Anyone know the best product to buy to use making fake woodgrain on metal? Looking for a walnut burl to re-do the small front panel of My midwest 16-35

I'm very interested in this as well.. I've got an old Freshman and the metal
face is worn all the way through in some spots. I already bought the real
veneer to install over top of it. I gave up on painting it or even "touching it up"
I wonder how they did that back then?? think maybe it was a stamp ?

Rich...

A couple of thoughts come to mind. There is some threads on this site regarding a super thin wood veneer made for use through laser or inkjet printers. Something like that, or maybe even a more nominal thickness veneer with a 3M adhesive spray, perhaps? Even comes with adhesive pre-applied and you just iron it on.

Or maybe sticky backed shelf paper, if you could find a decent wood grain pattern? Long shot on good looks with this thought though...

did you see this you tube video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rSZHQkfUFw

Andrew

One of my old 'tricks' is simply to lay down brown spraypaint and then, once FULLY CURED, start slopping some stain around on it. You can achieve a more exotic and/or natural look than with the 'forced' pattern of a tool like that ZAR grainer, though it is nice to have.

That's how it was done in the old days, for the most part.

"Jdee" had visited the forum a few years back. His method prints on a pattern using a etched metal plate. Sread ink on the plate, pick it up on a soft roller, then apply. His work is amazing, and is not cheap. One could possibly buy just what was needed to do your own radio woodgraining on a small scale

Watch the videos and you might some ideas on what s needed.
http://www.woodgraining.com/woodgraining.html

Wow ! That's exactly what I would like to do. I wonder the cost ?

Rich...

His prices are on the site. But I think you may be able to have him put together a basic set for you. Let him know that you came from the ARF radio website.


I think most of his kits are geared to restoring woodgrain on dashboards, etc. I believe the DeLuxe dashboard kit is aound $600, but there should be smaller kits available. Contact Jdee.
The most important parts is the etched plate. The roller is a very soft gummy silicone I think.
Supposedly this is the way a lot of dashboards were painted back in the day. No paper to glue on etc.

I just got a quote from them. I have an old Freshman Masterpiece with a 7" X 18" wood grained metal face ( that is worn off around the knobs )
They quoted me $100 plus Shipping.. Not the best price, but for that special radio, it's very do able.. Too bad I've already bought the burl veneer to just overlay it. The entry level DIY kit is $349, but that's just one plate, so you're very limited on the pattern choice ( every radio you own will have the same pattern on it )

Rich...

I think I will just laminate a sheet of veneer over it. Thanks to all for responses, I am also going to try my hand at the painting method.

I bought a zenith awhile back like this one that has the photo finish on the front speaker grills pretty well destroyed I was thinking of trying this product to redo it.The burled wood grain looks good for some other radios I have too.
http://www.berlinwallpaper.com/dcfix/Woodgrain.htm

Hi Rich,
That's probably a good price. I think his dashboards usually run around $1200+
I know the quality will be there from what I have seen. Jdee is a perfectionist, and it shows. You saw the woodgrain work on those station wagons on the site?

I think he sells seperate plates, in case you wanted a burl, then a straight grain pattern Even though the patern would be the same, some folks wouldn't know. If you use different colors and such, you could probably make each job look different.


I was just thinking, if a person used an actual piece of wood with a good grain pattern, could one spread ink on that, and use it for a pickup plate? You'd have the woodgrain picked up by the roller.
Just a thought. Take care.

I don't know if any of you would be interested (I'm not directly affiliated with him) but there is a local guy here who does artwork for a living. His woodgraining is AMAZING. He showed me about 10 samples once, and I thought they were all sheets of veneer at first.

If anyone is interested in him doing something for you (I can vouch for him) just send me a PM and I'll give you his contact info.

That might be a more economical way to go. I know there are many out there that can do the woodgraining by hand using all kinds of tools/ brushes.
The net and Youtube is loaded with tutorials on how to create your own.