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Veneer repair - matching finish?

R

rallycat

Active Member
I have a marantz case that is 90% good to ok - some scratches, but easy to sand & refinish - except for the big chunk broken out of the top rear where something heavy was dropped on it. I know I can rout out & piece in some MDF to rebuild the case & then add a piece of veneer, but I'm not sure what will match. I've been told the marantz veneer is walnut, but all the walnut I've seen is darker. Can walnut be bleached somehow? Alternative wood - like mahogany? I can live with a patch being noticeable, just not screamingly obvious.

If patching isn't practical & I reveneer the whole case, should I lay the veneer over the existing stuff or should I strip it? I'm thinking that trying to strip off the good veneer could easily trash the case completely.

Thanks,
Tom
 
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Interesting dilema. If it were me... I'd shim up the void is and reveneer. You can use wood filler, or epoxy putty, or a piece of veneer to fill the void. Then when you reveneer, the hole won't telegraph through the new veneer.

I suggest reveneering because trying to match/fit a piece in is one of my least favorite things to do. Check out eBay for veneer. You can usually get something that tickles your fancy without having to buy the whole tree.
 
Typical problem with those WC22 cases. I have cut across the old veneer to get a nice clean straight edge, then glued on walnut veneer. Try and pick a piece from the lightest part of the flitch, then stain the whole case after it has been sanded.

Rob
 
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Perhaps Merrylander can correct me -- but it seems that old cases have turned more red because the finish has yellowed. Raw walnut is VERY brown.

As to reveneering -- if its solid, don't mess with it and veneer over it. Bondo can be an excellent, time effective fill material.

dew.
 
The walnut Marantz (and others) used was quite brown when compared to Black Walnut (got a back 40 full of them) so I am not certain where they got it, but as dew noted it will change with time due to the finish. Side note, I have a Marantz price list somewhere, the WC22 case originally sold for $29.95, bit different from what they bring on eBay.

Rob
 
I've heard that the Japanese electronics companies used an Australian walnut for their cases. That's why the North American varieties don't match. I don’t know for sure that this is true.

- Pete
 
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