My Storage Dream Comes True

[Aragorn243]

Online yard sale posting on Saturday. Spent the next couple of days negotiating. Came home for $300 which I felt was a pretty good deal.

Antique, solid oak drawer fronts, sides, top and trim. Has fancy scrollwork trim on the sides. Center drawer has had finish partially stripped and handles are present. Size is about 42 inches wide, 29 inches deep and 37 inches high Eight drawers about two inches deep.

Going to be my major project for the next few weeks. Full finish strip, tightening of the drawers and joints and refinish.

This is not my photo, it's the one they used in the add. They had a piece of black granite sitting on top that I cropped out. Top is a solid oak block.

I don't know how many bayonets this will hold but I suspect it will contain all of mine with some room to spare.

Any ideas for drawer bottoms? I'm thinking some sort of thin carpet.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Thin carpet would work, keep them from sliding around. Also neutral color so you can take pics after.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

That is a score! What was its original use? Anixiously awaiting "before" photos. I always liked the green felt in display drawers / boxes but that would be a pain. They make some shelf liner in many shades that might work if the bottom of the drawers is all that needs covering.

[Aragorn243]

The previous owner called it a printers cabinet. There is some sort of label in one of the drawers saying "Artists, Designers, Engravers" which would seem to indicate it was used for storage of art prints, advertising notices, posters, etc.

I've seen them used for blueprints.

I could store full length swords in this if I had any.

I thought of felt but it's too big for felt, plus I don't want to glue anything permanent into it and if you don't glue felt, it isn't going to stay.

I'm also considering sheet rubber, I have easy access to that. I guess I'll have to look around. A couple of carpet remnants from Home Depot might do the trick.

Ideally, I'd like a way to lock the drawers but I'm not planning to alter it. Thinking more along the lines of an exterior type of bar.

[WarPig1976]

Here's another option. Won't wick the oil off the metal.
Amazon.com: JEGS Performance Products W88996 Toolbox Drawer Liner: Automotive

[Peter Laidler]

The problem as I see it is that get a few bayonets together and they are very heavy and the weight of a drawer full of bayonets is going to play havoc with the drawer bases and wood(?) runners. We had something similar using 'map draws' to store pistols and bayonets at Warminster, But we strengthened the draw bottoms and also made sure that you couldn't pull the drawer out too far

[Aragorn243]

Peter,

I think I'll be good. This thing is built pretty well with solid wood drawer bases. Plus my collection isn't huge and it's near complete as far as I'm concerned. I'm not a one of each manufacturer collector, just one of each major type and/or one for each rifle I own. I doubt the entire collection weighs 300lbs and distributed over 8 drawers, that should be no problem.

[AZPhil]

That sure beats my footlock I use to store mine in. Great Find!!!!
Semper Fi
Phil

[Aragorn243]

Took some better photos of it and put some bayonets in it for scale purposes. The Lebel is about one inch too long to fit front to back. Drawer interiors are 3/8 inch poplar which is an American hardwood. Not as hard as Oak but still pretty sturdy. Not an attractive wood which is why it's used on interiors. Has a green cast to it which makes it easily recognizable. Previous owners started the refinishing process and have a lot of the old finish off but they didn't get it all off. Interior is surprisingly clean. Hardly looks used so probably did have paper products in it rather than hard items. Not all the drawers have that "lip" in the back, probably broken and lost. Drawers will hold tight with all but three inches pulled out.

[WarPig1976]

Pimp it out with some L.E.D light strips that turn on when a drawer is open,,,,