11-12-2020, 09:58 AM
(This post was last modified: 11-12-2020, 09:59 AM by WoodworkerTom.)
So about 10 years ago I inherited an old cedar chest from my great aunt. No identification or anything so it's probably either a Roos Co or Standard Line chest. I had stripped it and did a wiping varnish for the finish. I ended up making a base for it and it is now a place to sit and tie your shoes by my front door.
Yesterday I see an ad on Nextdoor for a cedar chest, free at curb. I figured there's no way it's still there 3 hours later but went to check and alas it was. Top is loose because a few screws are missing, nothing that some cedar shims and wood glue cant fix. I am sometimes amazed at what people just throw away.
It looks very similar to the one I inherited and was made by Standard Line Co. The finish on top is worn, has some alligatoring, marker and paint on it. Finish looks like shellac to me and a drop of alcohol confirmed it. I am guessing amber or garnet shellac. The case is in great shape but the finish has raised a bit on the knots on the whole chest.
I was thinking of giving the top a light sanding with a 1/4 sheet sander and 220 grit and hit it with Sealcoat followed up by a flat nitro lacquer and hand sand the box, followed up by same topcoats.
This found piece will be a coffee table in the master BR sitting area.
Would I be better off using a stripper or would you sand it? Should I just stick with a shellac coat or will my plan with a final nitro coat work?
I did find evidence that the chest I inherited did have legs at one time so it could also be a Standard Line. In any case I just think it's cool that I got it. A few months ago I scored a haul of cedar, redwood and mahoghany from Nextdoor, so this was another success in an otherwise crappy year.
Yesterday I see an ad on Nextdoor for a cedar chest, free at curb. I figured there's no way it's still there 3 hours later but went to check and alas it was. Top is loose because a few screws are missing, nothing that some cedar shims and wood glue cant fix. I am sometimes amazed at what people just throw away.
It looks very similar to the one I inherited and was made by Standard Line Co. The finish on top is worn, has some alligatoring, marker and paint on it. Finish looks like shellac to me and a drop of alcohol confirmed it. I am guessing amber or garnet shellac. The case is in great shape but the finish has raised a bit on the knots on the whole chest.
I was thinking of giving the top a light sanding with a 1/4 sheet sander and 220 grit and hit it with Sealcoat followed up by a flat nitro lacquer and hand sand the box, followed up by same topcoats.
This found piece will be a coffee table in the master BR sitting area.
Would I be better off using a stripper or would you sand it? Should I just stick with a shellac coat or will my plan with a final nitro coat work?
I did find evidence that the chest I inherited did have legs at one time so it could also be a Standard Line. In any case I just think it's cool that I got it. A few months ago I scored a haul of cedar, redwood and mahoghany from Nextdoor, so this was another success in an otherwise crappy year.