Radio Cabinet Repair & Refinishing Made Short, Simple & With Minimal Tools- Part I
Step 1: Evaluate
- What Do I Do First?
- Order is important, don’t work yourself into a corner!
- Usually, but not always, in the following order:
- Structure
- Structural joints- bottom, sides, etc.
- Major parts- legs, braces, etc.
- Secondary structure
- Delamination of plywood
- Shelves, speaker mounting boards, etc.
- Warped lids, doors, etc.
- Veneer
- Finish
- Non-wood parts (knobs, escutcheons, etc.)
- Structure
Step 2: Record
- Photograph (NEED: camera)
- Before and After photos
- Record of what went where in case you get in trouble…
- More the better—if digital photos, cost=$0
Step 3: Disassemble
- Remove non-wood parts (NEED: screw drivers- straight, Philips)
- Mark parts (NEED: Sharpie, blue tape, sandwich bags)
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- Mark anything you remove that is not obvious where it goes
- Use sandwich bags to organize, Sharpie to mark bag
- Use 3M blue tape to mark large parts without damage
- Write on the tape before you put it on any parts to avoid the Sharpie bleeding-through onto your part
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- Remove damaged wood parts
(NEED: flexible putty knife, mini diagonal cutters, steam iron)
- Carefully disassemble down to unbroken parts/sound structure
- Take photos as you go/mark parts and/or their orientation
- Flexible putty knife one of the best tools to use for gentle prying
- Mini diagonal cutters for pulling or cutting small nails
- To release partially unglued pieces without damage:
- Use a steam iron on a non-steam setting
- Careful to not burn anything!
- Heat will soften and release the hide glue
- Use putty knife to pry apart
- Careful: that glue will be hot!
Step 4: Replace
(NEED: wood veneer, scissors, blade knife)
- Source, fabricate or replace wood parts that can not be fixed
- Veneers:
- Identify species
- Lesser expensive sets used only a few kinds and cheaper woods for veneers
- Consoles and high-end sets used more variety and more obscure species
- Books of wood species is a good place to start
- Google search
- Ask an expert at Woodcraft Supply or Rockler
- Find source to buy replacement
- More obscure species might need to be bought online
- Google search for “veneer” will provide sellers
- Identify species
- Plywood:
- If it can’t be reglued, it must be replaced
- Replacement might be difficult to source
- Flexible plywood or 1.8mm Masonite are good options for cathedral radios
- Use blade knife and straight edge to cut paper-backed veneer, 1.8mm Masonite and Flexible plywood
Sources of Supply:
The Home Depot
- 3M Blue painter’s Tape
- Screwdrivers- Philips and straight, multiple sizes
- Flexible putty knife
- Small diagonal cutters
- Blade knife
- Scissors
- Straight edge or long ruler
Sears
- Small diagonal cutters
Target
- Steam Iron
Crosscut Hardwoods (adjacent to 4th Ave. S. Bridge)
- Paper-backed veneer
- 1.8 MM Tempered Hardboard (A.K.A. Masonite)
- Flexible plywood
Rockler Woodworking (Tukwila and Northgate Stores)
- Non-paper-backed and paper-backed veneer
- Hide glue
- Straight-edge or long ruler
Woodcraft Supply (Corson Ave. S. in Seattle)
- Non-paper-backed and paper-backed veneer
- Hide glue
- Straight-edge or long ruler
© Jason Rogers 2015 May not be sold or reproduced without permission