Ugh, another project courtesy of my daughter's mother-in-law.  When they moved, she gave my daughter an old cedar chest.   It has been a project!  MIL is famous for giving them something that I have to finish up.

First problem is that the front legs (turned) were about half gone due to dog chews.   Well, I don't turn, so I broke them apart, stripped the frou-frou, and made tapered legs and plan to move the legs that are in reasonable condition to the front, and the tapered ones to the back.

 

Then on to stripping and cleaning the carcase.

 

Next issue is the top has more frou-frou, a scrolled piece on each end and turnings all the way across the back.   It was hard to strip it and get much of it off, due to the frou-frou and tight clearances.  So I removed it and then can get under the scroll work and joints.

 

Then on  to scraping and sanding the concave profiled edge trim.

 

Spent all afternoon today cleaning up and sanding just the back piece.   I finally, after several hours, found that the turned pieces were just a bit loose in the ends.  So I took them apart.  Then I sawed off the turned parts from the squarish center.  Put them on the Shopsmith in lathe mode and sanded like a turner.  I'll have to drill out and add some dowels to rejoin.  But at least the sanding went faster and I could get into all the little concave areas.

 

Next will be the base cabinet.  I wish it would be easier, but there are two large C-shaped scrollworks, and a raised panel of burl veneer.  And base molding all around. More fussy frou-frou cleanup.

 

 

 

All the panels are walnut veneer and all the frou-frou is poplar.   Another challenge down the road in the finishing stage.

 

Let's just say, it was way easier for the factory to spray on some finish and toner than it is to get it all off.

 

I do hope daughter appreciates it.

 

I wish I'd taken "as is" pictures.  Here's some in-progress.

 

It looks like a Lane chest from the late 1960's.  It appears you are doing a good job on the restoration.  Looking forward to the finished product.  

No, it's not a Lane, there is a tag inside with another name.

The dogs really did a job on that leg!

oops!....dropped some solvent on it and it caught fire...  sorry. 

That leg looks more like it was attacked by a  beaver than a dog!

On to the carcase and more frou-frou.  Scrape, sand, repeat.

Edited October 29, 20205 yr by kmealy

That is a nice looking chest, any idea on the age?  I bet it's going to be a gorgeous piece when you've done your magic with it.

1 hour ago, Cal said:

That is a nice looking chest, any idea on the age?  I bet it's going to be a gorgeous piece when you've done your magic with it.

No idea of age or even who originally bought it.  My son-in-laws grandparents went into a senior center a few years ago and it might have come from them.  His grandmother is now 94.

Connersville Mfg, Connersville, Indiana

 

Probably not in existence any more.  The area has been in economic decline since the 1960s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connersville,_Indiana

Hah, found out some more info.  MIL (my age) said it was given to her grandmother by a friend, who then gave it to her mother, who then gave it to her.   The companies occupying the building had similar names as each went out of business, but this mfr appears to be the one in business from 1928 to 1931.   It was interesting in that some of the joints and chips were patched with pink putty. And the brads are all hammered and not pneumatic.  The finish was highly crazed and did not seem to be shellac based on some tests, so that confirms post WWI is likely.  Most of the joints are screwed together.   From the pieces I took apart, it was put together with hide glue.  The other interesting thing is they finished the top, then applied the frou-frou top rail.  That makes sense to get an even coat in all the hidden areas.  I'll do the same.

 

http://www.historic-structures.com/in/connersville/connersville_furniture.php

 

Anyway, did the final 150 sanding today, reassembled some of the removed parts, and got the stain on.  Will dry until at least tomorrow, but probably Monday as the weekend is pretty scheduled. I used General Finishes spiced walnut that I had and seemed the best match in some trial runs.  I don't as a rule stain walnut, preferring its natural color, but there are 3 or 4 secondary woods that need blended.  Poplar, soft maple, cedar, and maybe more. 

 

Next step is to put on some shellac to seal it in and get some chatoyance, then some w/b finish and most likely some w/b glazes to get the colors consistent between the woods and highlight that frou-frou.  Preliminary guess is to add a bit of red (Burnt Umber) to some places and some warm brown in others.  

As I've said before, I use a stain to get me to the right church and glaze(s) to get me to the right pew.  I prefer them to toners because I can manipulate the intensity much better, even add a couple at once when needed.   And they help create an "antique" (read: dirty) look.  It will help with the spots that I could not get all the old color out.  With this much detail, spraying finish is a must.  It would probably take 2 hours to brush and get it even and about 15 minutes to spray everything.  The light wood on the carcase is just the bottom that is cedar.  It's in front of my finish light, so it appears much lighter than it actually is.  Shellac is also the best for cedar as its natural oils will soften most finishes.

 

When I'm all done, I plan to sand the inside cedar to refresh the smell.

 

Edited October 30, 20205 yr by kmealy

Some beautiful work, and alot more of it ahead.  

I think most of the hard work is over.

Interesting info that you dug up Keith, and good write-up on your process so far.

Progress report:

Got a coat of SealCoat shellac on Sunday afternoon.

Got it sanded and a coat of EnduroVar (W/b clear finish) on today.

The variety of secondary woods needs some adjustment, so once the EnduroVar was dry, sanded it and selectively applied "warm brown" and "burnt umber" w/b glazes.  They need to dry overnight before coating.   Will probably need another round of glaze, but we'll see what it needs after the next clear coat.

 

Talked to my daughter's mother-in-law and got some more information.  A friend gave it to her grandmother, who then gave it to her mother, who gave it to her, who then gave it to her son and my daughter.  So 4th generation and if one of her girls gets it in their room, 5th.   Narrowing down the company a little more, it appears it's from 1928-1931 when the company name was active.

Have a bit more hardware to reinstall (lock and hinges), then it's ready for Xmas.  I'm satisfied with the color match on the 4 or so secondary woods to the walnut veneer.

 

Looks like it just came off the show room floor. great job. the contrast on the end panels really makes it pop.

Nailed it!!!!

 

Since you said you don't turn, how did you restore the legs?  They look good as new from the picture.  

 

Also, how did you strip the old finish off?  

Certainly is a first class job, well done!