Restoring a footlocker

[kanowarrior]

We all could use footlockers for our barracks at Roberts. I restore mine and have done my Officers footlocker. I just got another nice footlocker and will post my progress as I go along so others do theirs as well. It's actually quite easy.

The footlocker I found was in really nice shape actually with a real nice tray in it. I picked it up at the Bellflower show last month for $25. The leather handles are rotted and the lock has no key. Typical but I'm one step ahead as I have a nice tray.

My first step should be to paint the outside but I also need to replace the leather handles. This is how I do that.

First I order my handles at $10 a pair, I buy the brown handles, either dark brown or leather color. I like both but this time I'm buying the Dark brown pair. Here is the link and this is what to order.

Website: BRETTUNS VILLAGE TRUNK SHOP

Shorter Handles for Footlockers or Doll Trunks TH-08

www.brettunsvillage.com/trunks/howto/parts/handles.htm

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[kanowarrior]

Here are the tools I need for this job.

1. Hammer
2. Punch
3. Dremel with a metal grinding bit

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[kanowarrior]

Inside the footlocker I locate the back of the rivet that holds on the handle. I DO NOT REMOVE THE BRACKET, ONLY THE RIVET THAT HOLDS THE HANDLE ON.

Next I Dremel off the tip of the rivet. It's ok if you grind off part of the washer, but if you do completely remove the washer, you need to replace that so the replacement won't damage the wood of the footlocker. Usually this has not been a problem in my last two footlocker repairs as the washer seems to be permanently mounted on the side of the footlocker and doesn't easily come off.

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[kanowarrior]

Next you use the hammer and punch to knock out the rivet.

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[kanowarrior]

After removing the rivet you can remove whats left of the leather handle. Notice the rivet is brass. All the ones I have removed to date are usually brass or some kind of soft metal. This is important, especially with the handles as brass is usually used to add a nice contrast. If you paint over them, it doesn't matter, but mind that some steel won't hold paint that well.

Now that the handle is removed, it's time to paint the footlocker before adding on the new handles. The next part of adding on the new handles is amazingly simple.

Time spent up to this point is probably about half an hour.

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[kanowarrior]

Here are the replacement handle parts. Just got back from the hardware store and picked up what I needed.

2 leather handles purchased online $10
4 - 8x32 1 inch brass screws .20 cents each
4 - 8x32 brass nuts .14 cents each
4 - aluminum spacers (optional, but keeps the screw threads from chewing up the leather) .86 cents each

total cost so far (without tax) $15.80

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[kanowarrior]

Next insert spacer into handle.

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[kanowarrior]

Insert handle end into handle bracket and line up spacer.

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[kanowarrior]

Insert screw into hole and tighten with nut on inside.

Note: They didn't have phillips screws in WWII so when you buy the screws you should get the old fashioned type with the straight slot. Actually if you can find machine screws without a screwdriver slot in them that would look like the original rivets but it isn't an important detail. Having screws and nuts means replacement again is that much easier.

At this point I also used a flat screwdriver so you can add that to the tool list.

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[kanowarrior]

Here is a picture of the last footlocker I did this to and the replacement handle. I've used this one a couple times so the handles are stretched out a bit.

If I remember I will post a picture of the finished footlocker but first I need to sand it down and paint my footlocker.

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[barcelonablom]

Sweet, nice replacement with bolts, spacers and nuts. Since the only way I see of installing rivets is either with pops or squeezing... and I wouldn't risk damaging the wood with a set of big squeezers.

Excellent write up/how-to!

Need to look into this for my footlocker.

[kanowarrior]

Problem with rivets is once the leather handles wear out again its a big job to grind off the rivets once again to replace. With the nuts and screws all you have to do is unscrew and insert new handles and screw it back on. Simple and cheap.