New cabinet(case) project!******* UPDATE Wednesday Nov. 22nd

Bodin

Hey everybody!
If you may recall, I started THIS thread a while back.
Official Inaugural Medals are my favorite collection.
However, the first 1 1/2 drawers are STUFFED with pre-Official Inaugural Medals, so I've been wrestling for a while making a small cabinet for this "other" category of Inaugurals.

So, my friend calls me recently and says that her grandmother just sold all her coins, but she still has the cases. Did I want them?
I say sure, and I get a couple of these dropped off at my door.

Don't like the color, don't like the chrome, but I see potential......lets see what I can do.
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THESE ARE MY INSPIRATIONS.

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First off, I needed to see if all the pre-OIMs would fit comfortably.
I removed the trays...

Then I cut 1/2 in heavy black foam to fit each of the 5 drawers.
Next step: laying out all the airtites that will house all these medals/tokens one day when I have them. Lets see if they fit!

Here are 2 of the 5 drawers

They all fit! Now, I'm going to cut the foam so that all the airtites can sit recessed.

DONE!
Later I'll add fabric

Back to the case:
First, I need to remove all the hardware, leaving wood only(there's a good amount of heavy-duty card stock used here as well, I'll get to that later)

Time to strip.
I'm assuming that this isn't a strong wood by any means, so I'm definitely going to use Citristrip to remove the finish and stain(I do not work for this company). Spray it on, and 20-30 minutes later, scrape and wipe away. So satisfying to not sand.

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Tuesday Oct 24th

Time to use the Citristrip on the inside of the box and the drawers.
Again, spray, wait 30 min, scrape off stain/finish.
Always scrape with a plastic scraper. NOT metal!

Now, before I sand, I'm going to do a pass with a damp rag and wipe everything down. Trying to remove as much of the finish-remover as possible. Wait a couple of hours for everything to be dry.
Next I sand. I'll sand by hand and use 220 then 320.This is NOT heavy duty wood, and sanding it just an easy once-over to make our surfaces clean and smooth.

• Notice the bottom of the box is a very hard card-stock(First photo below/ left)

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Sanding completed.

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Monday Oct 30th

Stains!
I'm using Minwax Pre-Stain wood conditioner(wait 5 minutes, then wipe off the excess), Minwax "Jacobean" for the first coat(wait 20 minutes, then wipe off excess), "Early American" for the second(applied the following day. Follow previous steps), and did a third coat on the exterior of the box and lid of "Early American"

Happy Halloween! Drawers done, but those chrome knobs HAVE GOT TO GO!

I've never done this before, but I'm going to try to give my chrome hardware an antique bronze finish.

First step:
Distress the pieces so that spray paint can adhere.

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Tuesday, November 14th

Continuing with my experiment of "bronzing" the chrome hardware from above,
I found a page on PINTREST that suggested a good way to do it and the materials needed.

Step 1: Dark Bronze spray paint

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Step 2(left photo): once dry, a bright finish bronze spray paint, lightly dusted. At this point, it looks VERY SPRAY PAINTED.
Step 3(right photo): once that's dry, brush on Bri-wax and lightly rub in in some places you want darker.

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Step 4:Once that dries, Rub-n-buff, where you want gold-bronze accents.
Notice the chrome on the right, bronze on the left. I love it!

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Now that I've decided that I like the look of the "bronzing", time to do all the hardware. Don't forget the screw heads!

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and 3 coats of Poly set to dry so the paint doesn't rub off.

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While that's drying, I'll work on my cloth for the drawers.
I chose a red fabric that has the feel of an old shirt at the fabric store. So soft!
Cut it to my foam inserts, and lightly dusted tacky craft adhesive over the foam. I then rest the cloth on top and lift and lower until everything is smooth. Again, this is a tacky adhesive, so it won't run through the material, and can be adjusted until my liking.

so this isn't the finished look ^^^ I've got a little tweaking to do, but that'll be another post.
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This next part will probably take me all night.....
I taped the edges around the glass so that there was some protection from stain and poly .....but not ENTIRE protection.
Its not a problem, no damage done, just a PITA to look very closely, scraping the tiny stuff off with a razor blade.
But, gotta make it look good!

