How to Restore Wood Finish on Antique Radios

Antique radios work well with country or vintage decor.

Antique radios have wood casings that may become grimy or scratched over time. If you have an antique radio in need of restoration, you can refinish the wood surface to bring new life to your piece. The project only requires a few inexpensive supplies. Once you have restored the antique radio, displaying it will create an interesting conversation piece.

Things You'll Need

• Old newspaper
• Feather duster or soft cleaning cloth
• Glass jar with lid
• 1/4 cup gum turpentine
• 3/4 boiled linseed oil
• Wide-mouth glass jar or clean can
• Steel wool, #0000 grade
• Soft, lint-free cleaning cloths
• Brazil nut or walnut (optional)

Instructions

1. 

   Place newspaper on your work surface.

   Place newspaper on a work table or other surface to catch any drips.

2. 

   Dust the radio

   Dust the antique radio with a feather duster or soft cleaning cloth.

3. 

   Pour the boiled linseed oil and turpentine into the glass jar.

   Pour the boiled linseed oil and turpentine into the glass jar. Screw the lid onto the jar and shake it well.

4. 

   Pour 1 cup of hot water into a wide-mouth glass jar or clean can.

   Pour 1 cup of hot water into a wide-mouth glass jar or clean can.

5. Pour 1/2 cup of the turpentine and oil mixture on top of the hot water in the wide-mouth jar or can.

6. 

   Dip the pad of steel wool into the mixture.

   Dip the pad of 0000 steel wool into the mixture.

7. 

   Follow the grain of the wood when rubbing the surface with steel wool.

   Rub the steel wool over the wood surface of your antique radio. Use back and forth strokes that follow the grain of the wood. Continue until you have cleaned the entire surface.

8. 

   Polish the radio with a lint-free cloth.

   Polish the antique radio with a soft, clean lint-free cloth once you have cleaned it. The gum turpentine removes build up of waxes, polishes and cleans any soil and stains. Linseed oil restores the wood by moisturizing it and refinishing any worn or bare spots.

Tips & Warnings

• Crack a fresh Brazil nut or walnut and rub the meat over any scratches in your wood surface. Follow the wood grain, and then buff the wood with a soft cloth. The natural oils in the nuts darken the wood and hide scratches.

• Gum turpentine and boiled linseed oil are available at hardware, discount and home supply stores.

References

• Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Cleaning, Repairing and Reconditioning Wood Furniture
• Good Housekeeping: Quick and Easy Fixes for Damaged Wood