How to Restore an Antique Radio Finish

Sand off the varnish topcoat.

Over time, the finish on an antique radio may fade or wear. You can restore this finish by adding a new coat of stain and varnish. Unfortunately, because most antique radios are already coated with varnish, they will not accept new stain. You will have to remove the glossy sealant, using friction-based abrasion techniques, or the stain will puddle and drip. Because stain is thin and watery, it is prone to messy splatters and drips. You should take special measures to protect surfaces beneath and around the radio, or you may permanently damage them.

Things You'll Need

• 120-grit sandpaper
• Tack cloth
• Professional painter's tape
• Plastic drop cloths
• Heavy-duty fabric drop cloths
• Oil-based stain
• 2- to 4-inch oil-based paintbrush
• Mineral spirits
• Varnish

Instructions

1. Sand off the protective varnish coat, using 120-grit sandpaper. Continue sanding until the antique radio's finish appears dull.

2. Wipe sawdust from the radio with tack cloths.

3. Protect any parts of the radio you want kept free from paint with painter's tape. Use scissors to cut the tape into smaller pieces if necessary.

4. Overlap fabric drop cloths on top of plastic ones. Place the radio on the drop cloths.

5. Apply a fresh coat of stain to the antique radio, using a paintbrush, specifically intended for applying oil-based coatings. Allow the stain to dry for two hours. Add additional coats if you desire a darker finish.

6. Wash stain from the brush with mineral spirits.

7. Apply a coat of varnish to the stained radio, using the clean brush. Do not over-apply, as varnish tends to sag. Wait four hours before you handle the radio.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use water to clean a paintbrush specifically intended for applying oil-based coatings or it will ruin it.

• Do not apply stain directly over varnish, or the stain will separate and ruin.