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Well, I've burned a few minutes a day for several weeks on this one. I had got a derelict old white-oak machinist chest with a ton of rust, water damage, and many other detail problems:
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To date I've done a few main steps:
-Bought (expensive) replacement hardware.
-Drilled out all old corroded hardware.
-Made wood-plugs (35, I believe!) with the Mark V, to replace the drilled-out wood.
- Knocked apart the whole chest. Straightened warped sides by planing off the uneven finish (too much on outside, too little on inside), introducing selective moisture to correct the "bowing", clamping flat. Then reattached finger joints, reinforced by long stainless screws through them (pilot holes drilled with Mark V horizontal boring).
- Making tiny veneer patches to several drawer fronts.
- A ton of time cutting and gluing red felt lining.
- Drawer-fit tuning with the Strip Sander.
- Etc.!

There is a ton more to do, including making a replacement front panel from White Oak (quartersawn), and more finish repairs, but the progress is starting to be satisfying. I'll hope to make a gift for my nephew from this.
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Gorgeous chest (now)! Who wouldn't love to have it? BEAUTIFUL WORK Chris!!!

Is the red felt inside the drawers sprayed on? or felt glued on.?

Your nephew is sure a lucky one. The only thing I ever got from my uncle was "monkey bumps" and "injun ropeburns":eek: The chest is looking great

charlese wrote:
Is the red felt inside the drawers sprayed on? or felt glued on.?

Thanks, Chuck! The lining is felt, glued on. Here is where I got all the supplies, by the way:
http://machinistchest.com/site/

Very nice!

Really nice work, and very meticulous.
This will be a big hit with the nephew for sure.

........ but who knew there was a website for machinist's chest parts?

That is outstanding work! What a great gift!

Nice work!

Makes me want to go out and track down a chest like that... for myself. I've always wanted to make one but who has the time for a project like that? Saving one could be just as nice as you have shown.

Ed

You are doing beautiful work, Chris. This will become a heirloom for sure. Actually, it probably is already. It appears to be in great shape for something that has be around for so long.

Are the joints where the sides mate with the bottom just simple box joints and glue?

Nice work. You did a great job on the felt, it looks like it was sprayed as good as the corners are. Thanks for sharing.