Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi,

My nan passed away a few months ago, my gramp died some 20 years earlier. I loved them both very dearly, so when my mum asked me to help sort the bungalow and take a few things to remember them, I jumped at the chance.

I got the three ducks and mirror that lived above the fireplace and some beautiful glassware that they were given as a wedding gift along with some jewellery.

However, While my sister in law looked through cupboards my brother and I in typical style headed for the coal shed and garage! Honestly, I was like a pig in a puddle of mud and it brought back great memories. I have new pots, tools, a yard stick ...

So, on to the projects - I found my gramps old tool box which he made in the coal shed Along with some tins. Pictures below. I plan on turning it in to draws for my seeds storage - I think he would have approved. The back has woodworm so I'll replace and will treat the rest. It's not great wood, and worth zero to anyone else. Any good restoration tips much appreciated. Also, does anyone know how best to clean up old tins (they have a bit of rust on them, which I think adds).

Thanks

Pawty

Hi pawty, I don't think you could do a lot with the cabinet I would wipe it down with thiners then give it a light sanding maybe treat it with a stain that will kill the woodworm rather than trying to replace the timber the tins I've no idea about sorry, if the cabinet had been more professionally made you could take it to a French polisher but it is what it is very sentimental to you

Being mercenary the tool cabinet has a lot of sentimental value but no other. Tidy and Spruce it up and value the memories it holds.

Please do me, and yourself, a favour. Do not try and clean up the tins, it will do nothing for them other than probably end up making them look worse and deplete any value.

I was going to suggest that the tins might be cleaned up a little by giving them a good wipe with white spirit. I think tins like this are probably only useful for storage. I have lined modern metal tins such as Cadbury Roses Assorted toffees with a polythene bag and then packed in my runner beans in loo rolls to get them standing upright but they only last a couple of seasons before going rusty.

As Pa Snip says, I doubt you cant do much with the small chest of drawers. I think sometimes things like this were probably made by apprentice carpenters as a test of their proficiency. I don't know if this was one of those items.

Many thanks - I think theres hope for it.

It's fare to say my gramp was no great carpenter .... My mum looked in disbelief as I empiied the coal shed into my car..

But, it was made with love and has his character - worth more than anything else in my opinion. He was a gentle and loving gentleman. People put too much financial value on things rather than the actual worth - showing my age but I think these values are getting lost.

I think that the best I can hope for is that the chest stays in one piece. It's worth a try - I'll see what I can do and send an update.

My husband has yet to embrace the flying ducks......

Pawty

Pawty - have to confess, I'm with your husband over the flying ducks.
They were very common on walls when I was a kid. Virtually every living room you went into had those three flying ducks on the wall somewhere ! And all flying at an angle upwards. Never saw anybody have the imagination to have them flying downwards as if they were about to land on water!

The flying ducks now have me wondering which wall you have the murial on.
husbands name not Stan by any chance !!!

Ha ha! Primrose brilliant! My nan always had them flying downwards and she was told she was wrong!! You've made my day x

With the tool box, I would sand it down lightly, only to remove any rough bits, repair anything that needs it ( glueing joints etc) treat the woodworm, don't bother replacing bits. Then when you have done all of that, wire wool it ( coarse) the give it 2 generous coats of proper furniture wax. bri-wax is what I use. With a fine wire wool in between coats and a final buff with a cloth after the second. It will still have all the sentimental marks it has now, but will look 100 times better, and have a nice shiny finish.

They usually had a large mirror on the same wall

I would do even less restoration, if it's just the memories that are important.....treat for woodworm, then a good wax.

With old tin work, i just give a light spray with something like WD 40, and the a quick wipe over. But since these are old painted tins, i would certainly try a test area first, just in case it affects it.