I was looking for the right thing to replace the inlay in this Sonora KM-450 above... and I decided to experiment a bit.
At first after removing the old loose inlay... I used some Elmer's white glue to try to fill in the grooves with. I wanted to try mixing it with food coloring and it worked. But the only color I had on hand was dark blue. So I tried that and filled the grooves halfway up with this mix. When it dried it looked more like black filler. I really wanted to try to get a brighter color.
So...yesterday I went out to buy more food coloring to mix a new batch in dark red or maybe yellow or even an orange to get close to the original look.
While in the craft dept. of the supermarket I saw these Metallic Paint colored glue pens. ( they have them with glitter too but the metallics are kinda like pearl-looking and not so cheesy )
Elmer's 3D washable paint pens:
http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?requestURI=processProductsCatalog&categoryId=377320&BP=2110&cm_mmc=GoogleBase-_-datafeed-_-datafeed-_-datafeed&sku=73/53859&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=73/53859
I tried a little of the GOLD on paper and it looks like a nice gold-pearl.
Now yesterday I had removed all the old lacquer and steel wooled the surface nicely. It is all solid wood.. like maybe black-walnut or something.
So I then used Watco Teak oil on it and rubbed it out after 1/2 hour.
Next day it looked gorgeous! I was even considering just waxing it and calling it done. But I wanted to get the inlay area brighter.
The surface had a nice smooth.. almost waxy feel to it from the dry Teak oil.
I figured that the surface was now less porous and so if I smeared the paint pens outside the grooves I may have less problems getting the dried excess paint-pen coloring off... and I was right.
So I tried carefully to squeeze it into all 3 grooves around the base of this Sonora.
I got it nice in some areas and messy in others.. and used wet fingers to try to remove excess.
I decided not to worry about excess and decided to scrape or sand off any excess after it dried.
I did exactly that and I like the results. It has a shimmery imperfect look that looks a bit like a gold pearl-like inlay or something.
Okay.. It's done now... Here's the finished radio.
It shows how I've used the (metallic-gold colored) Elmer's 3D paint pen to fill the grooves where the broken old orange plastic inlay was.
I'm pleased with the brightness of the gold.
After squeezing it into the grooves, I let it dry then scraped and sanded off any smeared excess areas.
It dries similar to the white glue.
Then I sprayed clear gloss lacquer over everything and a final wax coat.
Now all I need is to find the right knobs for it or something close even...lol
If you guys have them to sell...let me know please. (set screw or split shaft grooved)
Try David Frush for the knobs - www.parts2many@aol.com
Nice job!
Terry F
:
:
:I was looking for the right thing to replace the inlay in this Sonora KM-450 above... and I decided to experiment a bit.
:At first after removing the old loose inlay... I used some Elmer's white glue to try to fill in the grooves with. I wanted to try mixing it with food coloring and it worked. But the only color I had on hand was dark blue. So I tried that and filled the grooves halfway up with this mix. When it dried it looked more like black filler. I really wanted to try to get a brighter color.
:
:So...yesterday I went out to buy more food coloring to mix a new batch in dark red or maybe yellow or even an orange to get close to the original look.
:
:While in the craft dept. of the supermarket I saw these Metallic Paint colored glue pens. ( they have them with glitter too but the metallics are kinda like pearl-looking and not so cheesy )
:Elmer's 3D washable paint pens:
:
:http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?requestURI=processProductsCatalog&categoryId=377320&BP=2110&cm_mmc=GoogleBase-_-datafeed-_-datafeed-_-datafeed&sku=73/53859&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=73/53859
:
:I tried a little of the GOLD on paper and it looks like a nice gold-pearl.
:
:Now yesterday I had removed all the old lacquer and steel wooled the surface nicely. It is all solid wood.. like maybe black-walnut or something.
:So I then used Watco Teak oil on it and rubbed it out after 1/2 hour.
:Next day it looked gorgeous! I was even considering just waxing it and calling it done. But I wanted to get the inlay area brighter.
:
:The surface had a nice smooth.. almost waxy feel to it from the dry Teak oil.
:I figured that the surface was now less porous and so if I smeared the paint pens outside the grooves I may have less problems getting the dried excess paint-pen coloring off... and I was right.
:
:So I tried carefully to squeeze it into all 3 grooves around the base of this Sonora.
:
:I got it nice in some areas and messy in others.. and used wet fingers to try to remove excess.
:
:I decided not to worry about excess and decided to scrape or sand off any excess after it dried.
:
:I did exactly that and I like the results. It has a shimmery imperfect look that looks a bit like a gold pearl-like inlay or something.
:
:Okay.. It's done now... Here's the finished radio.
:
:It shows how I've used the (metallic-gold colored) Elmer's 3D paint pen to fill the grooves where the broken old orange plastic inlay was.
:
:I'm pleased with the brightness of the gold.
:
:After squeezing it into the grooves, I let it dry then scraped and sanded off any smeared excess areas.
