While I am not a snapper, or a pin head, I admired several kit that I saw while at the Circus this fall. I remembered that my father had a couple in his garage and asked about them explaining what I had seen. He gave me one.
Here's what I got.
Now I need advice. The covering is a fabric. The whole box is covered with mildew and the corner braces are rusted. Most of the parts are screwed on. Should I just start dis-assembling and cleaning or is there a better way?
What should I use to preserve the wood? Should I keep the rusted parts and polish them or try to find new ones.
Ready to begin here in my little basement.
Posted by John Arnott (Member # 215) on :
I would just clean it and use it as is. Maybe fix the handle. I love to see well used old equipment still in use. Or sell it to me!
Posted by Mike Faig (Member # 6104) on :
not a chance. There's a tag on the inside :Firth-Sterling Steel Company".
[ November 30, 2006, 05:10 PM: Message edited by: Mike Faig ]
Posted by Bobbie Rochow (Member # 3341) on :
Mike, that is a really neat old kit! You said your dad had a couple in his garage. Was he a sign painter too? What a family heirloom that is!!!
Posted by Dale Manor (Member # 4858) on :
Looks good to me just the way it is....just needs a few signatures here and there.
Posted by David O'Hanlon (Member # 2754) on :
That's an Engineers Kit. Those drawer fronts look like silky oak. Do a little research onto it before you get into it. It may be worth more cleaned up than restored.
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Silky Oak is a peculiarly aussie tree (grevillia robusta), Dave, but you're right about the oak flecks. It could be french or english oak or any other oak in common use over there.
Posted by Russ McMullin (Member # 5617) on :
that sure is nice wood on the drawer fronts. I hope you can make use of it.
Posted by Bob Peach (Member # 2620) on :
I have an old machinists box for my kit. I used Formby`s refinisher to clean and protect the finish. The old rusted hardware buffed up nicely. I `d remove the fabric and stain and finish the outside of the box. New handles and mounting hardware are available from Gerstner. I epoxied the inside of the brush drawers to make them leakproof so brush oil wouldn`t get on supplies in other drawers.
Posted by Mike Faig (Member # 6104) on :
Top of the morning, Heads. Washed the front panel in just water and like the results. Need to get rid of the mildew smell if I can without damaging anything.
John, I like your suggestion to just clean it and use it.
Bobbie, Dad never was a sign painter, but he did work in a machine shop at NCR. His other box was a gift from his grandfather. It still has Great Grampa's tools in it. There is so much stuff in there you can hardly open the drawers.
Russ, have no fear. I'll put it to good use.
Hey Bob, the felt in the drawers is pretty nasty, I think if I can get it out, I'll epoxy.
Thanks for the input, everyone. I am going to enjoy this new project.
Posted by Bobbie Rochow (Member # 3341) on :
Let's see a pic when you are done cleaning it up!
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
I would disassemble the box. Wash all the wood with a Lysol solution. This will kill the mildew. Let dry throughly.
Those vinyl coverings always seemed to breed mildew. Have no clue as to why. Maybe because it traps the moisture in...
Use a small putty knife to scrape the felt out. You might try soaking some kind of solvent like mineral spirits in the drawer to soften up the crap in it.
Wear gloves. Mildew is a stink that will be a bugger to get off your hands. Man, I hate that smell.
Personally, I would paint the outside black and leave the drawers a natural color with a clearcoat of Varathane, etc.
Good luck with that!
Posted by Terry Colley (Member # 1245) on :
(((---Photo Not Coming likeness close enough
I with Bruce strip the vinyl off then paint it black, the oak on the drawers will come up well too. I am currently without a kit the last one RUNNOFT at the Sign Circus in Dixie however a letter to santa for a sheet of quarter ply has been posted and the new kit will hopefully be made in the new year Always have had a strange obsession with toolboxes.If you need any inspiration the Toolbox Book by Taunton press is a good read Cheers Terry
Posted by Mike Faig (Member # 6104) on :
Thanks Terry. I was wondering if I'd hear from you on this.You have inspired me. Yeah, and I love the brushes. And your pic looks remarkably like mine.
Posted by Mike Faig (Member # 6104) on :
Maybe you could post a "Dapper" likeness. I've said my piece and counted to 3.
Posted by Mike Faig (Member # 6104) on :
After some trial & error, here is the case. Turns out tap water was all that was needed to dissolve the glues holding the felt in the drawers and fabric to the outside. Let it soak for a few minutes and used a plastic lil' chisler to scrape. I didn't use any stain, just 2 coats of polyurethane. All I need now is a handle and a key for the original lock. All pieces were re-used with the exception of 1 drawer bottom and it was broken.
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Very nice.
I'll give ten bucks for it... OK, twenty. Posted by Dusty Campbell (Member # 4601) on :
I had a feeling that would turn out cool.
That looks GREAT! Good job Mike.
Posted by Randy Campbell (Member # 2675) on :
Had one just like it when I was in the trade.Nice job Mike.
Posted by Steve Racz (Member # 4376) on :
That looks great Mike!
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
That's a real thing of beauty!!
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
its beautiful, see what happens with a little elbow grease Posted by Dale Manor (Member # 4858) on :
Very nice Mike...now you need to bring it to a meet and let people and paint names all over it!
Posted by Bob Peach (Member # 2620) on :
Nice job Mike!
Posted by Sonny Franks (Member # 588) on :
It's beautiful Mike, and I bet your Dad is digging it too........
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
looks great Mike!
Posted by Nancie W. Phillips (Member # 3484) on :
WOW! That's plum purty!
Posted by jake snow (Member # 5889) on :
There ain't no paint on it ....Oh its for your squeegees Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
Very cool, Mike!
((Jake, you still have to be careful... sometimes you get those little scraps of vinyl pieces stuck on your box, it can be quite tedious to peel them off...))
Posted by jake snow (Member # 5889) on :
Posted by jake snow (Member # 5889) on :
oops...my bad
[ March 23, 2007, 01:39 PM: Message edited by: jake snow ]
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
Can I send you mine to clean up?????
Nice job!
Joe,
Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
Posted by Terry Colley (Member # 1245) on :
(((---Photo not comung likeness close enough
Nice job you have done there Mike. I have started on the new kit this week to replace the one given away at the Dixie Circus, lots of drawers and other stuff built in to this one ,it will be my best and last kit that I make, given 3 away to date , thats enough! Cheers Terry
Posted by Mike Faig (Member # 6104) on :
Thanks everybody. Dad did say he was proud and he thanks all of you for your nice comments. He did not ask for it back, yet. But when he does, maybe he'll trade me for the other one and I can do it all over again.
Posted by Dana Stanley (Member # 6786) on :
That looks really cool Mike. Makes me want to trade my Craftsman steel box in for an ole wooden one. I have an old carpenters chest that was my grandfathers in original condition with some finish tools too. My dad was born in 1913 so its pretty old.
Posted by Duncan Wilkie (Member # 132) on :
Nicely done Mike. That's a great looking kit there.
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