Should I or shouldn't I
Randy Johnson
>About fifteen years ago I bought a carpenter�s tool chest at an auction. It was complete with all the original trays and dividers and even had the key, attached to a length of furnace chain, inside. On the back and inside the original finish is still there, but the top, front, and sides were painted over with beige latex because the previous owner had used it as a sort of small table setting against a wall.
The chest has just a bit more style than you normally see, and I think it made of mahogany. (based on small ding on a bottom corner.) There is sheet metal reinforcing, that I�m hoping is brass, on the edges of the sides and front/back that appears original to the chest .
The question is:
Should I strip it down and refinish it natural, try to remove the latex without damaging the original finish underneath, or just leave it alone? Is there a good way of removing latex without damaging older (possibly/probably lead based) finishes?
I am primarily a Normite, but the hand tool collection keeps growing and the chest is more than large enough for the current collection of planes, drawknives, chisels, and saws. What I don�t want to do is ruin something in the course of �improving� it.
The original finish is flat red on the inside and outside frame with the panel sections either green or yellow. I think it�s yellow but I don�t have it here to look at.