Wood Tool Chest Repair

[johnsironsanctuary]

I scored a 7 drawer wood tool box on Craigslist Friday.  It needs more than a little TLC, but it was very cheap. Using a stapler to fix broken glue joints is an approach I would not have thought of.  The bottom drawer is MIA, But I think I can make one. This box is very worn and filthy, but the cheap drawer bottoms say that it is at least post WWII.  What do you guys think?

 Questions:
1.  Has anyone seen one of these with fiberboard drawer bottoms? Era?

2. It needs lots of regluing.  What is the best technique for getting the two prong clinch rivets out of the corner braces.

3. Is there a source for new rivets?

4. Does anyone recognize the handle design? There are no markings. This looks like a cheap alternative to a good Gerstner.











BTW, Thanks Papaw for the new Honorium. I was eating a banana for breakfast when I first saw it and damn near choked to death laughing. Guess that would sorta fit.

[scottg]

Nice little box! Looks to be chestnut. Sorry about the staples. That's pretty cruel.
 Haven't seen pressboard bottoms. But not a big fan. Old roadsign aluminum is free when you find it (hint).
Cuts a dream with ww tools (goggles would be good here)........  I love it.
 
  Spit rivets can be pried out pretty easy. Replacements come in  box of 100. Look around even a little. Every old downtown hardware store still in business will have them.
Just stay out of the plastic-warehouse, and you'll be ok.
  yours Scott 
   
 

[RedVise]

Cool box, would love restore another one, but they are hard to come by at a reasonable price.

For most items needed see this guy. Pricey but good stuff.
http://machinistchest.com/site/

Also, seach GJ for restore hints, there are several threads in the various forums.

I used brass screws,nuts and bolts when I redid mine. Not authentic, but looked good to me.

Have fun !!

Brian L.

[RedVise]

John this wont help you, but for future reference, ScottG has a nice write up on rebuilding handles on GG.
I will add that link when I find it. Heres the link.
http://www.thegaragegazette.com/index.php?topic=3466.msg102567#msg102567

I do have a drawer (Union brand possibly) if you are interested.   19 x 9 3/8 x 2 7/8
John, lots of pics as you work on this box !!!!   Thanks

Brian L.

[BruceS]

Wrong hardware to be a Gerstner.  I'm thinking Yale.

[Branson]

I wouldn't have thought of staples, and I still won't think of them.  Pull them out and re-glue.

If that's chestnut, the box is almost certainly older than post-war.   The chestnut blight wiped out chestnuts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut_blight

[johnsironsanctuary]

I started to disassemble last night.  The fron cover came apart easy. The staples did no harm other than the small holes. I'll glue it today.

Redvice, the drawer that you have will fit, mostly. I'll have to use my electric drawer shortener to get the 9 3/8 down to 7 5/8. Not a big deal. The only catch is that if I use that drawer, I won't have the storage hole for the front cover unless I cut down the height of the drawer.  Does it have the thumbnail molding detail on the top of the drawer front? Can you send a photo?

The latches are 'Eagle Lock'.  The base piece and the top tray are plywood. Another age clue.  The drawer slides are formed sheet metal angles held in place in a novel way.  They used 1/4" split rivets with one leg bent back so that when it was driven into a blind hole, the bend would catch and hold.

Scott, the aluminum suggestion appeals to me, but the drawers are pretty sound and if I don't have to pull them apart, I'll leave the fiberboard.

There is a patch of green felt on the floor of the chest on the right side. Was this to protect the finish on the front cover?

[RedVise]

The only catch is that if I use that drawer, I won't have the storage hole for the front cover unless I cut down the height of the drawer.  Does it have the thumbnail molding detail on the top of the drawer front? Can you send a photo?

Well, you will already have your electric drawer shortener warmed up....


The front of the drawer is not close, but the back is a blank slate...

Here are the pics.

Brian L.

[RedVise]

John, how goes the box ?  Pics ???


Brian L.