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Fixing up an old tool box

3K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  Gerry KIERNAN 
#1 ·
I got this old wood tool box that had been stored in a dilapidated garage. The hinges are a bit rusty but work fine. The finish on the other hand has a bumpy texture like an orange all over the front. The lid of the box has vertical cracks in it that appear to go down to the wood. I was told by a non-woodworker that I just needed to use some orange oil on it to clean it up. I really like this though and do not want to ruin it. Can I get some advice on how to fix it up please?
 

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#2 ·
The face of the lid looks like a veneered face that failed. It appears to have been applied with the grain being vertical. It can't be salvaged. You can remove the face veneer with a chisel, bevel down, and just pare off the loose veneer. Or, you may have to use a mallet. Try not to score into the veneer edge on top of the lid. When it's all off, use a block sander and flatten the face. Then straightedge one long edge of a new piece of veneer, and glue it to the face, fitting the top edge to the underside of the veneer on the top. You could use a paper backed veneer and contact cement, or an all wood veneer and use TBII or TB III, using a piece of wood on the face clamping the veneer to the face of the lid. Use waxed paper between the blocking and the veneer. Use a smooth thin layer of glue on both the veneer and the lid.






 
#3 ·
Cool, thank you for the suggestions. The whole top is the most damaged part, that cracking is pretty much all over it. Maybe it would be easier to just make a new one. Any ideas how to get rid of the orange peal like texture that has popped up all over the front?
 
#4 ·
You should be able to remove the old mottled finish with a chemical stripper. I agree with Cabinetman about the top. Probably best to replace the veneer there. Just a thought on the old hardware: If you have any one who does glass bead blasting in your area you could have them blasted and either paint them or have them replated.

Gerry
 
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