Removing Hideous Paint From a Tube Radio. What a Nightmare! Loewe-opta Truxa 1701w Pt.4

The dreaded paint removal from this Loewe-Opta Truxa cabinet just had to be tackled, so here goes ...
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[@bofor3948]

My Grandfather used to say "You can't polish a turd". I think you just proved him wrong. The lacquer under that paint looked awful so that might have been the reason for painting. Perhaps the person didn't realise that light sanding or scraping would make it possible to get a good finish with stain and lacquer. Cant wait to see the radio with its refurbed cabinet.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@DavidTipton101]

That came out so well Manuel. Great job on the speaker grills too, I wasn't sure how you were going to do that. I have used automotive pinstriping in the past but what you have looks good. I am so looking forward to the finishing process. Good luck 👍😀

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Thanks Dave. 👍

[@eddys.3524]

Thank you for correcting this injustice... You are a Hero!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

😊

[@TrevorsBench]

Looking good Manuel! Lots of labour to get to this point but that's all behind you now. I can't wait to see the finish

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@f.k.burnham8491]

Doing any cabinet work is something I avoid at all costs. I am impressed with your work so far!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@paulbennell3313]

You say not much to show for a week's work but I reckon already you've worked wonders with that!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

Wow! Now that is going well beyond the call if duty. "Wood stain" was the words i believe you were looking for in describing the walnut finish you applied.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Yes 😊 had a Senior moment there

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

Well i think you got away with at without a stain on your reputation 🙂 @@electronicsoldandnew

[@Forensic1Man]

This has been a really great working restoration! You are the best! I am so glad to have you show what really goes on with a restoration. There is a lot of work that most people don't realize. You have a good approach for getting the finish restoration into a very presentable and completed project! Congratulations! Thanks for the video!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Thanks

[@DerekHerbst747]

You have inspired me to dive deeper into a radio in my stash and make something spectacular out of it. I'm looking forward to the result of this one 👍

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍 if this aberration can get to look decent, anything can 😊

[@retro_tech]

Fantastic job, Manuel! Looking forward to seeing the finished result.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@techobaz55]

Great job so far Manuel, looking forward to the finishing video. This certainly would have tested your patience ! Cheers

[@electronicsoldandnew]

It’s still testing my patience 😊

[@DeeegerD]

I think anyone who has stripped paint before would say you have a lot to show for your efforts. End result should be a beautiful case/radio. That paint! 🤪

[@electronicsoldandnew]

😊

[@davidsanderson625]

What a resurrection!! You have more patience than I think I could manage. Thank you

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Pleasure 😊

[@lyntonprescott3412]

For the gold stripe you could try a model shop. My lads used to race radio controlled electric model cars. The gold (and other colours) could be bought in kits which had adhesive rolls of variable widths used for decorating the lexan bodyshells they used. I use to spend hours painting their bodyshells (which had to be done from the inside). I even won a few prizes for my designs! Cheers Lynton

[@electronicsoldandnew]

That’s a great idea 👍

[@richardmiranda5357]

The more difficult of the restoration project, the better taste of final product

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Very true

[@user-kv7jj6gt4f]

What a mess...! To say the least...! Good luck with all the rest... One of my experiences with a damage logo was that the log had been reattached with a nail and the little pin on the back had been broken off and of course was missing all together. The logo was bent out of shape fortunately still in one piece. I did straighten the log as best I could but the missing pin was still a problem. So I took the logo to a local jeweler to have pin silver soldered to the back. They did a really good job with soldering and polishing the logo as well as straitening the logo back to it's original shape. I was very pleased with the results and the cost of labor was surprisingly reasonable.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@mackfisher4487]

So Manuel how are you protecting your lungs from the caustic chemicals, I must say your patience is commendable.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

😊 I sometimes use a mask, but more often than not I forget

[@boriskolev9513]

wonderful, i use same methods, can't wait to see the final result 👍

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@greengrayradio1394]

Wow, Manuel! You have a lot of patience, I would have given this cabinet up I think.. such jobs are just not my cup of tea..

