that.
:
:So I tried several polishes ... Brasso was very good but you can't rub too hard because it's an abrasive... and I tried furniture polish, and butchers wax, and Glayzit etc etc...
:They all sort of looked ok.. and some were fine... but just not a perfect even-looking glass-like shine everywhere.
:
:Tonight... I just tried cordovan/red colored Kiwi shoe polish... remembering how I used to "spit-shine" my boots in the Army with Kiwi.
:So I just rubbed it on and then used a wet cotton ball to lightly polish it out ...and MAN ...it now really looks like glass!!
:So I am VERY happy....
:I also tried some Neutral color Kiwi and that's good too... probably didn't need any of the red color from the cordovan Kiwi.
:
:Here it is.... what do you think?
:
:

::How do you view the photos of this radio?

Tom:
... are you saying that you do not see any photos in my original post?
As you scroll down the text of my post the photos are at the bottom.

:::How do you view the photos of this radio?
:
:
:
:Tom:
:... are you saying that you do not see any photos in my original post?
:As you scroll down the text of my post the photos are at the bottom.
:

Peter,
Correct! no photo to be seen, but this is not the first time I know of other posts of yours that I could not see the photo. What do you think?
Tom

Hmmmmm…could be your Viewer set ups or a bandwidth stingy / processing ISP…..however, that pic package of his is not very b/w massive
AT ALL. If you can receive my text divider logo at the top as well as the wiggly “Pipe cleaner” divider at the bottom, then try this and see wha’ hoppens….


Arvins pic reference linking : (Mag it on up to full size)

> http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1976/arvin544allvq4.jpg

(BTW….. sometimes… every other alternate Wednesday or so , when the wind is out of the SSE in excess of 12MPH, but less than 19…with the temperature
setting in at any where from 62-63 degrees, additionally, with a blue Ford pick up truck rumbling down the street in front of my house, I too, am having
like trouble with receiving E-mail communications from Sir Peter's ISP…..Sir Thomas has also confirmed…whereas…seems I can always receive the Bigg Baddd Pirate..
¿de veras.. Tomás?)


73's de Edd

::::How do you view the photos of this radio?
::
::
::
::Tom:
::... are you saying that you do not see any photos in my original post?
::As you scroll down the text of my post the photos are at the bottom.
::
:
:Peter,
:Correct! no photo to be seen, but this is not the first time I know of other posts of yours that I could not see the photo. What do you think?
:Tom

Hmmmmm…could be your Viewer set ups or a bandwidth stingy / processing ISP…..however, that pic package of his is not very b/w massive
AT ALL. If you can receive my text divider logo at the top as well as the wiggly “Pipe cleaner” divider at the bottom, then try this and see wha’ hoppens….


Arvins pic reference linking : (Mag it on up to full size)

> http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1976/arvin544allvq4.jpg

(BTW….. sometimes… every other alternate Wednesday or so , when the wind is out of the SSE in excess of 12MPH, but less than 19…with the temperature
setting in at any where from 62-63 degrees, additionally, with a blue Ford pick up truck rumbling down the street in front of my house, I too, am having
like trouble with receiving E-mail communications from Sir Peter's ISP…..Sir Thomas has also confirmed…whereas…seems I can always receive the Bigg Baddd Pirate..
¿de veras.. Tomás?)


73's de Edd






ADDENDA:.......had to correct the HTML texting, as a fast flying double colon had corrupted it !

::::How do you view the photos of this radio?
::
::
::
::Tom:
::... are you saying that you do not see any photos in my original post?
::As you scroll down the text of my post the photos are at the bottom.
::
:
:Peter,
:Correct! no photo to be seen, but this is not the first time I know of other posts of yours that I could not see the photo. What do you think?
:Tom

:
:
:
:
:Hmmmmm…could be your Viewer set ups or a bandwidth stingy / processing ISP…..however, that pic package of his is not very b/w massive
:AT ALL. If you can receive my text divider logo at the top as well as the wiggly “Pipe cleaner” divider at the bottom, then try this and see wha’ hoppens….
:
:
:Arvins pic reference linking : (Mag it on up to full size)

> http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1976/arvin544allvq4.jpg


:(BTW….. sometimes… every other alternate Wednesday or so , when the wind is out of the SSE in excess of 12MPH, but less than 19…with the temperature
:setting in at any where from 62-63 degrees, additionally, with a blue Ford pick up truck rumbling down the street in front of my house, I too, am having
:like trouble with receiving E-mail communications from Sir Peter's ISP…..Sir Thomas has also confirmed…whereas…seems I can always receive the Bigg Baddd Pirate..
:¿de veras.. Tomás?)
:
:
:73's de Edd
:
:
:

