Admiral 24C16 restoration

[bandersen]

Here are some more videos I recorded while performing the alignment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdzK3P78D5Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR-3U_8LoOk


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[bandersen]

I've got sound

After performing the audio IF alignment, I started working my way back towards the antenna. I discovered that the trimmer cap in parallel with the fine tuning control was rotated fully clockwise which bottomed it out. I slowly backed it out and briefly heard some sound. Slowly I zeroed in on the sweet spot. This is a really critical adjustment - just slightly off and no more sound. It also allowed me to shift the best picture and sound to the center of the fine tuner control. Previously, I had to rotate the fine tuning fully clockwise to get a good picture.


I also replaced that old shielded audio cable with the crappy splice. I have plenty of volume now, but there's a faint buzz. I think that's coming from the horizontal / HV circuit. Maybe some better shielding will help


I also accidentally smoked a resistor While working on the sound, I had push some parts to the side and shorted two leads together. Instant flash and smoke. What a horrible stench It's a day later and still stinks in my workshop.

[jeyurkon]

That happened to me when I was working on the Sylvania. I was lucky though, it ended up repairing the open tap on the volume control. Go figure.

The volume has worked perfectly ever since.

John

[bandersen]

Now that the set is working, it's time to move on to the cabinet. There was a nasty water ring on top and numerous digs and nicks all over.




First, I broke it down.


Then, I carefully stripped just the top. I'm going to try to salvage the sides and front.
No one makes reproduction labels to my knowledge.

That went well.


Now time to fill that grain. This mahogany veneer has a really open grain. I was inspired by jeyurkon to try shellac as a grain filler.


I used about 15 coats sanding it down every 5th coat.


It worked well, but took forever. I think for grain this open something like Behlen grain filler would be easier.


Now for the toner lacquer. I took a gamble and tried some stuff I picked up from a local antique ship that's going out of business. I'm not sure how old it is, but it's a great match for the old finish.


Arg - disaster strikes The finish split all over
Could be the toner was too old, could be the air was too cold and dry (I did this in February), could be the shellac interacted badly with it ?


Time to start over!

[cwmoser]

Hey I like the detail, instructions, and photos on refinishing your TV.
Keep on showing us more.

[bandersen]

Alrighty then - you asked for it

Cabinet refinishing take two.

I finished stripping off the cracked lacquer and filled the grain with shellac again.
I'm going to use some Mohawk toner this time.


Here's a couple coats of toner. I used it sparingly, but it's pretty dark stuff.


Here it is after three coats of clear gloss. It's a tad darker than I'd intended, but no cracks


I also took care of the metal back cover.


I used Naval Jelly to remove the rust, rinsed it off well, dried it immediately with a blow drier and applied two coats of clear lacquer.
You really don't want to leave raw steel exposed to air for long after using a rust remover or else a film of corrosion will return.


Now for the rest of the cabinet. Once that's done, I'm going to try rubbing out that lacquer with some pumice and rottenstone.

[leadlike]

I've never seen splitting like that before-the dull finish looks like lacquer going bad when there is too much moisture in the air. But that would be a rare thing in winter. Given that nitrocellulose lacquer's chemical relatives aren't the most stable things on earth (dynamite, nitrate film) I wouldn't be surprised if your can of toner just went bad.

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by leadlike

I've never seen splitting like that before-the dull finish looks like lacquer going bad when their is too much moisture in the air. But that would be a rare thing in winter. Given that nitrocellulose lacquer's chemical relatives aren't the most stable things on earth (dynamite, nitrate film) I wouldn't be surprised if your can of toner just went bad.

I think you're right. I had a second can just as old and did some test on scraps of veneer. It either split or cracked into little "puzzle pieces".

[jeyurkon]

I'm glad it wasn't the shellac after you put 15 coats on! I'd be in trouble for suggesting it.

John

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by jeyurkon

I'm glad it wasn't the shellac after you put 15 coats on! I'd be in trouble for suggesting it.

John

Apparently, that's a time honored technique: http://www.hardwoodlumberandmore.com...thShellac.html

It actually went pretty fast the second time around. I used aerosol shellac. Each coat dried in a few minutes

[bandersen]

I've moved on to one side and the front.

I'm just going to sand down the existing finish a bit and spray toner lacquer over it. Sure it will end up a bit darker, but it saves a lot of time.






Now for the front. I'm not going to mess with the control, control area. Someday, I may get some custom decals created and refinish that too.
For now, I'll put a few clear, gloss coats over it for protection.




One side left.

[cwmoser]

What was the color of that spray toner lacquer?
Was it Red Mahogany?
I saw a Mohawk can in one photo.

So you sanded the sides and sprayed one or more coats?

[Jeffhs]

Good job! That cabinet looks great -- just like new. It's amazing what a coat or two of stain or toner can do for the looks of a vintage TV.

Where can the toner you used (or a similar brand) be found? You gave me an idea when I saw those pictures. I'd like to refinish my desk in the same color as your TV's cabinet (the desk is 18 years old and is starting to show its age; time to refinish). Mahogany and walnut are two of my favorite types of wood; I have three Zenith radios here, one in a walnut cabinet, the other two in mahogany, and I just love the way they contrast with the rest of my furniture. If I like how it turns out on the desk, I think I might refinish my TV stand in the same color.

Thanks in advance.

[Phil Nelson]

Mohawk toner is available from AES, http://www.tubesandmore.com/ . If you do an Internet search, you can find other suppliers.

I'm careful about toning lacquer since I bought a couple of "house brand" cans from a local paint store. The stuff was awful, more like cheap paint or liquid shoe polish.

Phil

[Reece]

RadioDaze also has Mohawk products.

http://www.radiodaze.com/