Sanded through veneer. Repair options?

[CougarXR7]

Hey everybody,

I recently picked up this Telechron 602 clock and wanted to restore it. It wasn't running and I quickly found out that nobody had worked on the internals in many decades; perhaps never since it left the factory. The B2 rotor was locked up with tar-like grease, but I was able to clean it out, add new oil and seal the housing up. It runs great!

The next step was to remove the old shellac finish and restore the wood. I was able to sand everything down and I quickly discovered that somebody had burned through the veneer on the upper housing. It wasn't me because I was being very careful. Whoever did this was able to hide it by using a dark-tinted amber shellac, and they used a LOT of it. I couldn't see the veneer damage through the old finish.

I will attach photos to illustrate the extent of the damage. The last photo is of the clock running after who knows how many decades!

Do I have any options for repairing this veneer?

602old1

• CougarXR7
• May 1, 2016

602old2

• CougarXR7
• May 1, 2016

602old4

• CougarXR7
• May 1, 2016

602sand1

• CougarXR7
• May 1, 2016

602sand2

• CougarXR7
• May 1, 2016

602sand4

• CougarXR7
• May 1, 2016

Damaged veneer.

602new1

• CougarXR7
• May 1, 2016

Running with restored B2 rotor.

 

[Lavane]

On small areas I've just stained to match. But those are kinda large. It doesn't look like the face is effected though. I would probably put a new piece of veneer over the sides and top.

 

[4-2-7]

Do I have any options for repairing this veneer?

Yes send it to me and I do a proper finish on it and touch-up all the burn throughs.

Really you have a big mess there and without scolding you, never sand the finish off. Use chemicals on old stuff because sanding removes all the old fading and old character that the wood got over time. You can't truly get that back...well unless you wait another 100 or 50 years.

I'm a professional furniture finisher for over 35 years and I'll bring it to the shop and finish it right. I can give it that old brown/golden mahogany look and air brush the edges and base out how they where high lighted and done when new in the 30s

You pay the shipping both ways and I'll do it for free.

 

[biscuithead]

yep, new veneer. Or match the over-sand on the other side for symmetry and go with the look.

 

[Chip Chester]

4-2-7 wrote: "You pay the shipping both ways and I'll do it for free."
Run, don't walk, to UPS. 4-2-7's gunning for member of the year repeat -- don't stand in his way!
But seriously, kudos on a generous offer.

Chip

 

[CougarXR7]

That is a very generous offer.

The finish on this clock was unusual. It didn't really have any character so somebody took care of it for many, many years. It did, however, have several large gouges and scratches that must have happened right before I acquired it. I tried to blend the original finish into the scratches by cutting it with denatured alcohol, but it just didn't look right. That's when I decided to sand everything down and do a total refinish. It isn't a super-valuable piece so I felt the risk was low.

I think I might add some tapered oak columns at all four corners, which would hide the damaged veneer. It would give it kind of a gothic look, so I don't know how I feel about that. I'm beginning to think that this clock used to have columns and somebody removed them, because the photo below is of one with the same model number.

 

[CougarXR7]

Here is the progress I've made so far. After cleaning and rebuilding the rotor and movement, it runs and keeps perfect time.

I went ahead with refinishing the housing with the plan to fabricate a set of wood columns to be added. These will be stained to match and will cover up the bald spots in the veneer. This clock was one step away from being tossed into a dumpster because it didn't run, but I'm glad I was able to find it and bring it back life using all the original parts.

 

[4-2-7]

I'm beginning to think that this clock used to have columns and somebody removed them, because the photo below is of one with the same model number.

I think your totally right about this, because the base sticks out quiet far on the left and right side. If they where not originally there the base would only protrude out like the front.

This clock was one step away from being tossed into a dumpster because it didn't run, but I'm glad I was able to find it and bring it back life using all the original parts.

Good Job