:ADDENDA:.......had to correct the HTML code on the two before , as a fast flying double colon had corrupted them !
:
:::::How do you view the photos of this radio?
:::
:::
:::
:::Tom:
:::... are you saying that you do not see any photos in my original post?
:::As you scroll down the text of my post the photos are at the bottom.
:::
::
::Peter,
::Correct! no photo to be seen, but this is not the first time I know of other posts of yours that I could not see the photo. What do you think?
::Tom

Hmmmmm…could be your Viewer set ups or a bandwidth stingy / processing ISP…..however, that pic package of his is not very b/w massive
AT ALL.
If you can receive my text divider logo at the top as well as the wiggly “Pipe cleaner” divider at the bottom, then try this and see wha’ hoppens…

Arvins pic reference linking : (Mag it on up to full size)

> http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1976/arvin544allvq4.jpg>

(BTW….. sometimes… every other alternate Wednesday or so , when the wind is out of the SSE in excess of 12MPH, but less than 19…with the temperature
::setting in at any where from 62-63 degrees, additionally, with a blue Ford pick up truck rumbling down the street in front of my house, I too, am having
::like trouble with receiving E-mail communications from Sir Peter's ISP…..Sir Thomas has also confirmed…whereas…seems I can always receive the Bigg Baddd Pirate..

¿de veras.. Tomás?)

73's de Edd

ADDENDA:.......had to correct the HTML code on the 3 before , as a very sneaky, fast flying double colon had corrupted them !

::::::How do you view the photos of this radio?
::::
::::
::::
::::Tom:
::::... are you saying that you do not see any photos in my original post?
::::As you scroll down the text of my post the photos are at the bottom.
::::
:::
:::Peter,
:::Correct! no photo to be seen, but this is not the first time I know of other posts of yours that I could not see the photo. What do you think?
:::Tom

Hmmmmm…could be your Viewer set ups or a bandwidth stingy / processing ISP…..however, that pic package of his is not very b/w massive
AT ALL.
If you can receive my text divider logo at the top as well as the wiggly “Pipe cleaner” divider at the bottom, then try this and see wha’ hoppens…

Arvins pic reference linking : (Mag it on up to full size)

> http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1976/arvin544allvq4.jpg>

(BTW….. sometimes… every other alternate Wednesday or so , when the wind is out of the SSE in excess of 12MPH, but less than 19…with the temperature
::setting in at any where from 62-63 degrees, additionally, with a blue Ford pick up truck rumbling down the street in front of my house, I too, am having
::like trouble with receiving E-mail communications from Sir Peter's ISP…..Sir Thomas has also confirmed…whereas…seems I can always receive the Bigg Baddd Pirate..

¿de veras.. Tomás?)

73's de Edd

ADDENDA:.......had to correct the HTML code on the 3 before , as a very sneaky, fast flying double colon had corrupted them !

::::::How do you view the photos of this radio?
::::
::::
::::
::::Tom:
::::... are you saying that you do not see any photos in my original post?
::::As you scroll down the text of my post the photos are at the bottom.
::::
:::
:::Peter,
:::Correct! no photo to be seen, but this is not the first time I know of other posts of yours that I could not see the photo. What do you think?
:::Tom

Hmmmmm…could be your Viewer set ups or a bandwidth stingy / processing ISP…..however, that pic package of his is not very b/w massive
AT ALL.
If you can receive my text divider logo at the top as well as the wiggly “Pipe cleaner” divider at the bottom, then try this and see wha’ hoppens…

Arvins pic reference linking : (Mag it on up to full size)

> http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1976/arvin544allvq4.jpg>

(BTW….. sometimes… every other alternate Wednesday or so , when the wind is out of the SSE in excess of 12MPH, but less than 19…with the temperature
::setting in at any where from 62-63 degrees, additionally, with a blue Ford pick up truck rumbling down the street in front of my house, I too, am having
::like trouble with receiving E-mail communications from Sir Peter's ISP…..Sir Thomas has also confirmed…whereas…seems I can always receive the Bigg Baddd Pirate..

¿de veras.. Tomás?)

73's de Edd

ADDENDA:.......had to correct the HTML code on the 3 before , as a very sneaky, fast flying double colon had corrupted them !

