09-24-2011, 02:01 PM
Kelly, the best approach for a radio top that just has some surface scratches in the finish is to:
1. Clean the top well using very fine steel wool with clean turpentine in a little aluminum pop pie pan. Scrub it till there is no more old wax and dirt come off in the turpentine pan. If you are doing just the top, don't let the turpentine run down the sides.
2. Let dry thoroughly lightly buff top evenly with very fine steel wool. You can substitute steel wool with a 600+/- grit sandpaper I usually use a tack cloth obtained from a furniture refinishing store or hardware store to wipe it down as this will pick up any wayward steel wool fibers and dust
3. Let dry thoroughly, then find some stain that closely matches the the color of the top. Does not have to be an exact match, but close... Minwax, Mohawk, oil or gel stains are fine. Rub the top all over with the stain. Let it sit a few minutes, then wipe off all excess with cloth. This should color in the scratches to match the rest of the finish.
4. You are now ready to spray once the cabinet is thoroughly dry! For this I use Mohawk Blush Eraser. This is a 50/50 mix of lacquer and lacquer thinner, ie. it is thinned out lacquer. Spray evenly overlapping your top. Not too heavy, only till it is just wet looking. This will "flow" the existing lacquer into the lacquer from the Blush Eraser.
5. Let dry, may look slightly hazey. The light scratches should be gone! If not you can hit again with Blush Eraser, or a can of Deft or Mohawk gloss or semi-gloss spray lacquer.
6. Rub out the lacquer finish using techniques found online.
The above technique can be applied to the whole radio to give an over all even finish.
Britt
1. Clean the top well using very fine steel wool with clean turpentine in a little aluminum pop pie pan. Scrub it till there is no more old wax and dirt come off in the turpentine pan. If you are doing just the top, don't let the turpentine run down the sides.
2. Let dry thoroughly lightly buff top evenly with very fine steel wool. You can substitute steel wool with a 600+/- grit sandpaper I usually use a tack cloth obtained from a furniture refinishing store or hardware store to wipe it down as this will pick up any wayward steel wool fibers and dust
3. Let dry thoroughly, then find some stain that closely matches the the color of the top. Does not have to be an exact match, but close... Minwax, Mohawk, oil or gel stains are fine. Rub the top all over with the stain. Let it sit a few minutes, then wipe off all excess with cloth. This should color in the scratches to match the rest of the finish.
4. You are now ready to spray once the cabinet is thoroughly dry! For this I use Mohawk Blush Eraser. This is a 50/50 mix of lacquer and lacquer thinner, ie. it is thinned out lacquer. Spray evenly overlapping your top. Not too heavy, only till it is just wet looking. This will "flow" the existing lacquer into the lacquer from the Blush Eraser.
5. Let dry, may look slightly hazey. The light scratches should be gone! If not you can hit again with Blush Eraser, or a can of Deft or Mohawk gloss or semi-gloss spray lacquer.
6. Rub out the lacquer finish using techniques found online.
The above technique can be applied to the whole radio to give an over all even finish.
Britt
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