Model 19 veneer care?

[juniper]

I've made up a mixture of bees wax and linseed oil before, but I've never used it on speaker cabinets. I did it for a vintage-ish commercial grade credenza that I purchased for my TV/audio cabinet. The results are mixed. It darkens the scratches a bit too dark, and it doesn't give much of a shine. It does look better then before, However. It could be that it isn't the best to use on whatever the original finish is........ maybe a lacquer?

It would be nice knowing what the original Altec finish is? I think they called it oiled walnut? It does appear there is a poly type sealing on top of the oil though.

[VolvoHeretic]

I've made up a mixture of bees wax and linseed oil before, but I've never used it on speaker cabinets. I did it for a vintage-ish commercial grade credenza that I purchased for my TV/audio cabinet. The results are mixed. It darkens the scratches a bit too dark, and it doesn't give much of a shine. It does look better then before, However. It could be that it isn't the best to use on whatever the original finish is........ maybe a lacquer?

Was that boiled linseed oil or raw. I can imagine that the linseed oil isn't drying and allowing the bees wax to be polished to its real shine. I believe that all waxes are just wax dissolved in a solvent which then evaporates, leaving just the wax to then be buffed out. Car wax should work great. Even Thomsons water seal is just wax dissolved in a solvent, works great until the wax wears away. I guess you should use a good wood finish oil first, let dry completely and then wax with the product of your choice.

[Altec Best]

It would be nice knowing what the original Altec finish is? I think they called it oiled walnut? It does appear there is a poly type sealing on top of the oil though.

All the literature i have seen just says hand rubbed oil.But IMO there is some stain mixed in with it as well.My oak cabs have a very light stain looks kinda like (Orange) in color a bit but the veneer has like little birdseyes/tigers streaks in it.Georgeous IMO ! If you look at the top of the cabinet you can see what I'm talking about,just above the horn to the left and right.

[Nipper]

Very nice AB!!!

How long have you had those?

[Nipper]

I have a pair that are similar to Nipper's. They were "Pledged" by the original owner for their entire life and that has been how I've continued to take care of them. They look great but are considerably darker than when new. Nothing wrong with that and I will probably just continue treating them this way even though the proper care for a hand rubbed oil finish is an occasional recoat and wax.

I also have another pair that when I got them were completely dried out and sun bleached on top. I kept the Pledge away from them until I was ready to refinish so as not to put any silicone into the dry veneer. Recently I pulled all the components and started the refinishing process. I thoroughly wiped them down with mineral spirits to strip the dirt, hand oil/sweat and mystery chemicals out of the veneer and then sanded them with 220 grit and feathered out a few superficial scratches. I then followed this procedure which I highly recommend. Super Smooth Oil Finish | Article | Woodworking While I'm not quite done, I can tell this is a superior method and the results of wet sanding are well worth the extra effort. This is going to be the same as the factory finish but even better because of the extra care, time and effort that Altec couldn't spend on them in an assembly line setting. I'm using Watco Medium Walnut Danish Oil but I'm sure the Light Walnut would look just as good if you prefer a lighter and more golden look, I opted for the Medium which is a little richer.

Super Smooth Oil Finish | Article | Woodworking

Thanks for that article Timoteus.
I could be wrong but most wood oxidizes eventually and turns darker with age.

[Audio_by_Goodwill]

Was that boiled linseed oil or raw. I can imagine that the linseed oil isn't drying and allowing the bees wax to be polished to its real shine..........

I think I used raw, but I'm not 100% sure, as I have both. Bees wax isn't all that hard. It certainly doesn't look shiny in block form, so I kind of assumed it was just the nature of the material. Mixing bees wax and linseed oil isn't something I came up with all by myself. I'm sure I read about it someplace.

[VolvoHeretic]

Try this;
How to Make Beeswax Polish | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/how_7242460_refi...ax-polish.html

[Panomaniac]

My father was an excellent carver in his youth. I grew up to the smell of bees wax and turpentine. 50 years later those pieces still look good. Not high gloss, though.

[Altec Best]

I've never used the Watco Danish oil so I can't comment on it,but I have used Howards and love it.Similost on Audiokarma has used both and heres his take.

AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums - View Single Post - How to spruce up Dynaco A25 cabinets

[juniper]

Altec Best, are those klipsch speakers on top of your 19's?????? Your 19's are very nice!!!!!!!!!! I tried the the feed and wax great advice. I will post some pics if I can figure out the protocol?