Bondo and Wood Filler Saved This Vintage Chest.

Pamela Field
by Pamela Field
This poor vintage cedar chest had seen better days. The base boards were bowed so bad, the corner was flipping out. The hardware was so rusted, the screws no longer worked.
Was I up to the task? You bet!
Big gap on corner baseboard.
Using a clamp, I got the corners as close as I could. I drilled a screw from one corner to the next to help secure it.
Still a big gap even with the clamp.
Layered the Bondo until the gap was filled. Finished it off with wood filler wherever needed, and sanded until smooth.
I couldn't get the screws out because they were rusted in place. I drilled holes around the hardware until I could push the screw through the front side. Patched with bondo and wood filler here too.
Thoroughly cleaned and lightly sanded the entire chest before painting a coat of homemade chalk paint in gray, following with a blueish-black wash
I really wanted to make the carvings pop, so I dry brushed a taupe on the details.
Flipped it over and sanded the top to prepare for staining.
Finished up with semi gloss polyurethane on the top, and flat poly on base.


You can barely tell where that board was bowed out when I started.
Corner and holes to remove hardware repaired
Finished the top with General Finishes Java Gel stain and semi gloss polyurethane. Base has a flat poly finish.
All that and storage too!
Who doesn't need extra storage?
Frequently asked questions
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  • Jennifer Steacy Jennifer Steacy on May 23, 2016
    How do you make/do the wash?
  • Anne Anne on Feb 08, 2018

    It's beautiful. I'm new to the DIY world. What is dry painting?

  • Jennifer Jennifer on Feb 04, 2022

    You did a great job on this chest. I have the very same chest I received in 1967. It is in good shape considering it was moved about 15 times around the country. I weighs a ton too. It's so dated I have it in a closet.

    I see from your photos that the moulding trim has come away. I would like to remove all trim and just have the box to work with refinishing. Do you think it's possible to save just the box?

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