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UPDATE Wednesday, Nov. 22nd

Time to finish the drawers.

(left) How we left off. Looks good, but I don't want ti see the bottoms of the drawers.
(right) with airtites removed

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(left) Cut and placed a sheet of material across the bottom of the drawer. No adhesive used.
(right) Replaced the foam and fabric and airtites.
NOW, this was where I was thinking about stopping, but I don't like the identification tabs being visible, and I don't like the look of the cut fabric underneath(OCD much?......yes)

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I Decided to simply cut black card stock to fit in the bottom of the airtites. Then place the ring over for a much cleaner look(except I need to dust, obviously). I left the identification labels on the bottom.

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MUCH, MUCH BETTER. Done with the drawers.

Thats all for today!
STAY TUNED!

Supplies used/Total cost:
box: free
hardware: free
Citristrip: $16 (2 cans)
sandpaper: already had
Prestain wood conditioner: $6
stains: already had
red fabric: $7
Craft adhesive spray: already had
Bri-wax(dark brown): $20
Rust-oleum (metallic finish Dark Bronze) spray paint: $14
Rust-oleum (American Accents satin metallics Classic Bronze) spray paint: $12
Rub'n-buff(antique gold): $5
Polyurethane clear satin spray: already had
black card stock: $4

Total = $84

1Mike1

Looks awesome so far. I think its an age old problem, how to display your collection. How to display it and not get ripped off.

ECHOES

Sweet, being a Carpenter I love these type of projects.

'So satisfying to not sand'

Hate to say but you will, striping old finish will raise grain,
Last project I did (my desk) I used 000 steel wool.

ldhair

Cool box.

ricko

@Bodin.....Great project and progress so far. May I ask how you cut those perfect circles from the foam?? I have a shadow box that I have already ruined two foam inserts trying to cut recesses. Thanks, Cheers, RickO

1630Boston

I was wondering about the foam cutting also.

Looks like another great project is underway, keep us posted

Wabbit2313

I am wondering what coins Gramma had and sold.

Bodin

@ECHOES said:
Sweet, being a Carpenter I love these type of projects.

'So satisfying to not sand'

Hate to say but you will, striping old finish will raise grain,
Last project I did (my desk) I used 000 steel wool.

Oh, no doubt about it! I'll chase the chemical stripper with 120/220/400.
I'm just saying taking off all those thick layers of stain and seal is satisfying to "set it and forget it"

Bodin

@ricko said:
@Bodin.....Great project and progress so far. May I ask how you cut those perfect circles from the foam?? I have a shadow box that I have already ruined two foam inserts trying to cut recesses. Thanks, Cheers, RickO

ok, get ready Ricko, .....
I place the holders where I want them to be, measured out and everything. Then I take left hand and hold an airtite down while my right hand circles the airtite with my xacto blade.
I simply trace.
**Tip: pressing down the airtite into the foam while cutting will give a slight taper and also ensure your hole is the perfect size.

Bodin

@Wabbit2313 said:
I am wondering what coins Gramma had and sold.

When my friend called, I asked, "why didn't I get to look at these coins?!?"
Her reply, "Oh I forgot to call you first."

.....SMH

ricko

@Bodin..... Thanks for the reply.... quite simple... When I saw your 'circles', they looked so clean, I expected some exotic method. My foam is much thicker, however, I did not try the compression method and just butchered the cutout. Cheers, RickO

divecchia

That is an awesome box to start with. Great job so far, taking it apart and stripping it down. Nice job on the foam insert also and the layout of the coins. It looks like your moving along really well on the project, thus far.

Thanks for sharing the process.

