Look at this hot chick
 

Now that I have your attention.....I need some help. :p :p :p

I'm refinishing a cedar chest that belonged to my wife's grandmother that is almost 100 years old. I'm not sure if the trim is brass or copper. You can see the bands and their placement in the attached pics. While removing the bands, I broke several of the tacks that held it in place.

Question:

Is anybody aware of a website where I can replace these tacks? Also, can you tell from the pics if this trim is copper or brass? What is a good cleaner to bring the bands back to their initial finish?

Thanks for any help. :smokin:

Sob

We need pics Salty.

if they are copper nails or tacks i can get em for you the brass one can be found at home depot, if they are brass and its tarnished leave it alone the natural patina is what you want if you change it the value will go down email me somr pics

Forgot to add pics: :)

thats brass....

Salty, I would put the strips back on and leave that thing ALONE. That's a beautiful piece of furniture. And like pox said, the petina is what you are looking for these day.

Devil, I understand what you're saying. If I were putting this piece up for sale then the "used" look would be important. I can't stand that stuff. :puke:

salty your crazy leave that thing alone !!!! my wife would kill you if i showed he that pic and told her you were gonna strip it and refinish it!!! that thing is sweet but if you must i will find you some brass button tacks the ones in the pic are not avail at home depot

I'll get a count. :smokin:

I need about 100 of 'em. Will they be hammered?

use some tabasco pepper sauce to clean the brass if you dont mind the "Value" going down. If you dont believe it works try it on an old penny.

I like the antique look as well, but its going to look awesome refinished too! What are your plans with it? you goin to stain it or leave it natural and seal it? Would definitely like to see some pics throughout the process.

Chris, I'm in the process of refinishing an 80 year-old "high boy" that also belonged to my wife's grandmother. It looked just like the finish on the cedar chest, although, it's maple. I didn't know that until I got all that yellowed varnish off. You could not see any wood grain.....just like the cedar chest.

I plan to remove the varnish and refinish it natural.....no stain on cedar. I'll use about 5-6 coats of hand-wiped tung oil...no polyurethane. We're giving it to our son. I'll post pics for ya.

RELAX, Pox...I ain't touchin' the inside. :shaking: :smokin: BTW, there's a hammered brass plate on the inside of the lid that has my wife's grandmother's name engraved on it. Because it's inside...it looks somewhat like it did 94 years ago.

I got some Tony Chachere's. :p

DRY RUB
 

Thats the "dry rub" process, in order to get the tarnish off you need to use the aforementioned technique.

I hate you salty... don't mess with the finish. Haven't you ever watched Pawn Stars on the History channel? All those yahoos refinish cool stuff and decrease the value!!!

I ain't puttin' this thing on Barrett-Jackson.:p As far as my bride is concerned.....it's priceless either way. Trust me, fritz, when I'm done...you will stand and cheer.

Unless that thing is spooled with powerpro I wouldn't know the difference :*****::*****:

Or ketchup will take off most of the stain.......use a very fine steelwool and a little elbow grease. Or by some brass polish at Walmart.

Michael's or a fabric store may have the tacks.