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Not mine either, but I just had to try it once 😊

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

19:04 Ah, wood stain you mean! There's a very nice little book out there on wood varnishing that covers all types of varnishing and polishing furniture by hand. Pretty old but it's not hard to find. If you ever decide to turn to woodworking/restoration (quite unlikely, I know) you might find it handy to consult. I think it's called "Art and Craftmanship of French Polishing" but I could be wrong as I don't have it handy at the moment. The cover certainly looks right if I recall correctly. Don't be put off by the title, it covers all kinds of aspects of wood finishing and varnishing, covers most if not all the traditional techniques and it's a very nice little book even if you never intend to do any French polishing... It's not expensive to get either.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@accountant1653]

Hi Manuel, I now think that you have the opportunity to make good money restoring antique furniture.🙄🙄 I believe in you!👍👍👍

[@electronicsoldandnew]

😊

[@heinz8770]

Gratulation ! What a work 👌 I can believe that was a hard job for You, but You made it great ! Close to David 😉

[@electronicsoldandnew]

😊

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

9:51 It's quite easy to find nails in woodwork with a small magnet - I mean one the size of a pill. Just run it up and down in straight lines over the wood piece you want to scan for buried nails.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍 the problem is that I never suspected they’d used nails at all. It’s a first for me.

[@NuttyforNissan]

Aww you got rid of that lovely paint finish.🙂

[@electronicsoldandnew]

😊

[@BobAndersson]

Hard work (understatement!) but so worth it. 👏👏👏 Are you going to apply a sealer? I've used Aqua Coat successfully and Jim Burns often uses it over stain before lacquer. I believe either Don (of radio shed fame) or Dave Tipton has used it as well.

[@berndb.5097]

Oh yes, it has always been a huge problem to remove paint from something that a “hobby designer” has previously slapped on. I think if I had had to remove it I would have cursed a lot🤬. Respect Manuel, really good job👌👌👌

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Thanks 😊

[@ralphj4012]

Excellent recovery (I am mainly here to see paint bubble and how you avoid destroying the veneer). The go-faster stripe will look great. Ensure, when selling, that you state no young people, unless, at that stage, you are yearning for a reapplication of those pastel shirt overtones, ho, ho.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

No young people at all 😊 I certainly wouldn’t want some other restorer to have to go through what I had to.

[@mikeyaudio167]

at 5:30 min I see that your cutting tool match perfect with the colour from te radio 😄

[@electronicsoldandnew]

You’re absolutely right! I didn’t notice that. I must be colourblind by now.

[@josealeixes2861]

Muito top tá ficando lindo melhor que original vamos pra outra etapa parabéns…

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Obrigado

[@mbak7801]

In the past I have always worried about plastic grills but I guess a 3D print could be possible or using a CNC router. I have both tools but as yet not practiced making new parts apart from trivial projects. Even making a grill out of brass on my mill could be possible. Or again using copper rod, sheet and/or wire and soldering together. Maybe experimenting now when I do not need to would be a good idea. A useful exercise to learn the software.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

The best time to experiment is when you don’t need it 😊

[@tubeDude48]

Although I'm a hippy from the 70's, (and they had awful colors back then), I would not have done this to a cabinet that looked like the original. But I know you will correct this, although it looks like it's going to take some time, (and patients on your part)! In the end, I know it will looking stunning. 😀👍

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@JonRig]

Was it something like 'what a bloody mess' at 10mins?? That was my thinking throughout most of this video!!! 😂 But, the base cabinet you have ended up with is impressive. The veneer looks to be in great condition and the grills, brass elements etc have all come up very well. I think the end result will be a stunning transformation. What a labour of love though. Not easy.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

That was exactly the expression used … by both me and my wife 😊 I think “you’re going to clean that up, aren’t you” also came into the mix at some point 😊

[@JonRig]

@@electronicsoldandnew 🤣

[@petersdelucaaa2vg306]

Manuel, Can I contribute to the international bounty set up to catch the guy who painted this poor radio?…. All kidding aside, you take seemingly insurmountable restoration problems and then show us how to solve them. Great job! Thanks

[@electronicsoldandnew]

😊 thanks

[@Rush-gz9sx]

