UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > General Vintage Technology > Cabinet and Chassis Restoration and Refinishing

Notices

Cabinet and Chassis Restoration and Refinishing For help with cabinet or chassis restoration (non-electrical), please leave a message here.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 31st May 2022, 5:08 pm   #1
stevehertz
Dekatron
 
stevehertz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
Posts: 8,809
Default Repairing Bakelite with areas missing

I realise that the subject has been covered before, so links would also be welcome. I have a 1930s brown Bakelite set with a large crack that leads to an edge, and there's a triangular chunk about 3.5cm missing from that area. The crack has already been repaired, but I need to replace that missing area so I'm seeking to find the best method to replace it. Clearly it requires a hard setting filler (Araldite, Isopon seem popular) doped with a brown colourant of some kind. In terms of the latter, it's a matter of knowing what products (pigments, paint of various types) are the best ones to match the filler. Has anyone successfully infilled a missing area and can share their experiences? Photos would be great. Thanks.
__________________
A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..
stevehertz is offline  
Old 31st May 2022, 6:20 pm   #2
Audio1950
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 3,757
Default Re: Repairing Bakelite with areas missing

Position the cabinet so that you can fill the missing piece from the inside. This is because it will minimise sanding and consequent further damage to the outside. Cut a piece of card that will cover the hole and cover that will clingfilm. Tape that firmly over the hole from the outside, and drip Isopon or any car body filler into the hole from the inside. Whilst still wet, support the card with one hand and gently pat the filler with a fingertip to make sure the hole is fully covered. When dry remove the card, and if there are any missing bits fill with fresh mixture. Sand gently until the surface is absolutely smooth, and then use artists' acrylic paint to colour match. Don't add anything to the filler when mixing, as it will affect the strength and setting time. The advantage of acrylic is that it is removable with water if the colour is not right. When you are happy with the colour, give the repair a coat of acrylic varnish, either matt, satin, or a mixture of both.

Barry
Audio1950 is offline  
Old 31st May 2022, 6:28 pm   #3
Nickthedentist
Dekatron
 
Nickthedentist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 17,820
Default Re: Repairing Bakelite with areas missing

Some hints in post 3 here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=131773
Nickthedentist is online now  
Old 31st May 2022, 6:39 pm   #4
fetteler
Octode
 
fetteler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK.
Posts: 1,464
Default Re: Repairing Bakelite with areas missing

Milliput is good stuff, sets rock hard, polishes up nicely and is available in several colours. I have sucessfuly mixed colours in the past and got a pretty good match for brown bakelite. Black bakelite is easy as one of the standard colours is black.
__________________
Those who lack imagination cannot imagine what is lacking...
fetteler is offline  
Old 1st Jun 2022, 7:21 pm   #5
DonaldStott
Octode
 
DonaldStott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Glasgow, UK.
Posts: 1,840
Default Re: Repairing Bakelite with areas missing

Quote:
Originally Posted by Audio1950 View Post
Position the cabinet so that you can fill the missing piece from the inside. This is because it will minimise sanding and consequent further damage to the outside. Cut a piece of card that will cover the hole and cover that will clingfilm. Tape that firmly over the hole from the outside, and drip Isopon or any car body filler into the hole from the inside. Whilst still wet, support the card with one hand and gently pat the filler with a fingertip to make sure the hole is fully covered. When dry remove the card, and if there are any missing bits fill with fresh mixture. Sand gently until the surface is absolutely smooth, and then use artists' acrylic paint to colour match. Don't add anything to the filler when mixing, as it will affect the strength and setting time. The advantage of acrylic is that it is removable with water if the colour is not right. When you are happy with the colour, give the repair a coat of acrylic varnish, either matt, satin, or a mixture of both.

Barry
Follow Barry's advice and you won't go wrong.

The Isopon can be supported from the inside with some of that aluminium mesh you can buy for car body repairs.

Once you have the filler set then I've used decreasing grit size of wet & dry ending up with some 2000 grade - an awful lot of rubbing but it's worth it to obtain a smooth surface.

If it is a standard brown Bakelite case then I've found that Halfords Vauxhall Brazil Brown spray paint is almost a perfect match. I tend to give the whole case an initial spray of grey primer with a couple of top coats of the Brazil Brown - once again sanding down between coats.

As a final flourish I apply a natural Beeswax polish.
__________________
BVWS Member
DonaldStott is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 5:05 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.