First Case - Need Experts Help

[Yo Flawch!]

@Yo Flawch! Any idea if these hinges are removable?

View attachment 1064960

I never removed them, but yours look partially removed already. You may have to tap them out, upward, then try to bend everything back straight. Your hinge and pin are both bent pretty well.

 

[lloydrose]

Yea both are kind of bent. I'll have to remove them carefully and have them straightened

 

[lloydrose]

Father in law is coming tomorrow to help me remove the hinges and get them repaired.

 

[TheDukeOfIce]

I believe they are still making some of those hinges. The riveted screws you will have to custom make, but there is a great write up here on how to do that.

Some cases hinges were riveted in, some cases I’ve seen riveted heads with nuts holding hinges in.

Your case looks to be in good shape minus the hinges. Great find!!

 

[TheDukeOfIce]

Light scrub on the bottom

View attachment 1064956

Soak and scrub with the Sheila Shine should help remove those black stains. There might still be slight “scars” left in the metal however…

 

[lloydrose]

@TheDukeOfIce It has some marks on each side but I think I can get it looking good with some work. I will be taking the top off tomorrow so I can get the glass out to polish.

 

[lloydrose]

Ok no top or glass in it now. Scrubbed the bottom with a green pad for a brushed finish. Might clean it up more but no one is going to see it really. 3 aluminum rivets have been lost. Anyone know if I can get stainless replacements at Home Depot?

 

[Yo Flawch!]

Yep... those aren't rivets, they're screws that hold the top together. I had the same problem... because those screws are aluminum. I just used other screws and put them to the back of the cabinet where no one would ever see. Home Depot does have a nice selection of stainless, in special drawers. You could look through that to see if you find anything close. You're not going to find aluminum screws that look like the OG... I can guarantee that. You see they don't hold up well; that damage came from the whole display being moved from place to place, and the screws couldn't handle the force.

 

[lloydrose]

Thanks for the advice bud! I’ll get something close and put ‘em in the back.

 

[lloydrose]

Hinges are off! Time to be rebuilt. Had to drill the bottom hinge pin since it wasn’t able to be removed until we drilled one end.