1800's Tool Box | ||
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Posted 6 years ago
Mike78
(23 items)
I was given this old tool box and was told it was from the 1800's. It's very large. No markings or labels.
Not sure if I should restore or leave as is. Any suggestions?
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I'm not sure what you could do by way of "restoration" that would make it look any better or make it more valuable. It has a great "look" and aside from vacuuming out the debris and washing it gently with a cloth and turpentine, which may remove some of the paint spatters, I would leave it alone. Whatever you do, please do not paint or varnish it.
You could make a "table" with legs and a top which just fits between the two bottom rails, and set it on that to make a wonderful storage piece.
Thanks UncleRon. I was thinking after some cleaning, maybe a light sanding and some tung oil to bring it back a bit.
Thanks blunderbuss2.
LOVE it! The way the maker bent the hinges to fit and fashioned the handle. I wonder if the small hole in the handle was for a rope or strap to go thru so the tool box would stay still in the wagon and not bounce around.
I have my grandfather's home-made tool box which he probably made in early 1900s. I cleaned it and very lightly sanded it, being careful to leave every sign of use- I only wanted to get rid of splinters. Then I used several coats of paste wax. It looks great.
I got a local welder to make a stand for it so it is same height as my living room end tables. I keep antique tools, bottles or other "finds" in it. It's beautiful and a nice reminder of my granddad.
Yours is very special with the interior shelf!
Did he make the hasp out of one of the hinges?!
I think I’d wash it down with turpentine and
put a little oil on it
And get the spiderwebs out of it and that’s it
Look KooL as is !
You can't fake 100+ years of natural weathering and aging, and once you sand it off or cover it with any kind of varnish, tung oil, etc., you can Never get it back.
Great advice guys. I will consider all before moving forward with this project. Thanks again!
ABSOLUTELY AGREE w/UncleRon. Clean it gently with vacuum/compressed air (carefully w/turpentine if there are greasy spots, and/or the paint spatter) then find someplace to display it *just like it is*. As Watchsearcher suggests, a simple, unobtrusive steel (or wooden) frame could easily be made to hold it up off of the floor, where it could become a wonderful 'showcase' for other interesting old tools or otherwise cool little things??!! :-) :-)
Thank you very much AnythingObscure. I've grown to love it even more since the original posting.
Thanks hunterqlee, ho2cultcha and frisco.
Boiled linseed oil is the natural resin from trees and will give new life to old wood without damage. ONLY BOILED LINSEED OIL. Raw linseed oil will never dry and would remain sticky. Darn nice old box.
Thank you sir. I will absolutely try that. And thanks to all for all the tips.
Thanks yougottahavestuff!