Expert: Eileen Cronk - 7/11/2008

Question
i just found this (for only $79!). it has the original wood workings but not legs. the porceliron is rusted on the underside, and the wood has cracked in a place or two. how do i clean off the rust?  i don't want to refinish it (luckily the porceliron is a mint green i can keep). the wood bracket encasing the rollers to open the table top has cracked right where the nails are and seems rather fragile, for wood. it appears to still have the original paint even.  can i just screw the bracket back over the parts it is nailed into? or do i have to replace it?  thanks for any help.

Answer
Hi Kathleen
Nice to hear from you.
For the rust, get a can of Naval jelly from the hardware. In most cases if the rust is not severe it will remove it although it will not remove the "pitted" marks as they are there to stay. But it will certainly clean it up.
Use a steel wool pad dipped in the jelly and give it a good scrub.
Wear some gloves as its not a great job for bare hands.
The wood bracket will be hardwood.
The best way to go about it would be to remove it and glue and clamp the crack back together.
But if its not cracked through and you are not confident in removing it then certainly try screwing it.
Hope this helps
Kind Regards
Eileen