Very nice. I'd call that finished!

Now, it is finished! Final iteration.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psrfejgbm2.jpg

:thmbsp::thmbsp:

OK, I'm starting in on the cabinet. I have it taken apart except for the latch for the hatch. It seems to be riveted to the wood top. Any suggestions as to what I should do? I really want to clean up that latch. What did others do with their 621's?

Thanks.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4jrwjknj.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psj3zqycy5.jpg

The label material came in today. Looks very promising. Too tired to mess with them. After a good night's rest, I'll tackle them.

I've never seen that latch before, I wonder if it was added by someone, or maybe only the early sets had them?

I just checked some pictures of other sets and one does show a latch, I don't recall one on my set, but it's been years since I had the lid off, maybe I just forgot.

I don't think I'd remove it, if you must make it look better maybe you can apply some paint stripper to it to remove the lacquer, it's far enough from the cabinet that should be possible.

I'm pretty sure that the latch is factory stuff. I'll let everybody know how I got it cleaned up.

Soda blaster. :)

The labels are done!

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psmcszqcec.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...pszwo0jqsd.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...pszl4p6yro.jpg

I stripped the finish off the hatch, grille, and face plate yesterday. After cleaning them up and sanding them, I'll then filled the dents, etc with wood putty. Then I'll sand them smooth again.

The cabinet is under clamps and glue right now. That will be ready to strip tomorrow.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1qaefkja.jpg

If I could offer some advice it would be not to make these parts and the trim black. I've seen these restored beautifully, but the very dark trim is too much of a contrast against the lighter finish. Mine is original, and I've seen a lot of these, and the color is actually a rich dark brown which looks so much better.

Right and it's a transparent type toner lacquer so the wood grain shows through. I'd be careful using wood putty as it may show through the finish. I'd try steaming out the dents and dings or just live with them. Here's mine with original finish.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8106/8...661e4763cc.jpg

I just stripped my cabinet. The edge trim was indeed black. While the mask, grill, and hatch are a solid dark brown.

Bob,
Thanks for the heads up but where I used the filler are only on the mask, grille, and hatch. These were solid in color with no grain showing and a dark brown color.

The rest of the cabinet will have the grain showing just like it was before me.

Here are some pictures of the TV when I first brought it home. It'll be like this only a new finish.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psdppgksds.jpg


Here are pictures from the ad:

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...pswj5njxjv.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psvdxizxmz.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psrct5knnq.jpg

Yes, I looked at mine and the edge trim appears black, although with a bright light on it, it actually is a VERY dark brown!
By the way, mine does have the top latch like yours. I had mine for 25 years and have left it 95% original. Amazingly it's only been on my repairman's bench once in that time, since it's full chassis resto, for just a slight "tune-up", and works very well!
PS - If you read this thread from ARF, you'll see people mention the "very dark brown" trim:
"....My speaker grill and mask are very dark brown. (RCA was into "Burnt Umber in these days.) The beveled borders around the cabinet are also this same dark color, maybe a ½ a shade darker..."
http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/...c.php?t=115077

Thanks for the link. Looks like I'll go with very dark brown on the grille, mask, hatch, and trim borders.
My set is definitely a mahogany finish.

I just looked at mine, the top cover/mask and edge trim are the same dark brown color, I thought the edges were black also but they aren't.
They look opaque in low light but under bright light you can see the grain of the wood underneath.

OK. What I use is Mohawk toners. These allow the grain to show after I use grain filler.

I needed a "Golden Throat" label and saw that Vintage Radio Labels carries these. Great! I ordered 1 in a gold border and dark brown.

I received it today. Not good. Here is a picture of the label that is advertised and the one I received. The one I received was paper and not foil. My bad for not asking ahead of time.

I've emailed him and we'll see what happens.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psknexrpmw.jpg

I also discovered that the label supplied was of the wrong dimensions.

He is going to give me a full refund.

Bob,

Please tell us more about Boeshield. I wasn't even aware of it until you mentioned it. Seems like a pretty interesting product.

Thanks,
-- Dave Sica

Here's a good product description: https://www.theruststore.com/Boeshie...erosol-P3.aspx

Crist, if it isn't a trade secret, could you give some info on the various materials you tried in making the labels? Where did you find them?

This what I ended up with.

Oracal 631 Light Grey #631-072

H&H Sign Supply Company

http://www.hhsignsupply.com/productc...-538p44760.htm

I also tried Oracal 651 Light Grey and Silver Grey

I didn't realize it was vinyl.
Looks good.

Yes, sign vinyl.

Thanks.

Update on my progress on the cabinet. Lots of pictures. Hold on tight.

After messing around with the dings and gouges on the sides, I decided that the only way I'd be happy is to apply new veneer. So I checked out eBay and found some real nice Ribbon Mahogany strips about 8 x 40. The grain very closely matched what I had and the "leafs" were about $8 each. I'll need 2. Here is a link of what I bought. BTW, very good service and he joined several other eBay purchases of veneer into 1 package and saved me a lot on shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390827726618...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I then trued up all the long edges because there will be 1 seam on the cabinet on each side.
I used the iron on method to attach the veneer. I used Elmers Carpenter Glue thinned about 10% by weight and rolled on the glues using a small roller. Here is a picture of the side of the cabinet with the glue rolled on as it dries.
http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psrtj1heqz.jpg

Here is a picture of the veneer after the glue is rolled on. It curls up pretty good. Once the glue starts to dry, the veneer lays out flat again.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...pspowligmf.jpg

I applied 2 coats of glue to each side of the cabinet and to each piece of the veneer.

I then positioned the lower piece in place with the edge even along the bottom. And ironed it on using medium high heat and some brown craft paper in between the iron and the veneer. Then the second piece was ironed on with about 1/64 inch overlap at the seam. Once the second piece was good and "tacked" in place, I ran the iron over the seam and it laid down nicely. Not perfect but a little sanding would take care of it.

