I've done some more fettling of the old wooden tackle box I got for Christmas as a new project. The box has a two double float storage compartments, then a main tackle storage with an interesting lift out split shot compartment.
During the prep stage of the box it was rubbed down inside and out, next stage was to order some jewellery box style metal corners to protect the tired slightly damaged corners. Unfortunately...I've ordered them on eBay and didn't notice they were coming from China, so I am still waiting for my ship to come in in more ways than one!
I ordered new float box foam as the nearest tackle shop though well stocked didn't have any. They had wooden float boxes with foam but no spare foam. Just shows how much home building tackle is dying out.
The foam comes with a strip of double sided tape already attached. Now I'd stained the inside of the box and was worried the tape wouldn't stick, however it stuck like a good'n to the box but foam wouldn't stick to the tape. So I spread PVA wood glue along the tape and stuck the foam to it and this seems to have done the trick. I've set each layer out for short floats, long floats short floats and then long floats. In the photo it shows a couple of floats in place just as an example.
Next section to tackle (!) was the small bits storage section. When I stripped the box down there was section of very thin, aged and brittle foam over the split shot storage. This was removed and replaced. I May do this again as it's not the neatest but will trial it before making a final decision. This covers the lift out shot tray. Now I'm making a slightly informed guess here as to what this tray is for. At first I thought it was storage for legers and bombs etc. This was what I was going to use it for. Still might. However I have seen the compartments labelled up on another example of an almost identical box for split shot. This would make sense if you didn't want lots of tins of shot in the box or couldn't fit a multi dispenser in there. My box did indeed have one of these rebates covered in lead dust that would indicate that it has been used for this. I'm not 100% convinced. I will see how it goes in use. I decided to leave the lift out tray blonde as opposed to the dark of the rest of the box as it visually popped well, but also I thought if storing small dark shots or swivels it would be harder to see them possibly. I'm happy I've done this. I think it looks lovely. This section I thought could do with extra lacquer, so once dried thoroughly I sprayed clear varnish in all the compartments and over the lift out tray to protect it.
Next will be the outside. I've decided to do a rolling stone and paint it black. It already is black, it will most likely be a better finish, I don't want the box thick with paint that will take forever to cure and will snag and skin. So fresh black, new catches and brass corners is the next stage. The original hinges were fine and have been refitted.
Part 3 to follow.
Looks a lot better than how it started.
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