I asked AI. If there's something better please comment below. TIA
Question: Can you recommend good quality brands of wood polish mentioned in the list below for vintage KEF speakers from 1974?
(I live in Portugal, so please only European products)
• 1st. Furniture polish
• 2nd. Scratch remover
• 3rd. Wax stick
• 4th. Wood stain or varnish (for exposed wood)
Important considerations:
• Do not use polishes that contain silicone or excessive oil.
• Although it is most likely a varnish, try to confirm the original finish if possible. This will help you choose the right restoration products.
Answer: Absolutely! Finding quality products in Europe for the restoration of your vintage KEF speakers is perfectly possible. Since you live in Portugal, I will recommend some European brands that generally give good results for the types of products you are looking for.
It is important to note that the availability of specific brands and products may vary by store and region in Portugal. I recommend checking out DIY stores, furniture restoration stores, and some larger drug stores.
Here are some suggestions for European brands in each category:
1. Furniture Polish:
2. Scratch Removal Product:
3. Wax Filler Sticks:
4. Wood Stain or Dye (for exposed wood):
Important Considerations (to Remember):
Question: Can you recommend good quality brands of wood polish mentioned in the list below for vintage KEF speakers from 1974?
(I live in Portugal, so please only European products)
• 1st. Furniture polish
• 2nd. Scratch remover
• 3rd. Wax stick
• 4th. Wood stain or varnish (for exposed wood)
Important considerations:
• Do not use polishes that contain silicone or excessive oil.
• Although it is most likely a varnish, try to confirm the original finish if possible. This will help you choose the right restoration products.
Answer: Absolutely! Finding quality products in Europe for the restoration of your vintage KEF speakers is perfectly possible. Since you live in Portugal, I will recommend some European brands that generally give good results for the types of products you are looking for.
It is important to note that the availability of specific brands and products may vary by store and region in Portugal. I recommend checking out DIY stores, furniture restoration stores, and some larger drug stores.
Here are some suggestions for European brands in each category:
1. Furniture Polish:
- Borma Wachs (Italy): This Italian brand is well-known for high-quality wood treatment and finishing products. They offer a wide range of polishes for varnished furniture that are silicone-free. Look for products like “Borma Wachs Polish” or liquid waxes specifically for varnishes.
- Liberon (UK/France): Although this brand originated in the UK, its products are widely distributed in Europe. Liberon offers excellent wood polishes, including silicone-free options like “Liberon Beeswax Polish” (pure beeswax, which can give a soft shine to varnishes, but test first) or varnish-specific polishes (“Liberon Furniture Polish”).
- Blanchon (France): Specializing in products for wooden floors and furniture, Blanchon offers good quality polishes to maintain and enhance the shine of varnished surfaces. Check out their range of "Huiles d'entretien" (maintenance oils) or liquid waxes.
2. Scratch Removal Product:
- Borma Wachs (Italy): Again, Borma Wachs offers products specifically for repairing scratches on varnished wood, such as touch-up crayons ("Retouch Crayons") or fine polishing compounds ("Abrasive Paste for Wood").
- Liberon (UK/France): Liberon has products such as "Liberon Scratch Remover" which is formulated to disguise superficial scratches on wood finishes, including varnish. * Möbel-Reparatur-Set by Akemi (Germany): Although best known for stone products, Akemi also offers furniture repair kits that include materials for removing scratches from wood and varnish.
3. Wax Filler Sticks:
- Borma Wachs (Italy): Borma Wachs has a wide selection of “Wax Fillers” in various colors to repair deeper damage and scratches in wood and varnish.
- Liberon (UK/France): Liberon also offers “Wax Repair Sticks” in various shades to fill chips and scratches in wood furniture.
- Picard (Germany): Picard is a German brand known for tools and materials for craftsmen, and they offer wood repair wax sticks in various colors.
4. Wood Stain or Dye (for exposed wood):
- Borma Wachs (Italy): Borma Wachs offers a wide range of wood stains and wood dyes in a variety of colors and shades, ideal for touching up areas where the varnish has been damaged and the wood is exposed.
- Clou (Germany): Clou is a German brand specializing in varnishes, paints and wood care products, with a good selection of wood stains and paints.
- Sayerlack (Italy): Although more focused on industrial finishes, Sayerlack also offers high-quality wood stains and paints that can be found in specialty stores.
Important Considerations (to Remember):
- Confirm the Finish: If possible, try to confirm that the original finish is indeed varnish (which is highly likely for these loudspeakers). You can do this by checking whether the surface is hard, smooth and water-resistant. Varnish usually forms a thicker, shinier layer than wax.
- Avoid Silicones and Excessive Oils: The brands mentioned above usually offer silicone-free options. When choosing a product, read the description and ingredients carefully to ensure that it does not contain silicone or excessive amounts of oil, as these can interfere with future finishes or attract dust.
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AI? What a load of malarkey! 
Your speaker is apparently a KEF Cadenza (1970-1976) which sported a lovely teak veneer.
I find that a light sanding to remove any lacquer, and some buffing up using applications of teak or tung oil, works well in all but the most abused cases.
The trick is to build up the finish with multiple coats applied with a cloth after each successive coat has dried. The result is a finish that has a slight sheen.
Your speaker is apparently a KEF Cadenza (1970-1976) which sported a lovely teak veneer.
I find that a light sanding to remove any lacquer, and some buffing up using applications of teak or tung oil, works well in all but the most abused cases.
The trick is to build up the finish with multiple coats applied with a cloth after each successive coat has dried. The result is a finish that has a slight sheen.
AI has no taste…
A light sand, fill in deeper scratches with wax sticks and then oil.
Enough coats and it ends up with a chatoyant, lustrous satin finish which no varnish can approach.
A light sand, fill in deeper scratches with wax sticks and then oil.
Enough coats and it ends up with a chatoyant, lustrous satin finish which no varnish can approach.
New word for me, too! From bare wood, I apply three coats of polyurethane varnish with a roller eadch followed by a gentle rub with 600 grade abrasive paper, but on the final coat gently rubbed with 000 grade wire wool. A bit of ordinary furniture polish and it looks perfect. Perhaps not chatoyant, but pretty damn good, and certainly as good as most commercial finishes. And it's resistant to tea, coffee, beer, and whisky. I've done 40m of book shelves that way.
Now, I have a problem with the right bolts (UK)🔩🇬🇧
• Metric
M5x0.8 (32) - No
M5x0.5 (50) - ?
• Imperial
#10 3/16 (23) Coarse - No
#10 3/16 (32) Fine - ?
• Metric
M5x0.8 (32) - No
M5x0.5 (50) - ?
• Imperial
#10 3/16 (23) Coarse - No
#10 3/16 (32) Fine - ?
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KEF from that era would have used 2BA (British Association). BA fasteners are still commonly used by model engineers.
I offered the following information regarding suitable screws for affixing a B139 in a KEF Concerto in another thread, and it turned out to be correct.
Use a 3/16" (0.188") diameter BSF (BSF = British Standard Fine) screw which has 32 threads/inch.
You could (as EC8010 says) also use a 2BA screw (BA = British Association) which has a diameter of 0.185" and 31.36 threads/inch.
The two screw types are said to be interchangeable.
The attachment shows the original bolt (top) and the replacement bolt.
