How to Refinish an Old Carpenter's Tool Box

The toolboxes of yesterday were simple yet very functional. Rather than having multiple drawers like many modern toolboxes, old carpenter's toolboxes were merely an oblong box with a handle. Some had slats on the inside to hold saws by the blade, while others had a block of wood with holes in which the carpenter could slot the screwdrivers. Refinishing an old carpenter's toolbox is a simple but time consuming project.

Drop cloth
Degreasing dish soap
Bucket
Sponge
Rubber gloves
Paint thinner
Rags
Steel wool
Medium-grit sandpaper
Gel stain
Brushes
Varnish

Instructions

- 1
  Put a drop cloth onto a table or workbench.
- 2
  Empty the toolbox completely and set it on the drop cloth. Squirt degreasing dish soap into a bucket of water. Wipe the toolbox with a sponge dipped in the soapy water to get all grease and dirt off the surface area. Let air dry.
- 3
  Put on rubber gloves. Dip a rag in paint thinner and wipe the toolbox down, then scrub with steel wool. This will start to remove the old finish. Scrub until the old finish substantially lightens. Wipe down with a damp rag thereafter and allow to dry.
- 4
  Sand the surface with medium-grit sandpaper to get to the bare wood.
- 5
  Brush on a coat of gel stain with a paintbrush. Wait about five to ten minutes, then wipe away with rags.
- 6
  Brush on a coat of varnish to refinish the old carpenter's toolbox. Brush the varnish on, going with the wood grain. Let dry for at least three hours before putting tools back into the box.

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