Gerstner Leatherette Restoration

[pocosso]

Guys,
I new here and I am exited ti post for the first time.
I found few months ago a nice Gerstner Toolchest on eBay, it need some restoration but case and structure is quite in good shape.
I removed the leatherette as it was covered by some non original one. Now I have a big problem, I am in the process to order from Gerstner the original hardware (not sure yet if I decided or not to keep the current one, but I will order it anyway), problem is that the leatherette roll is not included in the free shipping program and I am in Italy, it will cost a huge Fortune shipping to Europe will cost almost 300 USD.
My dilemma is now: can I find similar leatherette in Europe? What would you do? Should I stay with the original one or just look for one locally?

 

[RTM]

Here in the US there are places that sell something called tolex which is often used to cover electric guitar amplifiers and things like that. Also, if you could find a musical instrument repair shop that does electric guitars they may be able to help as well. My US examples

https://www.amplifiedparts.com/search/node/Tolex?categories%5B0%5D=Grill%20Cloth%2C%20Tolex%20%26%20Piping

Guitar Cabinet Tolex & Tweed

Shop premium Tolex and Tweed for amp and cabinet coverings. Classic look, durable protection, and professional-grade materials.

mojotone.com

 

[pocosso]

Thank you! I was thinking about something like that, would the pattern match the Gersner one? Second question, which weight should I go for? Medium or light?

 

[RTM]

Thank you! I was thinking about something like that, would the pattern match the Gersner one? Second question, which weight should I go for? Medium or light?

Maybe match, your eye needs to pick what you like. Some definitely won’t, and that can be a conscious choice. This red crocodile pattern may not match, but what a statement it would make.

From this link on eBay from Fabric Empire outlet

https://ebay.io/m/a7y712

Fabric is usually measured in weight per area (ounces per square yard here). Looking at 54”x 2.5 yds gives 3.75 sq yards. At 5# shipping weight, approximately 21 Oz/ yd.

Google AI say Tolex runs 18-22 oz/yd.


Tolex, the durable vinyl-coated fabric used to cover amplifiers and speaker cabinets, typically weighs between 18 to 22 oz/yd²(roughly 510 to 625 g/yd²). [1, 2, 3]


Standard amplifier Tolex specifications include:

• Width: Rolls are almost universally 54 inches (1.37 m) wide.
• Weight per linear yard: A 1 yard × 54 inch cut of medium-weight Tolex typically weighs around 1.5 to 1.6 lbs (24 to 26 oz, or about 0.7 kg).
• Thickness: Usually runs right around 0.7 mm. [2, 4, 5]

If you are looking to purchase Tolex for an amp repair or custom cabinet build, you can find various textures, weights, and continuous cuts available from Amplified Parts or West Coast Pedal Board. [2, 6]
If you tell me what type of amplifier or cabinet you are covering, I can help you estimate exactly how many yards you will need to complete your project.

AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/rolex/comments/11brl9f [2] https://electronics.alibaba.com/question/tolex-explained-what-it-is,-uses-how-to-choose-right
[3] https://electronics.alibaba.com/buyingguides/tolex-guide-how-to-choose-apply-amp-covering
[4] https://www.ebay.com/itm/126614773979
[5] http://www.kldguitar.com/Navigation/Resource/VinylTolex?name=FenderTolex
[6] https://www.kosovo.ubuy.com/en/product/L07DKGMK-tolex-amplifier-cabinet-covering-vanilla-cream-nubtex-18-wide-x-1-yard

 

[Ohio Andy]

Sorry I have no useful information, but what a cool project. Keep us updated as you progres

Welcome to the forum.

 

[pocosso]

Today I cleaned the back panel, the front lid and the cover.
The top Cover has still the Hardware as the rivets were probably reused, the way they are holding in the wood require me to remove those from the head to preserve the wood. tomorrow I will use the drill.

