New to me box

[Thumper68]

I kinda forgot that I had bid on this in a local online auction, when I checked e-mail today I see that I "won" this for the small sum of 101.01 my max bid.

Personally I feel that I got lucky, most of the time when I bid online and forget about it I don't get the item.





Still have to see what all is in the drawers when I pick it up tomorrow.

Oh they still make this chest found it on the gerstnerusa.com site

 

[FJ 432]

The picture is hard to see the condition but if you got an older Gerstner for that let me be the first to say you ****!

 

[Thumper68]

I will post up better pics tomorrow after I get the box.

I almost **** a brick when I looked at the price of a new one. I also noticed that they sell replacement parts if it needs any repair.

 

[Thumper68]

I picked up the box today, I'm kinda happy with it, Okay I'm ecstatic, yes it needs some TLC so far I have just emptied it out and given it a quick cleaning with Murphy's Oil Soap.

From what I can tell it was built between 1940 and 1942.

Here is some of the stuff that was in the box (Heavy as hell btw)






Better pictures of the box.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Nice looking box, always thought the old wood boxes were cool.

 

[dcbullet]

Wow, is that your kitchen counter...?

 

[Thumper68]

The questions I have now are:
1.Clean the rest of it up fix the few issues it has so it can be used?
or
2. strip, refinish it and have the fixtures replated?

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

The questions I have now are:
1.Clean the rest of it up fix the few issues it has so it can be used?
or
2. strip, refinish it and have the fixtures replated?

Looks like it's in nice shape, I wouldn't even consider refinishing it.
I don't see any issue with the existing plating.

 

[Kevin54]

I'd refinish it and bring it back to like new condition.

What are you going to do with the tools that are in the drawers?

 

[Zeke]

First try a solvent clean up. Don't know what the Gerstner original finish was but most likely varnish. After some mineral spirits use a little alcohol and finally try some lacquer thinner on the drawer sides. You should be able to pull most of the oil stains out.

Then evaluate. The dark wood where the finish is gone can be returned to natural with oxalic acid or a simple chlorine bleach. A fresh coat of varnish will turn the box back to a nice golden color.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

When I was researching what to clean a Gerstner box with everyone seemed to recommend Murphy Oil Soap. It worked very well for me.

 

[Thumper68]

I'd refinish it and bring it back to like new condition.

What are you going to do with the tools that are in the drawers?

I figured that I would put them back in one of my drawers until I get a lathe, them pull them out and use the hell out of them.
Except the magnet with the on off switch, that I will use on the drill press, table saw and a few other tables I have been wanting one for awhile.

First try a solvent clean up. Don't know what the Gerstner original finish was but most likely varnish. After some mineral spirits use a little alcohol and finally try some lacquer thinner on the drawer sides. You should be able to pull most of the oil stains out.
Then evaluate. The dark wood where the finish is gone can be returned to natural with oxalic acid or a simple chlorine bleach. A fresh coat of varnish will turn the box back to a nice golden color.

Thanks for the tips, it's been awhile since I refinished anything with a varnish finish. All my recent refinishing projects have been painted and required a good stripper and lots of elbow grease.

When I was researching what to clean a Gerstner box with everyone seemed to recommend Murphy Oil Soap. It worked very well for me.

That's what I did right away, always my go to for any wood that needs to be cleaned.

 

[Cab037]

That's a beautiful box. I love those old oak boxes.

 

[Thumper68]

That's a beautiful box. I love those old oak boxes.

Thanks

 

[bgarrett]

while looking thru the toolbox I bought, I found a toolroom checkout slip from 1950

 

[Thumper68]

while looking thru the toolbox I bought, I found a toolroom checkout slip from 1950

That's cool, here is the dating info that I found.

https://sites.google.com/site/theguidegerstnertoolchests/home