Old & Rough Tool Case - part 14 -- Vacuuming & Cleaning the Drawer Fronts -- Top Right Drawer

Started on the top right drawer...

1/2 width shallow drawer...

This is during the vacuuming process.  There's a patch on the right that's not been done yet...

After vacuuming...

One good thing about the sheet metal bottoms is that they're very thin so it actually significantly increases the drawer height/volume.

The knob's front is covered in black/brown dirt/rust.

Before cleaning...

The piece on the left is the drawer front with the bead feature at the bottom.  The front piece is made to overhang the bottom of the drawer on purpose.  During the manufacturing process, the bottom of the drawer front is sanded to create an even gap at the bottom to the next drawer down.  This process is repeated with each drawer so that in the end, all the drawer gaps are even and nearly perfect.

Showing the drawer side piece with the guide channel...

The drawer back panel.

As best I can tell, this one says "28-3" on it...

After cleaning.

After cleaning, close-up.

Top right drawer put back in.

I'm guessing that the "28-3" may indicate that this drawer is the second from the top drawer.  The other shallow drawer says "28-2" on the back.  I'm guessing that the 2 goes above the 3...

 

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 -- Bike ride & waiting tool case in the garage...

Went for the usual lunch time bike ride to Manhattan Pier.

It was pretty warm today but not too bad.  It's usually about 5 to 10 degrees cooler at the beach.

The tool case is waiting patiently for me to reinstall the front lid...

 

1997 BMW 3-series brochure

 

Phil & Enzo - part 22

Old & Rough Tool Case - part 13 -- Vacuuming & Cleaning the Drawer Fronts -- Top Left Drawer

Started with the top left drawer.  It's the one at the top of the picture.

This close-up picture shows how dirty the knobs and drawer front are...

Before vacuuming.  It's not too bad.

After vacuuming.

The bottom is galvanized sheet steel.

There are places where something is on the  surface of the wood.

It's easier to use a blade to scrape it off...

Have to be careful not to cut into the old finish or wood...

Ran out of 409.  Used Simple Green, diluted to 1-to-1 with water.

This is the strongest concentration recommended by the directions...

Started cleaning the knobs and escutcheon using an old kitchen scrubbing sponge.  It works but take a lot of scrubbing...

After cleaning.  Looks presentable.  Still shows the wear and tear over the years...

Knob after cleaning.  Not trying to make is shiny.  Just clean enough to be presentable.  Overall, the case will not be too nice.  There will be places with damage and missing leatherette.  So, I don't want any part of the case to be too nice.  If these knobs are made to shine, then it will contrast too strongly with other parts of the case...

Ultimately, want the case to end up clean but still showing all the damage from many decades of use...

Back of the drawer has "28" in pencil.

28 shows up on all the parts of the case...

After cleaning.  Placed the drawer back in it's place.

Shows the difference after cleaning, versus the other drawers...

 

Tuesday, October 13, 2020 -- Manhattan Beach Pier

In the left of this picture, there's a fully kitted road bike guy on a pretty fancy bike.  It's hard to see in the picture but he's got some of the deepest wheels I've see, outside of a time trial bike.  The rims have to be around 75 mm deep!  Good for going fast but probably not so good in cross-winds...

I passed him on Ballona Creek and he passed me back.  Going at my own pace, I ended up passing him again, just before we got to the beach.  I don't think he liked getting passed back...  He stopped at the pier, like me.

On my way back home, I ended up passing him again.  His ride apparently is similar to mine...

 

1995 BMW 5 series brochure

 

Phil & Enzo - part 21