Old Leatherette has been almost all removed and the animal glue almost gone, I had to re-glue the dove tails as some were a bit loose.

i have a lot of marks given by the pneumatic U needles, everything will be covered by the leatherette but what would you do? should I Use some filler?

I also reglued and pressed the back panel it seems recovering the original consistence and it looks hard enough to be reused. Decision to use a new one is still postponed, I will try to fully recover this one bere giving up and go for a new one.

Keep you posted on my progress...

 

[four.cycle]

Knowing that product is available in Red Crocodile makes me want to own one of those boxes now.

 

[RTM]

Knowing that product is available in Red Crocodile makes me want to own one of those boxes now.

Get your own Gerstner, the ones already stripped are cheaper, and buy the Alligator tolex, and away you go. One of my buddies who's a musician turned me on to that other stuff and said my recently purchased gerstner would look really really hot set up like a rock musician's amp.

 

[AEAdam]

I feel like any vinyl would work equally well. I bought remnants at a fabric store cheap and have done different little upholstery jobs with them.

If I lived in Ravenna, I think I’d look for scrap materials maybe from automotive upholstery or maybe scrap leather!

You just want the thin cheap stuff with faux grain or pebble texture

 

[mslim]

Take a look at the "Levant" covering as used on the Marshall amps. It has a smoother pattern than some of the fender tolexes and, I think it's available in a nice green. Check out guitar amp suppliers in your country. If you have a choice go with the thinnest version of the material you can find. The corners on the gerstner will be tighter than the average guitar amp.

 

[pocosso]

Progressing. The Back panel was completely delaminated and very humid, I soaked it and regaled the layers, surprisingly it recover the original stiffness and rigidity.
I will rebuild the lower edge, that is completely missing in the external layer, with the propoxy wood paste, then sand it and will see if I can reutilize the back panel instead of using a new one.

 

[pocosso]

Another step, I rebuilt the edge with the Kwikwood, It came extremely nice, Now I need to concentrate in the drawers until I do not get the hardware from Gerstner.

No Rush, it is a long term project but I am happy of the progresses.

 

[pocosso]

Guys, one question, you can see in the wood there are the marks of the lines decorating the Leatherette, how can I do, once covered, to apply those lines? Are these done with some kind of hot metal?

 

[hailwood1965]

Guys,
I new here and I am exited ti post for the first time.
I found few months ago a nice Gerstner Toolchest on eBay, it need some restoration but case and structure is quite in good shape.
I removed the leatherette as it was covered by some non original one. Now I have a big problem, I am in the process to order from Gerstner the original hardware (not sure yet if I decided or not to keep the current one, but I will order it anyway), problem is that the leatherette roll is not included in the free shipping program and I am in Italy, it will cost a huge Fortune shipping to Europe will cost almost 300 USD.
My dilemma is now: can I find similar leatherette in Europe? What would you do? Should I stay with the original one or just look for one locally?

I'm convinced more every day that this is a site for tool fans, not guys who actually use tools.

 

[manwithtools]

I'm convinced more every day that this is a site for tool fans, not guys who actually use tools.

What is wrong with wanting to restore a vintage machinist tool box that could get used to store some vintage machinist tools? That post comes across as very rude, particularly to a new member asking honest questions!

 

[manwithtools]

Guys,
I new here and I am excited to post for the first time.

Welcome, cool project. Ignore any of the naysayers you might encounter. Most of the folks here are pretty friendly and helpfull. Good luck, I'm thinking of making my own Gerstner box from scratch.

 

[Beerhippie]

Get your own Gerstner, the ones already stripped are cheaper, and buy the Alligator tolex, and away you go. One of my buddies who's a musician turned me on to that other stuff and said my recently purchased gerstner would look really really hot set up like a rock musician's amp.

Wouldn't you then have to change the knobs to go to eleven?

 

[Ohio Andy]

I'm thinking of making my own Gerstner box from scratch.

I built a couple boxes. Very satisfying. Mine are larger than a Gerstner in general.