Donato

Bodin

@ricko said:
@Bodin..... Thanks for the reply.... quite simple... When I saw your 'circles', they looked so clean, I expected some exotic method. My foam is much thicker, however, I did not try the compression method and just butchered the cutout. Cheers, RickO

THE most important item for clean lines is a new, extra-sharp blade. Otherwise sawing is going to happen.

Batman23

Very creative. Looking good!

Wabbit2313

Two additional questions:

-What are you going to have the name plate say?
-Did she still have the key?

Meltdown

Cool project. I'll look forward to the updates.

AUandAG

I used to love to re-purpose items but not any longer....kids got the tools.

bob

asheland

Looks good.

ECHOES

Keep us posted...

Bodin

BUMP for update

Stork

Very nice!

ricko

Fair amount of work getting it to this level.... now the beautification begins..... Cheers, RickO

oih82w8

@Bodin said:

Oh, no doubt about it! I'll chase the chemical stripper with 120/220/400.

"Yeah...220...221 whatever it takes."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX3kxAA2L4Q

derryb

is this what actors do between gigs?

coinsarefun

Wow! That is looking spectacular

Bodin

@derryb said:
is this what actors do between gigs?

OMG, you have NO IDEA!
I started roll searching to keep my mind active waiting for the phone to ring in between jobs. Then got really serious into collecting.
Lately, furnace restoration has kept me busy......but still coins.
HA!

Bodin

@Wabbit2313 said:
Two additional questions:

-What are you going to have the name plate say?
-Did she still have the key?

Still have the key, yes. Thank you for reminding me to remove the chrome at the same time as everything else!

As far as the name plate...I'm toying with the idea of cutting a piece of walnut or ....something different, to fit into that space. I'll then either wood burn the great seal or have it laser etched....I dunno. Any ideas??

TommyType

Being a non-woodworker, I must say you got down to "bare wood" much better than I expected!

Plus, I was expecting some Cheap-A$$ plywood, when you got this far. I'm impressed with the current status!

Bodin

BUMP for update

Bodin

@TommyType said:
Being a non-woodworker, I must say you got down to "bare wood" much better than I expected!

Plus, I was expecting some Cheap-A$$ plywood, when you got this far. I'm impressed with the current status!

Honestly, its really cheap wood, but I think it'll look like $$$.
Thats all I want!!
Thanks!

1630Boston

OT But when do we see you on the big [or small] screen again @Bodin

1630Boston

And please don't say on a home improvement DIY show

Bodin

@1630Boston said:
OT But when do we see you on the big [or small] screen again @Bodin

I just wrapped on "Halt & Catch Fire" on AMC
I'm going to find out today if I'm working on a few episodes of a SHOWTIME show in the next couple weeks.
FINGERS CROSSED
Thanks for asking!

Other than that, I have a couple Christmas commercials coming: Home Depot and AT&T, as well as some that I still have running.

hchcoin

I love your posts like this. I wish I had your patience. Whenever I do a project like this, I end up with the best intentions and end up rushing about 1/2 way through because I get impatient.

Bodin

@hchcoin said:
I love your posts like this. I wish I had your patience. Whenever I do a project like this, I end up with the best intentions and end up rushing about 1/2 way through because I get impatient.

It helps that I have a 2 year old, a new born, and a wife that also acts.
With that going on, I'm only allowed to do little bits at a time. So I'm incapable of rushing......otherwise I might too.

Bodin

@coinsarefun said:
Wow! That is looking spectacular

Steph, you're always so positive. Love it!
And everyone should be following you on Instagram. Great feed!

Bodin

BUMP for update

Bodin

Should be finished tomorrow FYI

Bodin

Bump for update

littlebear

Excellent work!

Kkathyl

Great work another DIY success

ricko

Great progress... Thank you for the update. I really enjoy following your projects. Cheers, RickO

Type2

Very nice, I've seen that type of box before but I don't have the time or the know how it would not no way look like that if I did it.

divecchia

Nice job on the coin box!!!

You've motivated me to look for something similar the next time the wife and I go antique hunting.

Donato