Hi Guys,
Is there a repeatable way to split the top layer of veneer from the rest of the ply sheet for an early 1930's radio?
It appears to be rabbit skin glue since the radio was submerged during the SE Qld floods 2012,
and is now falling apart at the joints and base, but not so much the ply where I want to remove a veneer top
to replace with a good sheet from another slightly larger AWA cabinet.
Cheers, Art.

Well all it took was more water! I will be able to PVA it to the radio I'm restoring.
It's still extremely brittle if you do this.

I was going to suggest perhaps asking on a woodworking forum.

This might not work for radios later on, but I know this one falls apart with water.
I can only imagine similar glue was used between the ply sheets as the glue holding the whole thing together.
The top came off, as did the middle shelf, and the base with the turned legs on it.
Fortunately I have all parts, even the little wood blocks used around the place to support things.

I also live in Ipswich right in the thick of the floods and couldn't go to work at the time, but fortunately my home was not affected, so in that regard it looks like a safe place to keep radios ;)
I think even for a long time person in the hobby this one would be a very tough case.

Coming in a bit late, but...

If the veneer layer is brittle, some heavy repeated rubbing in of linseed oil may restore some flexibility to the fibres and protect from splitting or the lignite-seaparating damage water can do. You might need to sand off lacquer to get the linseed oil to absorb.

Linseed oil used to be a compulsory liniment for cricket bats - I don't know what they do now, probably throw them away after a few hours and buy a new one.

Maven

Linseed oil used to be a compulsory liniment for cricket bats - I don't know what they do now, probably throw them away after a few hours and buy a new one.

Test-level players often show up and matches with five or six bats in their kit. I often wonder why. Is it to show off or is it the case that no two bats are the same even when they are? If a member here is also a cricket aficionado they may be able to fill us in on the finer aspects of that humble kilogram of English willow.

A good way to get veneer off is with a wet towel and a steam iron. Be careful not to burn one's self or the towel though. The moist heat softens the ancient glues used to assemble cabinets in those days.

Yes, lol I have broken it already