Garrard Zero 100 Plinth cosmetics.

After the Zero 100 was repaired (here and here) I was left with a very tatty homemade plinth.

The plan is to tart it up and make it something that Mrs Doz will tolerate...

Let's remove the old existing veneer.

First up is to steam the veneer with a clothes iron, and a damp cloth. This should soften the glue. You can then start to work a knife blade under the veneer and slowly remove it. Try to work along the veneer, not splitting it, warming and working your way along as you go.

This veneer is obviously held on with some synthetic (rather than animal) glue, as it was quite tough. Nice thick veneer too... pity it was poorly done. This didn't aid removal!



So after a couple of hours work, we've not got a tatty plywood box. At least it's square...











Now I did consider some black and white plastic laminate, but initial experiments weren't very successful.. wood it is ... but I still want something "different" for a very different turntable...

I experiment with a strip of the available veneer, and some water based stains. I like the ebony, but a straw poll of Mrs Doz, and my neighbours, Suzie and Steve, and anthracite comes out top...

The stain comes from eBay seller letspack_uk , and comes as a small sachet you mix up with hot water, and allow it to cool before applying.





The plinth is veneered, and stained in 4 coats of the anthracite.











This is after 4 coats of stain, and 2 coats of finishing oil with many more to come! After each coat, the finish is flatted back with some fine wire wool.

About 20 coats of finish are applied, carefully flatting back after each one. The result is a lustrous finish. 

The Turntable is mounted solid, as the suspension is missing it's foam dampers (probably long since rotted away), and unlikely to help. 

Rather pleased with the end product :)