 

[RTM]

Guys, one question, you can see in the wood there are the marks of the lines decorating the Leatherette, how can I do, once covered, to apply those lines? Are these done with some kind of hot metal?

So, I'm thinking those may not be original. I have a chest, already stripped, and a case, w the leatherette still intact. Both pictured below. I'm wondering if those marks were someone trying to dress up the ugly wood. Did you see marks or folds in the stuff you removed?

Neither of mine has folds or marks there, and this one on eBay shows a smooth top.



Ebay



The online Gerstner video on how to do this shows a single Tee shaped piece for the case, so again no reason for those to be fold marks on the tops. The top overlaps the side, and the fronts excess all folds "in" to the inside flat faces.

Not sure about the chest, but I assume the top is one piece, and the carcass a second. Again, all folds go to the inside.

 

[Beerhippie]

I can see the detail features the OP shows on his in that pic.

 

[AEAdam]

Guys, one question, you can see in the wood there are the marks of the lines decorating the Leatherette, how can I do, once covered, to apply those lines? Are these done with some kind of hot metal?

I thought that was done with some sort of roller that looks like a tiny pizza cutter (sorry for the reference). But how you just compress the vinyl? maybe it dents the wood.

I'm kinda picturing you doing this with a product like 3M Super 77 adhesive and just using upholstery tacks and staples in the corners.

In my grandfather's days the door to door salesman was a real way to spread the new brands to areas wide and far.
He sold Electrolux vacuum cleaners.

Snap-On among others took that model to shops with a payment plan in 1923.. it worked. Tools back then were hit and miss on quality. Metals used in tools varied from iron to alloy steels that rival the best of today.

Snapper didn't use the best, they used a cheap enough alloy that was better than its rivals of the day but still wore out. Thus the warranty system and date codes to prevent abuses.
Your other brand tools broke, it's on you.

Nice examples survive, I have two. A 1927 MTD made ratchet and 1925 5/8" socket wrench.
Well used and abused examples ended up in scrap drives if too far gone.

In a day when the tools in your T tool kit were, umm, adequate at best SO offered well above Henry's contract tool quality. And it came to your shop with an ever so helpful salesman. As if his livelihood depended on it.
A legend was born.

As mentioned above import tools have become much better in the century that followed. The sales model kept them above the rabble even if the actual quality differences may be near zero.

Wherever shall I find replacements for my Knova sockets? If I don't lose any I won't need to. They hadn't worn out in 20 years of wrenching.
Or my 15 yo Wurth wrenches? They haven't worn sloppy either.

It's getting harder for SO to use that sales format to maintain the image of prestige they had. HF owns the US toolbox market. Import tools that last are eroding the new sales.
Not dead yet, but they need to reach beyond the tool truck and directed sales into the mass market to survive another century.

I think the lines the OP is talking about are on the lid in this picture. @Beerhippie beat me to this.

FWIW, I always thought these vinyl covered boxes were attractive. I've always wanted one.

 

[RTM]

I can see the detail features the OP shows on his in that pic.

I think the lines the OP is talking about are on the lid in this picture. @Beerhippie beat me to this.

Dang, better eyes than I, and maybe a bigger picture too. Will have to go climb up in the storage rack and look harder at my two.

I thought that was done with some sort of roller that looks like a tiny pizza cutter (sorry for the reference). But how you just compress the vinyl? maybe it dents the wood.

Probably heated as well, which night transfer the color at the same time.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

Gerstner has quite a few leatherette wrapping and restoration videos on youtube.
I watched a few of their videos years a go to learn how to tolex/ upholstery amplifiers, furniture and ect.
I don't know if it is a tolex type material they use or not but tolex doesn't stretch very well without distorting and stretching the material texture without heat.
I would imagine you might be able to get those indented lines with a hair dryer and some sort of brass roller used in leather work.
I preffered Dape Original Weldwood contact cement for that type of stuff
I would also fill and sand any imperfections in the wood with 3m Bondo autobody filler

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

One of a couple test patterns I did on a guitar amplifier head