Strength of an Old Cabinet.

[garagebandking41]

I'm currently stripping my 34 year old rhodes of its battered tolex. My plan is to get all the gunk of, obviously, sand her down, and think for a few weeks about what i really want to do. But so far, it's been 3 days of hell from her. I had to drill through 3 screws that were holding the leg flanges in, and completely destroy a cheek block, (i have a spare set), just to get the pieces in order.

My main worry though is that I need to remove the staples poking out at odd ends. As my craftsmanship isn't there, I'm not sure if it's safe to remove these seemingly useless staples. Are they just used to initially hold the wood together or is my cabinet in really bad shape? I guess i'm asking: Should I remove them because they don't serve a purpose anymore, or should i nail them in deep and put a wood putty over to sand down?

Both answers seem risky to me. I don't think i need to put in detail how my cabinet has seen better days. Thanks for any help.

[garagebandking41]

never mind, I'm an idiot. I just realized they were used to hold down the tolex, and they aren't heavy duty stables, they only go down like 1/4 inch. Guess i'm just paranoid about hurting my baby.

Note: Goo Gone and Clorox = bad idea inside. just a note.

[Ben Bove]

Haha oh no!!  Ventilate!

[sean]

With a name like garagebandking, aren't you doing this work in your garage?


goo gone and clorox...  Isn't that what killed Marilyn Monroe?

[tomnardozza]

don't  worry about that cabinet....it may even outlast you (especially with the clorox/goo gone fumes!!!!)

[garagebandking41]

Good points. Garage indeed, but In florida I couldn't stand the heat. Needless to say, I walked back into the room and realized, some fans cleared me up good.

[garagebandking41]

Well now that i'm outside, i was wondering, Do you think leaving the keys outside in the sun would bleach them whiter? Might just ruin them...I was just thinking i'd kill two birds with one stone.

[tomnardozza]

nope.....prob won't do a thing.

[Ben Bove]

Yes they're coated, not raw surface.

[Fred]

Turns out, exposure to darkness yellows plastic. Some more than others. I have (until I got my hands on it) a "virgin" '79 Mk I suitcase that I carted to our  rehearsal space that has not a single window. After a year or so (my concept of time sux!) the keys where the same color as that "Yukon" yellow VW used on late 60's Beetles. You can whiten them but it's painfully tedious. Wet sand each key with 600 grit paper to remove all traces of yellowing, then 1000 grit paper, then 2000, then polish with something like Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish, then finish with a jeweler's rouge cloth. Crack open a nice Chianti and throw on some tunes to help get you through it.

[garagebandking41]

Thanks for the tips, I tried using 0000 steel wool just on the cream colored (front part, facing you) part, and it took some stains away, but was a mess. Your tips are much more logical, (it's all those fumes) I'm on to wood putty now though. I don't have a digital camera, but i'll post the whole process sometime this summer, when i complete this project, for now a cell phone will do. Thanks y'all!

[raemon80]

I have some of those Key Caps from Vintage Vibe, but I haven't put myself to apply them yet....