I have inherited my great grandfather’s beautiful carpenter’s chest – that’s the good news. Bad news is that the interior boxes (about 45” x 5” x 9”) were stored in a barn and are dirty and dry. Normally I would clean with Murphy’s Oil soap but I feel like they are too dirty for that, yet. Ideas? The boxes are essentially shelves with little cubbies and doors for tools. It’s a work of art, for sure.
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Are the interior boxes made with wood? Do they have a bad odor or are just dirty? Do you want to clean them or refinish them (like clean and restore and finish with an oil or polyurethane?
They are all maple with dovetail joints, dirty and smell like they’ve been in the rafters of a barn for 30ish years. I don’t want to refinish, just clean. They are otherwise in perfect condition —no varmint or insect damage
It sounds beautiful!
I would start by vacuuming it out with a crevice attachment and then letting it air out. If there are really dirty areas, I’d use a damp cloth with very diluted Dawn. Then see if it looks clean enough to use Murphy’s or a similar product.
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Go to your local hardware store with one of the interior boxes. If the employees don’t know, someone who ambles by WILL know. My local store is filled with retired carpenters, furniture restorers and some active antiques dealers. They come for a bolt and stay for the company!!!
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This is a good start! Here is a product I like a lot that makes will bring wood alive once it is cleaned - I love this stuff and it has brought a few pieces I bought that were weary right back to life. (But clean yours first!)
Howard Products Beeswax Wood Polish & Conditioner, Feed-N-Wax for Wood Furniture Polish, 16 oz, Orange https://a.co/d/gBZq5R2
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I second this product!
For cleaning tight corners and crevasses, I find that toothpicks and toothbrushes work well to dislodge the dirt!
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two of the drawers don’t have lids, two of them do. They are currently airing out in the garage. The chest has always been inside and currently is covered with a quilt to keep it from the sun. After it is cleaner I hope we can tell what is dirt, and what is mold or mildew. How they all fit in the chest is a puzzle yet to be solved
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It’s beautiful. A beautiful tone.
I could be wrong but after a good cleaning (did anyone recommend a solution of vinegar,baking soda? ) I would think putting it out in the sun 
might help with the odors.
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Thanks ! He was the town doctor and as a hobby he did carpentry; mostly built elaborate wooden scale models of ships but also some tool chests and this one.
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