[Marsupial]

I know this sounds newbie... well its because it is. Well, I am. I don't know where to start about cabinet restoration.

I am still working the internals, but want to start planing the wooden cabinet restoration as well.

here is my 47-1230 as it stands now:
[Image: http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/...0_8967.jpg]

I think someone stripped it out, or it is just very weathered by time. There doesn't seem to be any kind of lacquer and the coloration seems washed out. I have been trying to find similar cabinets online to see what its supposed to look like, and I think there's a total of 3 tones. The bezel around the glass window and knobs, the main body, and the trim near the top.

Before conditionning and sealing this, I have details I need to take care of.

First, there are two cracks near the bottom right "leg"
[Image: http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/...0_8996.jpg]
[Image: http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/...0_8997.jpg]
I am thinking of putting wood glue and clamping that together. Is it a good idea?

Then, the top panel is somewhat lifting, we can see it from the back. I guess it is normal with age. Its only a bit, on the side edges of the top panel seen from behind the radio
[Image: http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/...0_9040.jpg]
[Image: http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/...0_9041.jpg]
Should I bother fix that? I was thinking again of glue and clamps.


Other glitch, veneer. There's one chip, not big, not visible, on the far-end left side near the back.
[Image: http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/..._9073-.jpg]
Should I bother fixing it? if so, how do we fix veneer? I will definately not redo the whole section for such a small chip, but would like to have options before deciding.


Once those are done, I'll have tons of questions for cleaning and refinishing the cabinet... how do we clean, what do we do to regain coloration, do we seal... I have little woodworking experience. Sorry. ;)



Another thing. Knobs... do I clean them? how?
[Image: http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r253/...0_8987.jpg]
one is missing the metal insert, and I don't know where to find any. I hope to find something with a suitable replacement when lawn/garage sales starts this spring, unless I find a better solution. (maybe I should get a repro knob just for the insert. Do repro knobs have inserts?)

Any hints are welcomed, I am still very new to restoration. Thanks a lot.