Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Identification, Repair & Restoration => Telephone Troubleshooting and Repair => Topic started by: Tonyrotary on September 13, 2009, 08:33:21 PM

Title: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Tonyrotary on September 13, 2009, 08:33:21 PM
I have spent probably about an hour and a half polishing total on my F1 handset. I still have a bit more to to do on the mouthpiece cap. I have pretty much removed the pits on the handset. And I do notice the surface is smooth and has a dull shine on it. However, I do want it shinier so as to match the plastic case when I finish it.

I know Phonesrfun mentioned the tung oil finish technique and I bought the stuff he mentioned in another thread to give it a try. Not really going for a super shiny finish but want a nice shine. However, while searching for the tung oil varnish, I thought about polyurethene. From what I know about poly, it is a tough finish and I am wondering if that would be a better choice for a phone? Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Phonesrfun on September 14, 2009, 11:27:58 AM
I wondered the same thing, but I have not tried it.  What I do know is that the poly would dry a lot faster.

The paint job on my K-900 is going slowly as I keep getting runs.  I opted to paint it because I did not want to go through the waiting periods of the tung-oil method, but I am a week into the painting process and so I have gained nothing by painting. 

Unfortunately, my painting skills lag far behind my electronics skills.

Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Tonyrotary on September 14, 2009, 06:46:01 PM
Well Bill, yesterday I applied the first coat. And as careful as I was to try to apply a light coat, I still got a couple of runs. Not too bad but noticeable. So I am patiently waiting for it to dry. The can I bought says it drys in 12 hours. I checked it recenty at about 16 hours and it seems dry. Do I have to wait the full 72 hours? And will the 0000 steel wool be enough to smooth out the runs? I have some 800 grit wet sandpaper if that is what is needed.

Oh as far as your painting skills go, remember the more you do it the better you get. I am sure your 900 will turn out very nice as you seem to have the patience to see it through.
Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Phonesrfun on September 14, 2009, 07:21:25 PM
I don't know the asnwer to your questions, so I am going to try to find the original information when I get home tonight in a couple hours.

Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Phonesrfun on September 15, 2009, 12:15:54 AM
Tony:

Mine did take a full three days to go from tacky to dry, but I won't argue with success.  I did the kind that would normally brush on, but I applied it by rubbing it in by hand, literally with my fingers.

I searched and did not find the original recipe I used, but now I do remember it was in regards to refinishing old bakelite radio cabinets.  Radio manufacturers used lots of bakelite in the 30's through the 50's.  Just now doing a Google search of  bakelite tung oil I find some references to using this method, but I do not see the exact article I used.

I also posted a question on the TCI and ATCA listserves to see if anyone remembered the article.  One person did confirm that it may be in regards to old radios.

If you have a run, then wet sanding may be the answer.  Right now, I am in the midst of painting the K900 body with black paint, and I am wet sanding with 1500 and 2000 grit wet sandpaper, and I plan on following this up with polishing compound and then doing the Novus 3,2,1 thing on it.

I will continue to look through stuff on my computer for the article.

-Bill
Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Tonyrotary on September 15, 2009, 12:53:04 AM
Bill,

Thanks for the help. I carefully checked a corner to see if it was totally dry and found it still a bit tacky so I will let it dry another 24 hours. The brand I have tells me to apply it either with a lint free cloth or a foam applicator. I used a foam applicator brush. I almost thought of using my fingers but all I have for cleanup is simple green. Which actually works with a little effort. But knowing my luck somehow I would have gotten the tung oil all over my hand....lol.

So far with just one application I already have a shine. Almost looks like when the bakelite was new. To say I am happy is an understatement. Restoring phones is a brand new hobby to me and I am glad this forum is here with people ready and willing to help.
Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Tonyrotary on September 17, 2009, 10:52:39 PM
Well I finally managed to remove the runs, but in the process I think I removed too much of the varnish. So I used 0000 steel wool on the whole handset removing most of the varnish. To apply another coat I used A piece of old cotton shirt and applied a super thin coat, let dry,  used the steel wool to smooth out the varnish, and applied a another super thin coat. I steel wooled it again and then buffed the handset with a cotton shirt and I got a decent shine! I ran the ryobi buffer on it with the soft polishing pad it comes with and an happy to report good results.

