Hello. I am refinishing a Sparton model 589? that has a plaster ornate grill cover. I have removed most of the old crud from it and now need to know what to put on it to get it looking original?

I'll post pictures next time if anyone is interested in this.

Hello McFLy!!!!!!!!!!!

We need pictures. I have no idea what your talking about :)

Ok-here are pics of the grill and the radio. The grill fits over the hole in the radio, obviously(with grill cloth).

My first attempt at uploading photos. It only took me an hour to figure out how to get the photos compressed to < 100 kB.

I'm not sure what color it was originally, but I've seen plaster grilles that have been restored - first with a washcoat of shellac, then a glaze (walnut in the case of the one I've seen firsthand) and finally a light wax coating. VanDykes.com is one source - they also have experts on their staff, so they may be a resource on any other refinishing job.

Hope this helps,

Good job with the photos.

Now, how was it finished from the factory?

Evan

Thanks for the replies.
I really don't know how it was originally finished. I suspect it was a dark faux wood grain. Anyone know how to do that?

Thanks for the replies.
I really don't know how it was originally finished. I suspect it was a dark faux wood grain. Anyone know how to do that?

One detailed technique:

http://www.xrestore.com/Pages/FauxWoodGrain.htm

First you will need to seal the plaster -

http://americandesigncraft.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/instructions/plaster_finishing.html?L+scstore+jwhr7348ff1b771b+ 1197276225

No affiliation or experience with this - just google hits.

Hope it helps,