“I just don’t want to look back and think, “I should have bought that junk.

-Anonymous

One of the things I was looking for at the Elephant’s Trunk this morning was a small item made out of wood that could be refurbished. A small project that won’t take much time but when it is finished you can see the difference.

What I did find was a small vintage wooden shoe shine box. It cost a mere $10, but I believe that when it is done it will look much different than it currently does. I probably could just leave it alone since it is an old piece, but I think that I will take the chance and see what I can do with it.

My first task will be sanding the box down so it is smooth and the old stain is pretty much gone. I don’t anticipate any issues with that since the box is pretty much open. I will be using 100-grit sandpaper at first to get the old stain off as well as any imperfections. Afterward, to further refine it for staining, I chose a 220 grit sandpaper.

The stain I chose is called “Provincial.” It was the closest color to what the original looks like. I just didn’t want to get stuck with something that was lighter or darker than the original. Here is what the piece looks like:

L=13 3/4″/W=5 1/2 “H=13 3/4”

I  am pretty confident that this should be a relatively easy project to complete. Of course, I could be completely off base, but I don’t believe so.

After I finish sanding the box I’ll post some pictures to show the progress.