I think I may stop here as I don't want to much of a deep shine. I will post a couple of pics shortly. Currently working on the caps right now. Oh using super thin coats enables the tung oil to dry quickly. About 8 hours and its totally dry.
Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Phonesrfun on September 17, 2009, 11:52:18 PM
Excellent.  I would like to hear more as you continue.

Thanks for the update.

-Bill
Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: McHeath on September 18, 2009, 12:35:44 AM
An interesting and hopefully useful process, I look forward to seeing your results and also how it wears over time. 
Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: bwanna on September 18, 2009, 08:42:46 AM
very interesting. i would not have thought to use tung oil on the bakelite. may be a good idea for bakelite handles on furniture, too. (art deco furniture, that is :o)

how about wearing a thin cotton glove over a thin latex glove. this might give better control of application, while keeping your hand clean. ???
Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Tonyrotary on September 18, 2009, 08:32:09 PM
Okay, here are some pics to show you what has been done to the 302 so far. Yesterday I took apart the phone and started on the case. I had to use steel wool on it and also wet sand a couple of areas to include the famous corner crack that seems to happen to these models. The crack has almost fully disappeared after the repair. Also the case is not fully done yet. I had to reassemble the phone as right now there is not much room for leaving a dissassembled phone around till we move next month.

As you can see from the first photo, the hanset was cleaned and somewhat polished before the tung oil treatment. The second photo gives you an idea of the tung oil treatment. As far as durability we shall have to see with daily use how it holds up. So far I cannot seem to really scratch the surface with a fingernail with moderate pressure. A thin cotton glove over a latex glove would work but with the piece of t-shirt just dipped in the oil only really the tip of my finger gets the oil on it and it wipes of cleanly. But good idea Bwanna!

(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e399/tony50ae/IMG_1545.jpg)

(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e399/tony50ae/IMG_1558.jpg)
Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Phonesrfun on September 18, 2009, 08:37:43 PM
Looking real good, Tony!

Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: bwanna on September 18, 2009, 09:22:18 PM
very nice, tony.
didn't mean to sound prissy girly with the gloves and all. i myself usually end up with varnish or whatever all up my arm. :o  GOOP hand cleaner is good for clean up ;D
Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Tonyrotary on September 18, 2009, 11:48:55 PM
Thanks Bill. This is my first restoration job. On the other phones I have just had to clean and polish them to make them presentable. Oh and replaced the fingerdial on my GTE wall starlite phone. Thanks to Dennis for suggesting Phoneco to me as they had the part. I still have a bit of work to do. I have to finish the case and the caps. Also one of the leather feet is torn so I want to redo all the feet. Also the porcelain dial is a bit worn especially the number 1 almost completely gone. Have to paint the dial too. I feel good overall though. I am hoping to be done with the phone by mid October.

Donna, you didn't come off prissy at all....lol. In fact I was worried about getting varnish all over me too. 

Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Dan/Panther on October 13, 2009, 11:51:09 PM
Quote from: bwanna on September 18, 2009, 09:22:18 PM
very nice, tony.
didn't mean to sound prissy girly with the gloves and all. i myself usually end up with varnish or whatever all up my arm. :o  GOOP hand cleaner is good for clean up ;D

I have a feeling you smoke cigars.... ;D ;D ;D ;D
D/P
Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Phonesrfun on October 14, 2009, 12:02:54 AM
Tony:

There is a collector named Dennis Hallworth that has developed a side business at recovering phone foot-pads, and the 302 is one that he does.  Pretty inexpensive, and I hear he does a good job.  I can fish his e-mail and other information out, however I think he said in another forum that he was going to be on vacation for a couple weeks.

-Bill
Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Dan/Panther on October 14, 2009, 12:51:06 PM
Tony;
OR you could try this.... :o

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=822.0
Easy, cheaper, and more pride when finished.

D/P
Title: Re: Restoring a shine to Bakelite
Post by: Dennis Markham on October 14, 2009, 01:59:23 PM
As Bill said Dennis Hallworth does a great job.  I have had him re-rivet recovered pads on a couple 500's, recover 302 foot pads and also a 202 base.  I highly recommend him.  I have mentioned him on the forum a few times so a search of his name will reveal his information.  Here is the last link:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=1185.0

I also read a few days ago that he would be away for a few weeks.  I have a box waiting to send to him.