I then trimmed the veneer with my #11 hobby knife and then carefully sanded it down along the edges. I cut out the cooling slots on each side by piercing the outline from the inside with a "T" pin. I then connected the dots with my pencil. Then cutout along the pencil line with my hobby knife and then some rolled up sandpaper took care of the rounded ends.

Some final sanding and I'm done.
http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...pseetm36ch.jpg

Looking great. Leave it to John Vassos to have made such a pleasing looking cabinet. He had a great eye for clean streamline design.

Laying veneer is a talent - great job!. Can't wait for more pictures.:yes:

I then had to add a little filler around the edges because the veneer on the cabinet had its edges slightly rounded.

I then noticed that on the front face, the lower left hand edge along the bottom was not "square" with the front of the bottom. The outer edge was forward a bit and the edge closet to the middle was back some. I removed some wood screws and using a hammer and a wood block, I broke the stiffeners loose both along the bottom and the side. I then glued and clamped the front face even along the bottom edge and reinstalled the screws. After a little wood filling and some sanding, the cabinet was ready for finishing.

I sprayed on a coat of sealer on the cabinet, grille, mask, and hatch in preparation for the grain filler.

I used Mohawk "Mahogany" grain filler #M608-4236 thinned a little with lacquer thinner. I used a credit card to apply the filler and went across the grain and again at 45 degrees to the grain. After a little bit, I used burlap and rubbed the filler across the grain. The color now is a deep chocolate brown. I did the same for the grille, mask, and hatch. This will dry overnight.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...pswogdgvu9.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psswj8ruuf.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9av7m5xv.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psestpcnoz.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...pslumfkyar.jpg

Very nice. I think yours is going to have the most authentic looking refinishes of all that I've seen. When these are refinished with a light tone against nearly black trim, they just don't look right. It needs to be all shades of brown.

Thanks Decojoe67.

I'm going to spray the inside while the grain filler is on the outside. Looks like a mahogany stain and some very dark toner was used. The bottom is the darkest. I'll probably use Mohawk Extra Dark Walnut.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5mznv28m.jpg

I did a test strip on the new veneer I applied. I glued down some of the veneer I trimmed off on a piece of 3/4 ply. I then applied my grain filler and when it was dry, I sanded it off. I then divided it into 3 sections. The left section was stained with Mohawk "Brown Mahogany" #M545-2296, the middle section was stained with Minwax "Red Mahogany" #225, and the right most section was left bare.

I think the front face and top will get the Brown Mahogany because it is much lighter and I don't want that part of the cabinet too dark. I think it will match the original color pretty good.
The sides, seeing they are new veneer and pretty light so they will get the Minwax Red Mahogany. This will be a light application of stain to help control how dark the sides get.

When done staining, I'll look at a light application of some toner. We'll see. We have to get there before I decide what needs to be done.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...pstxexhnlp.jpg

Today I sprayed the inside of the cabinet while the grain filler is still on the outside.

I used Mohawk "Dark Red Mahogany" #M101-0227 and sprayed the entire insides. I then used Mohawk "Extra Dark Walnut" #M101-0209 on the bottom and the aft edges where the back gets screwed to.

Then I used a small touch up brush and brushed on some black in the cooling holes on each side along with the knob cut outs etc. For this I used Mohawk "Black Satin Lacquer" #M104-S224.

Here are a couple of pictures of the inside. One before and one after.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5mznv28m.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...pszqg4pnmj.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...pste4af0wt.jpg

Over the last several days, I sanded off the grain filler. I used some 150 grit and an orbital palm sander at first, then switched to 220 grit. Then final sanding of 600 grit. I then wiped and vacuumed off all the pieces in preparation to staining.

Here are the pieces ready for stain.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psf2boxemf.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psv5pbtqcc.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5wpzuthl.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psgar61nya.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...pswbqs2yal.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...pszorq7rq9.jpg

I then stain the pieces tonight. The sides were stained using Minwax "Red Mahogany" #225 and all the rest with Mohawk "Brown Mahogany" #M545-2296. I used a clean soft cloth to wipe on the stain and another clean cloth to wipe it off.

Here are the pieces after staining.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psjbweav9d.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psndgwabga.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psgr6io5tw.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psqtmaxynh.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psqiq6jtjc.jpg

Hey Crist I had a question about laying the Veneer.

I believe you said you overlapped the seams by 1/64" and then sanded them?
How does that work exactly, does the edge sticking up just drop into place as you sand through it?

I've always tried butting the edges together, but that's difficult if they're not completely square.

With the overlap, I then take one edge and butt them together and then run the iron down the seam forcing them to butt together. The sanding comes when the butt joint doesn't lay down completely flat.

Today I applied 2 light coats of Mohawk #M101-0229 Brown Mahogany Toner. Then 2 light coats of Mohawk #M102-8000 E-Z Vinyl Sealer which is a 13 oz. aerosol can. I use the aerosol can because it is easier at this stage. After the side and bottom bands and all the trim is painted, then I'll use my sprayer and spray on 2 final coats of the E-Z Vinyl Sealer.

I kept thinking that I got the toner on a little too "heavy" thus the finish is too dark. But when I compared it to the original pictures, the color and tone is pretty close! Of course when I add the side bands and bottom trim, which are very dark, that might make the "field" appear a little lighter. We'll see. On the top hatch I did a little sunburst and left it a little lighter because I wanted to show some grain.

Here are some pictures of the cabinet side-by-side for comparison taken with basically the same light and in the same room. I included a picture of the hatch too.

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psczskrl1k.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...psa0wcwjwj.jpg

http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/...pssleupunt.jpg