::::::How do you view the photos of this radio?
::::
::::
::::
::::Tom:
::::... are you saying that you do not see any photos in my original post?
::::As you scroll down the text of my post the photos are at the bottom.
::::
:::
:::Peter,
:::Correct! no photo to be seen, but this is not the first time I know of other posts of yours that I could not see the photo. What do you think?
:::Tom

Hmmmmm…could be your Viewer set ups or a bandwidth stingy / processing ISP…..however, that pic package of his is not very b/w massive
AT ALL.
If you can receive my text divider logo at the top as well as the wiggly “Pipe cleaner” divider at the bottom, then try this and see wha’ hoppens…

Arvins pic reference linking below: (Mag it on up for full size)


HERE



(BTW….. sometimes… every other alternate Wednesday or so , when the wind is out of the SSE in excess of 12MPH, but less than 19…with the temperature
::setting in at any where from 62-63 degrees, additionally, with a blue Ford pick up truck rumbling down the street in front of my house, I too, am having
::like trouble with receiving E-mail communications from Sir Peter's ISP…..Sir Thomas has also confirmed…whereas…seems I can always receive the Bigg Baddd Pirate..

¿de veras.. Tomás?)

73's de Edd

ADDENDA:.......had to correct the HTML code on the 'lebenten before , as very sneaky, fast flying double colons were corrupted them !

:
:
:
:
:
:::::::How do you view the photos of this radio?
:::::
:::::
:::::
:::::Tom:
:::::... are you saying that you do not see any photos in my original post?
:::::As you scroll down the text of my post the photos are at the bottom.
:::::
::::
::::Peter,
::::Correct! no photo to be seen, but this is not the first time I know of other posts of yours that I could not see the photo. What do you think?
::::Tom

Edd,
Yes I can see your "pipe cleaner" at the bottom but cannot see your text divider at the top on this post. I have seen your text divider in your other posts. I cannot open the link that you sent as I am at work now and the I.T. department has blocked it, could this be why I cannot see the radio photo? I guess I should be working not reading about old radios!
Tom

:
:
:Hmmmmm…could be your Viewer set ups or a bandwidth stingy / processing ISP…..however, that pic package of his is not very b/w massive
:AT ALL.
:If you can receive my text divider logo at the top as well as the wiggly “Pipe cleaner” divider at the bottom, then try this and see wha’ hoppens…
:
:
:Arvins pic reference linking : (Mag it on up to full size)
:
:
::> http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1976/arvin544allvq4.jpg>
:
:
:
:(BTW….. sometimes… every other alternate Wednesday or so , when the wind is out of the SSE in excess of 12MPH, but less than 19…with the temperature
:::setting in at any where from 62-63 degrees, additionally, with a blue Ford pick up truck rumbling down the street in front of my house, I too, am having
:::like trouble with receiving E-mail communications from Sir Peter's ISP…..Sir Thomas has also confirmed…whereas…seems I can always receive the Bigg Baddd Pirate..
:
:¿de veras.. Tomás?)
:
:
:
:73's de Edd
:
:
:
:
:
:
:ADDENDA:.......had to correct the HTML code on the 3 before , as a very sneaky, fast flying double colon had corrupted them !
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:::::::How do you view the photos of this radio?
:::::
:::::
:::::
:::::Tom:
:::::... are you saying that you do not see any photos in my original post?
:::::As you scroll down the text of my post the photos are at the bottom.
:::::
::::
::::Peter,
::::Correct! no photo to be seen, but this is not the first time I know of other posts of yours that I could not see the photo. What do you think?
::::Tom

Sir Thomas:

At that posting time, I was using lap top and WiFi….naw, I didn’t say Hi Fi , I said WiiiiFiiii……lol, at that time and was taking hits on the URL HTML
coding and having it corrupted. I finally just made it very condensed, so, of that series of attempts, the only one that has a valid “hot linking” is the one that has the_____ 11/28/2007 14:55____ Date Time Group posting time on it. And is referenced to internally with a [HERE].

Strangely enough, there was also a multi hour period when the hosting site of that Eyes over the fence text divider took a dive also.

If you can download the aforementioned, [HERE] you are not getting blocked, and your equipment set up is tolerant.




