Mengel Module Revived

It is hard to stay away from the blog…so I’m making an appearance.

One of my favorite parts of the new study/homeschool room is the 1946 Mengel Module cabinet.  I bought it to sell at Scott Market–and maybe if it had looked this good it would have sold.    But I didn’t put the elbow grease into it beforehand and just as well.  I get to keep this bad boy now.

It was dark and scuffed before, definitely not its original finish.

I got a quote of $900 to refinish it.  I bet it would have looked so debonair with its mahogany all slicked up–but how do you think it would have liked hanging with the kids in the homeschool room like that?  Slicked up mahogany likes cocktail parties not homeschool.  With all its flat surfaces, this refinish job looked like something I could handle…and save $830 in the process.

Seventy dollars bought me an orbit sander and paper.

I disassembled the cabinet and got to work.  What a clever, well-made modular system this cabinet is.  All the pieces work and fit like a charm after nearly 65 years.

A few passes of the orbit sander whisked the dark away.  Now it was time for my secret weapon…

Feed-N-Wax.  I love this stuff.  I first used it on a couple of tables at the cottage and figured it could help Mengel out, too.  The product wipes on and conditions unfinished wood.  So easypeasy it will make you queasy…with excitement.  Mengel now glows warm russet–and imperfections are almost unidentifiable.  Feed-N-Wax isn’t a protective or slick finish so it isn’t the answer to all your wood needs.  But until the day we decided to upgrade Mengel to another room or life, this solution is working really well.

Thank you to those who have linked to the study B & A!

Holy Experience

modobject at home

Nesting Place’s Nest Files

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