Jewellery Box
I don't get many 'day jobs' - that is, jobs that only take a day to complete.
Friend Jenny Boler bought this box locally for a few pounds.
I removed the brass to clean and polish while she restored and relined the interior.
The hinges were in good condition only requiring a clean and polish - as did the screws.
The lock was missing it's key and the keep had been broken, possibly forced, though there was no damage to the wood around the lock, so how it broke is a mystery.
A new key was filed down to fit though one of the two strikers had also been broken, so only one eye is actually needed.
However, for authenticity, I hand made a new brass keep. I had to replace the three screws as the originals were beyond saving.
The lock itself also needed new (second hand) screws.
When Jenny brought her finished work to have the brass refitted, I suggested that I should clean and repolish the exterior as the lovely brass stringing and other decoration was tarnished and tired.
I used 0000 grade steel wool dipped in pure methylated spirits to clean off the old polish. This deposits the 'muck' into any tiny holes and scratches. Then I use the same grade steel wool to remove the tarnish from the brass and finally lightly abrade all the surfaces using 400 grit silicon carbide paper.
I apply about ten coats of shellac using a rubber with the box on a revolving turntable, which keeps it off the bench surface and allows me to turn it without touching the surface just polished. When that's dry, another very light abrade with the same grade of paper then more coats of pure shellac are added until I'm happy with the level of shine.
The shellac is applied to the inlays and stringing which protects it from discolouration.
You can see the results of this below.
Friend Jenny Boler bought this box locally for a few pounds.
I removed the brass to clean and polish while she restored and relined the interior.
The hinges were in good condition only requiring a clean and polish - as did the screws.
The lock was missing it's key and the keep had been broken, possibly forced, though there was no damage to the wood around the lock, so how it broke is a mystery.
A new key was filed down to fit though one of the two strikers had also been broken, so only one eye is actually needed.
However, for authenticity, I hand made a new brass keep. I had to replace the three screws as the originals were beyond saving.
The lock itself also needed new (second hand) screws.
When Jenny brought her finished work to have the brass refitted, I suggested that I should clean and repolish the exterior as the lovely brass stringing and other decoration was tarnished and tired.
I used 0000 grade steel wool dipped in pure methylated spirits to clean off the old polish. This deposits the 'muck' into any tiny holes and scratches. Then I use the same grade steel wool to remove the tarnish from the brass and finally lightly abrade all the surfaces using 400 grit silicon carbide paper.
I apply about ten coats of shellac using a rubber with the box on a revolving turntable, which keeps it off the bench surface and allows me to turn it without touching the surface just polished. When that's dry, another very light abrade with the same grade of paper then more coats of pure shellac are added until I'm happy with the level of shine.
The shellac is applied to the inlays and stringing which protects it from discolouration.
You can see the results of this below.
