Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Identification, Repair & Restoration => Telephone Restoration Projects and Techniques => Bakelite Repair & Polishing => Topic started by: 19and41 on April 18, 2016, 01:39:11 PM

Title: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: 19and41 on April 18, 2016, 01:39:11 PM
I had found a 500 set that matched my birthday (9/56) and the hazy pics looked like someone had varnished it using the impasto technique.  Should it get a relist, is such a condition reversible in a manner that is not too severe in effort and risk?
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on April 18, 2016, 06:54:09 PM
I would use Easy Off for that. If it's varnish, Easy Off should remove it with no problem, although the plastic finish may be duller when you're done, so you may need to put a little more effort into polishing.

Congrats on getting a birthday phone!!! ;)
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: TelePlay on April 18, 2016, 10:25:13 PM
Quote from: 19and41 on April 18, 2016, 01:39:11 PM
I had found a 500 set that matched my birthday (9/56) and the hazy pics looked like someone had varnished it using the impasto technique.  Should it get a relist, is such a condition reversible in a manner that is not too severe in effort and risk?

Did you get it (do you have it) and if so, can you post photos of the finish?
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: 19and41 on April 18, 2016, 11:20:27 PM
No, the sale ended and the seller hasn't relisted it.  At least not yet.
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: 19and41 on April 19, 2016, 12:12:42 PM
It just went back up.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/272216729717?ul_noapp=true
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: 19and41 on April 19, 2016, 06:13:42 PM
The pic on the auction shows a bit more detail than trying to post the thumbnail.  The first image shows the stuff to it's best advantage.
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: andre_janew on April 19, 2016, 06:55:15 PM
I have this strange notion that someone wiped it with cooking oil to make it glisten!
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: 19and41 on April 19, 2016, 07:05:35 PM
Now that is a happy thought!
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: TelePlay on April 19, 2016, 08:31:11 PM
It looks too splotchy to have been spray painted. And if so, not very heavy by not a very good paint.

Actually, the second photo shows the splotchy surface (in the yellow circle) better. The finger wheel in that photo looks better without the glare. First photo looks like two hot bulbs were used to illuminate the phone, one from high left and the other from high top, which seems to be causing the glare on the finger wheel.

Less than $50 for a birthday phone that need some TLC?  . . .     your call.
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: 19and41 on April 21, 2016, 04:28:57 PM
Well I inquired as to whether it had 4 feet or not and it does, so I got it.  Maybe I can set a candle on it this September.   :D
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: TelePlay on April 21, 2016, 06:41:05 PM
Quote from: 19and41 on April 21, 2016, 04:28:57 PM
Well I inquired as to whether it had 4 feet or not and it does, so I got it.

Congrats, and don't forget to post the before pictures once you get it.

Quote from: 19and41 on April 21, 2016, 04:28:57 PMMaybe I can set a candle on it this September.   :D

Only 1?   ;)
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: 19and41 on April 21, 2016, 06:58:54 PM
I'll make it a plumbers' candle.   ;D
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: 19and41 on December 15, 2016, 06:43:49 PM
I have gotten much of the case as polished out as well as it can reasonably be taken.  The spots on it left small pits in the surface, but are not too distracting.  I polished out the age haze on the plastic molding under the dial and the base looks acceptable albeit with a torn footpad. The base housing appears to be dated 1954.  I found a handset with a much better appearance than the worn and spalled handset currently on it.  I got a new dial card assembly on sale from Old Pnone Works.  Iput it on line a few days ago, unseating my AE 40 and is seems to be a much more cheerful sounding phone.  It too only provides the basic numerical conversion with the Dialgizmo.  The rotary phones I have tried so far only have 1/3 the audio level heard at the distant end as the DECT 6.0 phones I must use for memory dial and the *and# functions.  These are used in conjunction with a OOMA Telo unit.
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: HarrySmith on December 15, 2016, 06:58:28 PM
Pictures??
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: 19and41 on December 15, 2016, 07:12:08 PM
Let me see what I can come up with this weekend.  :)
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: 19and41 on December 16, 2016, 06:55:03 PM
Here are a few pics of where it stands right now.  One is of the base housing and how it has shined up so far.  there is another showing the rough texture of the bakelite handset that came with it.  The new handset is a soft plastic, more like the base housing.  another pic shows the cruddy, but otherwise intact handset cord that I am going to take a shot at cleaning.  I've opened the dial mechanism and flushed out the governor with some 91% isopropyl alcohol, and put a dot of mobil 1 on each of the drive bearings.  it sounds much better.
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: HarrySmith on December 16, 2016, 07:49:48 PM
WOW! Nice job on that base, looks great. The handset shows improvement but a plastic one would be much easier to get the same shine on.
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: 19and41 on December 16, 2016, 08:00:30 PM
Thanks!  That Mother's mag polish did nicely on the plastic. The "new" handset for it much more closely matches the base.
Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: 19and41 on December 17, 2016, 01:33:30 PM
Cleaned and installed "new" handset after cleaning the crusty handset.  Cut a plastic hanger to hold the curly cord while the scrubbing bubbles worked on it.  It cleaned up well.  You can see the handset better matches the phone.

Title: Re: Question About "Finish" Removal
Post by: HarrySmith on December 17, 2016, 08:30:49 PM
Look great, nice job!