Replies

1. 
   MBerger | Aug 09, 2006 07:28pm | #1

   Hi  Easterner,

   Sorry for the delay getting back to you on this. I hope we're not too late. I think your phrasing is what put us off. I just realized that you're making a wood chest for your silver, and not a chest made of silver.

   Check out this article from Fine Woodworking issue 185 (Finishing Boxes Inside and Out). It features a section on installing fabric in a jewelry box. I would image many of the materials and techniques will apply.

   Let us know if that won't work and we'll do some more detective work.

   Regards,
   Matt Berger
   Fine Woodworking

    

1. 
   easterner | Aug 09, 2006 11:05pm | #2

   FWW 185 is not the help I need. A jewelry box is much simpler. Look at a commercial  silver chest and you'll see what I mean. There are many slots to hold the various spoons, forks and knives. Knives also go into slots on the under side of the lid. The whole thing is pretty three dimensional, with a lot of folds. How to line the slots and sides and tops is my quandry. I was hoping you have someone who has made one and I could contact him or you can provide some advice on any easy way to get the material applied. The box is made out of mahogany.

   I appreciate any help you can provide.

   Richard Burton

1. 
   MBerger | Aug 09, 2006 11:36pm | #3

   Here's another try:

   Material: Silver Cloth. I found a quote about it here: Silver, for example, can be stored in “silver cloth” that is available through jewelers’ and fabric stores. The cloth contains compounds that complex with sulfur gasses in the air before they can get through the cloth to reach the surface of your silver piece. Silver cloth will drastically slow the rate at which your silver will tarnish. Silver cloth, however, should be changed every few years to remain effective. As the compounds in the cloth complex with gasses, they become used up and may eventually be holding the over saturated pollutants in close contact with your silver. Washing and re-using silver cloth is not effective so it is advised to buy new.

   Glue: 3M spray adhesive is likely the glue of choice, but you may want to contact the manufacturer to be sure it doesn't adversely effect the cloth.

   Best Arrangement: I'd suggest you customize that based on your collection of silver, or do some window shopping and copy the arrangement of a commercial chest.

   Applying the cloth: This is by far the tricky part as you already know. After viewing some silver chests online (here's an example) my opinion is that some of the basic installation can be done just as explained in the box article I linked to in my last reply. The hard part will be lining the bridges and all the intricate parts.

   One of the editors here who has collected silver in the past had a few suggestions: 1. make paper patterns, test the fit, and then use the patterns to cut the silver cloth. 2. Consult a local jeweler, or hire someone to do it.3. Find an old silver chest at a flea market and open up the lining to see how it was done.

   Finally, I called one of my collegues over at our sister publication Threads. One editor who will have some useful tips is on vacation this week. In the meantime, they recommended posting this question on their forum, Gatherings.

   I'll get back to you when I know more.

   - Matt