Oak / Mahogany Box

[agg221]

Brass screws aren't very strong, but you don't want steel ones in oak as they tend to stain black (although you might get away with not seeing it for indoor use as the stain won't spread far enough to be visible).

 

The best bet is to drill your hole, then run a steel screw the same size down the hole to cut the thread in, then put your brass screw in, 'feeling' the thread, like you would when putting a nut on a bolt. A small dob of vaseline or similar on the screw also makes it much easier to get in, and out again if you need to.

 

If the hinges are scratched but you don't want to risk taking them out, you could take the scratches out by working through the grades of sandpaper - fix it round the squared off end of a lolly stick using double-sided sticky tape, to make an emery board. You want to start coarse, around 120grit, and get down to 1200 grit, or even 2400 grit if you can find any. Then switch to metal polish on the end of a cotton bud - I use a car type paste polish like Autosol rather than Brasso, as the residue brushes off and doesn't stain the oak like the ammonia in Brasso does. Once clean, a quick coat of furniture wax and they will look better than new.

 

Alec

[blakes11]

that all really helps, thanks.

 

I'll let you know how i get on with the next one!

[tommer9]

That is stunning!