Brenda Ann - this might be what you're in for if you decide to refinish
yours. As you can see, the wood is several different species and colors.
People are telling me that "Perfect Brown" is my answer, so that's the
approach I'm going to use.

"Unrevealed Source" wrote in message
...
are telling me that "Perfect Brown" is my answer, so that's the
approach I'm going to use.

I think you have a very odd idea about "wildly varying grain and species"
regarding a typical old radio. I've been imagining from the stories on the
other group this would be a bizarre mix of woods. All I see here is an
absolutely typical set from the WW2 era or before- walnut veneer on the body
with whitewood trim. Almost EVERY radio is like this- yours has no more
"wildly varying and mismatched" wood than *any* typical set.

Almost NO ONE matched up the grain and or the species of wood all around the
set except a very few high end (and usually early) sets. Most makers made
wood radios just like yours, I could use it as a textbook example. The trim
just needs to be masked off and given coats of toner until it matches and
then add a couple over the whole thing to match it all in.

John H.

The only piece that is veneer is the top.

I may indeed not understand the "norm" by which wood for radios was used -
I'm basing my opinion on furniture or other pieces of woodworking. In that
area, the idea is to use matching wood grain, and a finish that brings out
the grain. In this case, not only do I have to darken various pieces of
wood, I have to hide the grain. You'll notice the different grain patterns,
not just different colored wood.

Not a big deal and I'm sure it will come out fine, based on the standards
for radio finishes. But I had hoped to raise those standards a bit and
really show off some nice woodworking in the finished product. Not
possible, apparently.


"HagstAr" wrote in message
...

I think you have a very odd idea about "wildly varying grain and species"
regarding a typical old radio. I've been imagining from the stories on the
other group this would be a bizarre mix of woods. All I see here is an
absolutely typical set from the WW2 era or before- walnut veneer on the
body with whitewood trim. Almost EVERY radio is like this- yours has no
more "wildly varying and mismatched" wood than *any* typical set.

Almost NO ONE matched up the grain and or the species of wood all around
the set except a very few high end (and usually early) sets. Most makers
made wood radios just like yours, I could use it as a textbook example.
The trim just needs to be masked off and given coats of toner until it
matches and then add a couple over the whole thing to match it all in.

John H.

Jeez, not sure why you stripped it to do a total repaint, that piece looked
pretty good to start!

"Unrevealed Source" wrote in message
...