repair or replace veneer on gramophone?

[jack620]

This Gramophone was made in the USA. The pictures show the damaged area. I've also included a pic of the timber in the hope someone can identify the species.

I've never attempted to repair veneer before. I don't know whether to repair the damaged area with a new piece of veneer and attempt to match the grain/colour/finish, or completely replace the veneer on the top. I've no idea what the timber is. It doesn't appear to be American Oak.

Appreciate any advice.

[China]

Being such a small section i would repair, you may have totally fabricate a piece to match, i.e. physically colour and draw grain

[jack620]

Thanks. Do I cut off the damaged area to give a sharp edge to butt the repair piece against, or do I shape the new piece to match the damaged edge?

[russ57]

I believe trimming would be normal.20191104_164637.jpg
This is a poor image of a singer sewing machine which I believe is American oak, not greatly different from your sample.

[China]

Trimming with straight cuts will be more difficult to disguise, however trimming to match the damage will be more difficult to execute although
will result in a less noticeable repair

[auscab]

You have a Mahogany veneer there Jack . Coloured up a bit with a dark stain that's killing off the typical red . A bit of the true colour can be seen at the edge of the break where the bit is missing . The wider picture with the red circle also shows a typical Mahogany grain pattern with the dark and light bands of opposing grain direction that you see on the quarter with Mahogany and also on Mahogany types or look a likes seen here in Australia like Red cedar and QLD Maple . Being Made in the USA though its Mahogany . If it Had a made in Australia badge on it I'd be saying it looks like Mahogany but is possibly Qld Maple .

How big is the missing piece ? From the close up with a guess it looks like an inch square . The picture with the red circle makes it look half as big which is good .

If You clean that up with a sharp chisel as a square and add a new piece it will stick out more than if you cut a straight line diagonally across and get a nice clean straight single join . Your making it larger though . So just a square may suit?
After fitting a piece and getting it dead level and smooth you will also find its a larger repair . A bit of colour matching and finish matching, up to the same level then blending it in with the whole top by re finishing the whole top is the way to go if you know how to do that.

If not that then you could have a go at just touching up and trying do do the almost impossible and match the shine and texture of that old finish just in that corner. Either way those old Varnish finishes can be pretty tricky sometimes.

Rob

[jack620]

Thanks all for the help.

You have a Mahogany veneer there Jack. Coloured up a bit with a dark stain that's killing off the typical red.

Thanks Rob,
As well as the stain there are about 90 years worth of wax and grime. I had a go at cleaning up the back panel. Rubbed gently with a grey Scotchbrite and Danish oil until all the crap was removed. It looks MUCH better. The red colour has come through and it has a silky smooth finish.

How big is the missing piece ?

About 15mm square.

If You clean that up with a sharp chisel as a square and add a new piece it will stick out more than if you cut a straight line diagonally across and get a nice clean straight single join... A bit of colour matching and finish matching, up to the same level then blending it in with the whole top by re finishing the whole top is the way to go if you know how to do that.

I reckon I will cut on the diagonal and colour match/refinish to blend the repair as you suggested. I have a piece of mahogany to cut a veneer off. And I have some walnut spirit stain which I should be able to dilute and slowly build up until the desired colour is reached. And then spray the top panel with Mirocat I think.

[jack620]

You have a Mahogany veneer there Jack . Coloured up a bit with a dark stain that's killing off the typical red.

Indeed it was. It was finished with shellac that appears to have been coloured with walnut stain. I found a lump of mahogany in my offcuts box and cut a thin slice off it to make the repair. The whole gramophone has now been stripped and refinished with super blonde shellac.

[riverbuilder]

The repair insert should be a long diamond shape. With the long part going along the grain

[auscab]

Indeed it was. It was finished with shellac that appears to have been coloured with walnut stain. I found a lump of mahogany in my offcuts box and cut a thin slice off it to make the repair. The whole gramophone has now been stripped and refinished with super blonde shellac.

Looks great Jack. Minimal disruption . It even has some grain lines matching . The glue line can be a tricky one to disguise.

Untitled.png
To go further with hiding patches I do this .

I drew this to show two ways of disguising the glue line . One is the existing grain lines coming down or up in black . They can be continued across with a fine line cut in ( Red )with a chisel in after the first coats of shellac have been put on . Then a little dark water colour with a tiny amount of glue can be rubbed in , let dry and wiped off leaving lines looking like grain . Rubbed in ash with a touch of glue works too .

The other thing is colouring the glue line out in random spots like I did in between the grain with yellow and red .
Small amounts of colours mixed with shellac and a the finest brush possible. Match the background colour with some yellow oxide mixed with burnt sienna or what ever it takes .You do it down low in the polish job and cover it with a few brush coats to seal it in , then continue polishing. You don't try to colour the whole line out as this can create another thing for the eye to pick up on . Just go along in random parts and break it up with tiny dots and lines.


Rob

[jack620]

To go further with hiding patches I do this ....

Thanks Rob. Some good tips there.