[Steve Davis]

Hi Joe
If you ask six people how to finish a radio, you will get six different answers.This is the way I do it. I start with a couple of thin coats of clear lacquer to seal the wood. Follow that with grain filler. I use Behlen brand oil base grain filler (water base may work just as well, I just haven't tried it). I dye the filler with Behlen Solar-Lux stain. I prefer to tint the filler a little darker than the base wood. Rub the filler on with a rag, then rub the excess off across the grain. Let dry, then sand smooth. I now spray three or four coats of clear lacquer, followed by more sanding, then two or three more coats and more sanding. My goal at this point is to have a smooth finish, as smooth as it will be in the end. The reason for this is, the next coats are tinted and must not be sanded. I also use the Solar-Lux stain to tint my lacquer. I can usually get the darkness I want in two or three coats. Finally I finish with a couple of coats of clear lacquer a light sanding and two more coats.

Steve