:It dries similar to the white glue.
:Then I sprayed clear gloss lacquer over everything and a final wax coat.
:
:Now all I need is to find the right knobs for it or something close even...lol
:If you guys have them to sell...let me know please. (set screw or split shaft grooved)
:
Syl
:
:Syl
::
::Syl
All available on the Philco Phorum. My work being enjoyed all around the globe with 600+ satisfied customers.
You could also post one of your restoration here, if you can.
Syl
:::
:::Syl
:
:All available on the Philco Phorum. My work being enjoyed all around the globe with 600+ satisfied customers.
:
:You could also post one of your restoration here, if you can.
:
:Syl
Peter; you go stand in one corner; no supper tonight and you're grounded for 2 days.
Syl; you go stand in the opposite corner; no supper for you either tonight and because you started it you're grounded for the week.
Mom
I posted only the original entry.
I am confused?
Aw for catssake.....why don't you people who want to play "High School Harry" go somewhere else and let some people enjoy a wonderful forum where, it seems ot me, a lot of people exchange ideas and experience and manage to get along without acting like five year olds.
Lewis (And I am not afraid to give my name)
I had to google that one... :O)
Bob
:I had to google that one... :O)
:Bob
That is a term I got from my days working at AT&T when we had some new hires, generally fresh out of high school, who acted like spoiled children. Since Ma Bell was so secretive about everything she did, i doubt you'll find it in general usage.
Lewis
What do you mean, Syl?
Don't you see 2 pictures of the restored version at the bottom of my post?
Gary
:I was looking for the right thing to replace the inlay in this Sonora KM-450 above... and I decided to experiment a bit.
:At first after removing the old loose inlay... I used some Elmer's white glue to try to fill in the grooves with. I wanted to try mixing it with food coloring and it worked. But the only color I had on hand was dark blue. So I tried that and filled the grooves halfway up with this mix. When it dried it looked more like black filler. I really wanted to try to get a brighter color.
:
:So...yesterday I went out to buy more food coloring to mix a new batch in dark red or maybe yellow or even an orange to get close to the original look.
:
:While in the craft dept. of the supermarket I saw these Metallic Paint colored glue pens. ( they have them with glitter too but the metallics are kinda like pearl-looking and not so cheesy )
:Elmer's 3D washable paint pens:
:
:http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?requestURI=processProductsCatalog&categoryId=377320&BP=2110&cm_mmc=GoogleBase-_-datafeed-_-datafeed-_-datafeed&sku=73/53859&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=73/53859
:
:I tried a little of the GOLD on paper and it looks like a nice gold-pearl.
:
:Now yesterday I had removed all the old lacquer and steel wooled the surface nicely. It is all solid wood.. like maybe black-walnut or something.
:So I then used Watco Teak oil on it and rubbed it out after 1/2 hour.
:Next day it looked gorgeous! I was even considering just waxing it and calling it done. But I wanted to get the inlay area brighter.
:
:The surface had a nice smooth.. almost waxy feel to it from the dry Teak oil.
:I figured that the surface was now less porous and so if I smeared the paint pens outside the grooves I may have less problems getting the dried excess paint-pen coloring off... and I was right.
:
:So I tried carefully to squeeze it into all 3 grooves around the base of this Sonora.
:
:I got it nice in some areas and messy in others.. and used wet fingers to try to remove excess.
:
:I decided not to worry about excess and decided to scrape or sand off any excess after it dried.
:
:I did exactly that and I like the results. It has a shimmery imperfect look that looks a bit like a gold pearl-like inlay or something.
:
:Okay.. It's done now... Here's the finished radio.
:
:It shows how I've used the (metallic-gold colored) Elmer's 3D paint pen to fill the grooves where the broken old orange plastic inlay was.
:
:I'm pleased with the brightness of the gold.
:
:After squeezing it into the grooves, I let it dry then scraped and sanded off any smeared excess areas.
:It dries similar to the white glue.
:Then I sprayed clear gloss lacquer over everything and a final wax coat.
:
:Now all I need is to find the right knobs for it or something close even...lol
:If you guys have them to sell...let me know please. (set screw or split shaft grooved)
:
Peter: Relative to your knobs. I professionally make radio knobs from black walnut or maple. My knobs have a brass bushing insert with a set screw for durability and have a hot lacquer finish to look much better than any original knob. It takes me about 45 minutes per knob and I sell them for $18 each. Please let me know the outside diameter you would like and I will send you two and you can either return them or remit payment.
The original knobs for this radio are bullet shaped medium brown plastgic knobs (not Bakelite).
This said, I'd love to see samples of your knobs (pictures), I might need a few. Do you only make your own design or do you accept custom orders?
Syl
Thanks Dr. T:
.. I think that's very very kind of you.
If I decide I'm going to keep this for my own long term collection I'll do that.
But if I sell it as planned on Ebay..I just wanted to try to find the original or close to it knobs
Do you have a web address you can give me?