Stromberg Carlson stripping - the next phase

-
Stripped Stromberg Carlson console radio
Well, It was hard work getting the gluing and clamping done for the Stromberg Carlson console radio (circa 1946); I had to do it in 6 stages.

The stripping was interesting because I had to be really careful with the fumes from the Circa 1850 stripper and the lacquer thinner. I therefore had to restrict my work time to about 20-30 minutes per day so that the fumes would not overcome me. It worked out well because I had an electric fan blowing on me while I was working and that seems to push the fumes away from me very effectively.

As you can see the radio has been stripped. The next phase is the steel wool rubdown. I will use #0000 steel wool dipped in lacquer thinner to take any residual lacquer off the finish and to more-or-less sand it to a smooth finish. I will continue with the steel wool for the next few days until the whole cabinet is done.

Next, I will move onto the staining phase which will involve using both dark and light walnut to bring it to its original finish, or something very close to it; dark walnut for the trim and light walnut for the veneered surfaces.

Then comes the grill cloth replacement which hopefully will be a period design, new decals for the front panel and remounting the radio itself. Putting new decals can be tricky because it means putting on several coats of lacquer spray, mounting the decals and then lacquer spraying over them once they are dry.

The fun is just beginning.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Seth Thomas Gothic Beehive Mantle Clock

-
Image
Seth Thomas Beehive Mantle clock circa 1928 This is a Seth Thomas Gothic beehive mantle clock. The face has Henry Birks & Sons inscribed on it and obviously the company contracted the clock out to Seth Thomas at that time. The movement is an 89AL which was used in a variety of clock between 1922 and 1928 so I would put this clock at around the 1928 period. There is a little plaque inside the back access door giving the reseller location which in this case is Amherst, Nova Scotia. I has been running all day now and I am just waiting to see whether it gains or loses time. I will know in about 24 hours. The beat is good but the clock chimes the hours on the half hour which is obviously not supposed to happen. It means a minute hand pin adjustment once I know that the clock can run steadily. As is typical of these old clocks there was a lot of dirt and grime on the finish. Rather than take the dramatic step of refinishing the clock it is far easier to take a good cleaner, in my
Read more

Seth Thomas Round Top Mantel Clock

-
Image
Seth Thomas Dome clock I wrote about this clock a few months back and at that time it was only running for a couple of days. I was pretty happy with my purchase since I had picked it up at a junk / antique store just about a 1/2 hours drive from here. It has, in fact been running wonderfully for several months now. It's a bit idiosyncratic in that despite being an 8-day clock it does not like being wound right down because the count wheel for the strike gets confused and strikes the hour on the half hour instead. Could be it needs some adjustment. Keeping it wound without it stopping has proven to work. It also ticks quite loudly but it is in our dining room and certainly not intrusive in that location. It has been oiled and seems to runs just fine. The walnut case is in excellent condition and a good rubbing with Murphy's Soap has virtually restored the cabinet. I make it a point not to redo the clock finish if it has minor nicks and scratches. I have an assortment of
Read more

No one told me about the last ten minutes

-
Image
My office for many years No one told me about the last ten minutes It was my very last day as a faculty member. After 18 years with the organization it was time to say goodbye and begin the next chapter of my life. Yes, there were some tough years but by and large it was a very sweet gig and a tremendous period of growth and development for me personally. My wife was a great support all through this transition process. I could not have gone through all of this alone. <script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1337403531080766" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <!-- joinersmusings_page_body_Blog1_1x1_as --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1337403531080766" data-ad-slot="1853062240" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins> <scr
Read more