I have an antique jewelry box, and the lid won't shut because it is
warped. (The front right corner rises about 1/2" above the top of the
box body.)

The wood is stained medium-dark, and I'm pretty sure the box is
veneered, not solid wood.

How can I get the lid back into shape without damaging the finish? Can
I simply clamp it between two flat boards or metal panels and slowly
tighten? How long will it take for the wood to recognize its new
shape? Will I need to use moisture? Can I use moisture without
messing up the finish?

Many thanks for the advice!
Squanklin

"Squanklin" wrote in message
ups.com...
I have an antique jewelry box, and the lid won't shut because it is
warped. (The front right corner rises about 1/2" above the top of the
box body.)

The wood is stained medium-dark, and I'm pretty sure the box is
veneered, not solid wood.

How can I get the lid back into shape without damaging the finish? Can
I simply clamp it between two flat boards or metal panels and slowly
tighten? How long will it take for the wood to recognize its new
shape? Will I need to use moisture? Can I use moisture without
messing up the finish?

Many thanks for the advice!
Squanklin


Got bad news ,there is virtually no way to remove a warp in the box top,
being in the antique business in an earlier life I have tried many
times...mjh

Would steaming -- then bending on a form help? Just curious -- anyone
tried that?

mike hide wrote:
"Squanklin" wrote in message
ups.com...

I have an antique jewelry box, and the lid won't shut because it is
warped. (The front right corner rises about 1/2" above the top of the
box body.)

The wood is stained medium-dark, and I'm pretty sure the box is
veneered, not solid wood.

How can I get the lid back into shape without damaging the finish? Can
I simply clamp it between two flat boards or metal panels and slowly
tighten? How long will it take for the wood to recognize its new
shape? Will I need to use moisture? Can I use moisture without
messing up the finish?

Many thanks for the advice!
Squanklin



Got bad news ,there is virtually no way to remove a warp in the box top,
being in the antique business in an earlier life I have tried many
times...mjh



--
Will
Occasional Techno-geek

Thanks, Will. I wondered about that, but would the moisture damage the
finish or potentially the glue holding the veneer? Anyone with more
experience than me have any thoughts about that?

Squanklin wrote:
Thanks, Will. I wondered about that, but would the moisture damage the
finish

Good chance of that. Most times with antiques (and cars) people value
the _original_ finish. It might be worth more now "damaged" than repaired.

or potentially the glue holding the veneer?

If it is veneer -- then yes.

Anyone with more
experience than me have any thoughts about that?


Any action is high risk. What is the value of the piece? That is what I
would look at - risk vs reward.

Best advice I can give is put your feet up and think --and -- collect
some more opinions from people who can physically examine the box.

Can you take a digital photo and post it somehow? On a web site or on
news://altbinaries.pictures.woodworking ?

You could probably get better ideas then.



--
Will
Occasional Techno-geek