On Aug 9, 7:58 am, LowEnergyParticle wrote:
Jim, JT, and Charlie,

Thank you all very much! I'm going to treat the wooden-box-as-rust-
preventer story as hogwash and finish boxes inside and out with
polyurethane. Furthermore, since I live down on the Gulf Coast near
Houston, where humidity sometimes presents a small problem, I'm going
to buy a case of those small cans of reheatable dessicant and clip one
inside every box.

If the original finish wasn't poly, I wouldn't use it, just for
authenticity's
sake. For new boxes, use whatever finish you like.

For ultimate slickness, install humidity gauges, or store tool
boxes in a cabinet outfitted with one.