Manuel. Gold stripes. This is where I might be of help finally as Ive done lots of automotive "hot rod pinstriping" in my past. Also 3 radio cabinets with gold stripes that finished up perfect. Many methods but only realky two Id advocate. However forget both methods until the cabinet has been lacquered. Heres the issue ... I spray lacquer and some people rolker, brush or whatever so cant comment on that method. I dont consider the stripes until the cabinet is almost perfect and had at least 2 good coats of lacquer and been flatted and ready for the final top coats. After 2 coats it needs to dry and then be flatted with 600 wet n dry before striping. Firstly, a more artisan method is to use a "buegler pinstriping tool" (Google is your friend). A small jar with roller wheel and a spacer arm to apply a stripe where desired. This does require a bit more practice than youd think. The Google video requires no more explanation from me. 2nd method and the easiest is to buy "fine line tape" from a professional automotive paint supplier" this is very thin and very flexible. I cheat here as I lay a line of tape exactly where I want my gold pinstripe, then add another line directly above and and another directly below it. Then I peel out the first line of tape in the middle where I want my stripe .. this way my pinstripe is the exact thickness all the way throught. This "fine line" tape has a much sharper finer edge than ordinary masking tape and is designed for this very task. Once the gold paint is applied and starting to dry you remove the fine line tape (pulling up towards the gold stripe NOT away from it, then leave it to dry. After this you apply the finish top coats of lacquer (if spraying 2 coats is sufficient. When the top coats of lacquer have been flatted and polished you cannot feel the edges of the gold strip ... its under the lacquer. I have pictures of how I do it alas cannot post in YT comments. I can send you some of the tape if its difficult to get in Madiera? Its a "must have" to pinstripe professionally. I dont like buying rolls of gold pinstripe and applying that under the lacquer ... its more "Ford" than "Rolls Royce" if you get my meaning and if you can make the cabinet better than when (mass produced) new ... why wouldnt you?

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Thanks for the tips. As my home workshop isn’t really equipped enough for easy painting, I prefer the stick-on tape strips that I’ve used before. It’s worked really well for me with various projects before, so I’m happy with it. Thanks 😊

[@fransmaessen4990]

That looked like a lot of agony:). Hint: last time i neede the golden stripes for a saba i got them wehere the nailsolons get their 2mm golden stripes. Worked out well and dirtcheap compared to the german websites.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

That’s a great idea 💡 thanks

[@mistermac56]

Wonderful work on the cabinet. You have the patience of a saint that's for sure. I am still shaking my head that some numbskull painted over that beautiful wood. Cannot wait to see the cabinet after it is finished.

[@electronicsoldandnew]

👍

[@anandarochisha]

Good job ! Sadly scraping paint out of cracks for hours on end only goes with one kind of music..the Fado..😅

[@electronicsoldandnew]

True. It’s a “song of lament” which fits the mood just perfectly 😊

[@JurassicJenkins]

11:34 - The whole thing is serious damage! 😢

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

17:53 There's a lot of videos on how to make our own paint stripper, e.g. using a mixture of say cornflower and a strong lye solution. Obviously you've got to be careful, wear personal protection and know what you're doing... Not sure whether actual paint stripper is cheaper but apparently these concoctions do work. By the way, did you try the scouring pad on the plastic grille?

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Yes, tried it, but it just wouldn’t break through

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

2:06 You must be joking. Have you actually realised how many youtube videos there are out there that are mostly about sanding down old bits of stuff? Rusty iron pieces, old wooden furniture, car parts, tool parts, you name it. I reckon they account for 50% of all youtube airtime. There's a good chunk of them where paint stripping precedes the sanding. I give that a 12% overall. Sure path to success on youtube. It doesn't matter if it's been done before, people always want to see a new video about sanding. If you paint that radio back to this teal colour after finishing the restoration and then shoot another video about stripping the paint off and sanding it down again, people will watch it. You can count on it!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

😊 that’s an idea … from now on I could paint all the radios I get before restoring them 😊

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

Haha! Right on@@electronicsoldandnew !

[@familiedejonge6813]

You can remove numerous kinds of pant by putting a piece in a plastic bay and fill that bag with some ammonia. Close the bag and let the proces work for about 24 hours. Do not use this method on anodised aluminium pieces, they will discolour!!!!

[@electronicsoldandnew]

Must try that soon 😊

[@vicmabus1532]

But...WHY?!? Did someone lost to the depths of time feel that this improved the appearance of the radio?!?

[@electronicsoldandnew]

We’ll never know 😊

[@paulperano9236]

Enjoy the fumes 🙂

[@electronicsoldandnew]

🥴