73's de Edd






:Edd,
: Yes I can see your "pipe cleaner" at the bottom but cannot see your text divider at the top on this post. I have seen your text divider in your other posts. I cannot open the link that you sent as I am at work now and the I.T. department has blocked it, could this be why I cannot see the radio photo? I guess I should be working not reading about old radios!
:Tom
:
:
:
::
::
::Hmmmmm…could be your Viewer set ups or a bandwidth stingy / processing ISP…..however, that pic package of his is not very b/w massive
::AT ALL.
::If you can receive my text divider logo at the top as well as the wiggly “Pipe cleaner” divider at the bottom, then try this and see wha’ hoppens…
::
::
::Arvins pic reference linking : (Mag it on up to full size)
::
::
::::> http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1976/arvin544allvq4.jpg>
::
::
::
::(BTW….. sometimes… every other alternate Wednesday or so , when the wind is out of the SSE in excess of 12MPH, but less than 19…with the temperature
::::setting in at any where from 62-63 degrees, additionally, with a blue Ford pick up truck rumbling down the street in front of my house, I too, am having
::::like trouble with receiving E-mail communications from Sir Peter's ISP…..Sir Thomas has also confirmed…whereas…seems I can always receive the Bigg Baddd Pirate..
::
::¿de veras.. Tomás?)
::
::
::
::73's de Edd
::
::
::
::
::
::
::ADDENDA:.......had to correct the HTML code on the 3 before , as a very sneaky, fast flying double colon had corrupted them !
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::::::::How do you view the photos of this radio?
::::::
::::::
::::::
::::::Tom:
::::::... are you saying that you do not see any photos in my original post?
::::::As you scroll down the text of my post the photos are at the bottom.
::::::
:::::
:::::Peter,
:::::Correct! no photo to be seen, but this is not the first time I know of other posts of yours that I could not see the photo. What do you think?
:::::Tom

Edd, Now I see!! but why could I not get the photos from the first posting? thanks for the help
Tom

:
:
:
:
:Sir Thomas:
:
:At that posting time, I was using lap top and WiFi….naw, I didn’t say Hi Fi , I said WiiiiFiiii……lol, at that time and was taking hits on the URL HTML
: coding and having it corrupted. I finally just made it very condensed, so, of that series of attempts, the only one that has a valid “hot linking” is the one that has the_____ 11/28/2007 14:55____ Date Time Group posting time on it. And is referenced to internally with a [HERE].
:
:Strangely enough, there was also a multi hour period when the hosting site of that Eyes over the fence text divider took a dive also.
:
:If you can download the aforementioned, [HERE] you are not getting blocked, and your equipment set up is tolerant.
:
:
:
:
:73's de Edd
:
:
:
:
:
:
::Edd,
:: Yes I can see your "pipe cleaner" at the bottom but cannot see your text divider at the top on this post. I have seen your text divider in your other posts. I cannot open the link that you sent as I am at work now and the I.T. department has blocked it, could this be why I cannot see the radio photo? I guess I should be working not reading about old radios!
::Tom
::
::
::
:::
:::
:::Hmmmmm…could be your Viewer set ups or a bandwidth stingy / processing ISP…..however, that pic package of his is not very b/w massive
:::AT ALL.
:::If you can receive my text divider logo at the top as well as the wiggly “Pipe cleaner” divider at the bottom, then try this and see wha’ hoppens…
:::
:::
:::Arvins pic reference linking : (Mag it on up to full size)
:::
:::
::::::> http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1976/arvin544allvq4.jpg>
:::
:::
:::
:::(BTW….. sometimes… every other alternate Wednesday or so , when the wind is out of the SSE in excess of 12MPH, but less than 19…with the temperature
:::::setting in at any where from 62-63 degrees, additionally, with a blue Ford pick up truck rumbling down the street in front of my house, I too, am having
:::::like trouble with receiving E-mail communications from Sir Peter's ISP…..Sir Thomas has also confirmed…whereas…seems I can always receive the Bigg Baddd Pirate..
:::
:::¿de veras.. Tomás?)
:::
:::
:::
:::73's de Edd
:::
:::
:::
:::
:::
:::
:::ADDENDA:.......had to correct the HTML code on the 3 before , as a very sneaky, fast flying double colon had corrupted them !
:::
:::
:::
:::
:::
:::
:::
:::::::::How do you view the photos of this radio?
:::::::
:::::::
:::::::
:::::::Tom:
:::::::... are you saying that you do not see any photos in my original post?
:::::::As you scroll down the text of my post the photos are at the bottom.
:::::::
::::::
::::::Peter,
::::::Correct! no photo to be seen, but this is not the first time I know of other posts of yours that I could not see the photo. What do you think?
::::::Tom