Thanks!
I`ll try to say some words about the restoration steps, but sorry about my language if something good be understandable.
First step with the wooden box: I remove (rub) the dust and dirt with mixture of water and denatured alcohol (50:50), this mixture leaves extant the old paint markings. The cleaning tools are brush, sometime the finest grades of steel wool and peace of cloth. Actually it`s not abiding the restoration ethic to use the water but its easiest way, water is not right detergent for old objects actually.
After that Ill use a brush to apply the natural lacquer (a solution of shellac in alcohol) it leaves the dust away from surface and in future its easy to remove with alcohol if its needful and or refresh later. Its easy to hold clean of this surface, just remove dust with cloth. About the black shellac, I add the nigrosine (Solvent Black 5) in to the shellac solution.
I never use the oil products, because after a while it drys to hard, then its not possible remove (dissolve) and it goes dirty (oil drag the dirt in) because it drys too slowly.
If ill restore the metal objects, if there are some peace of original paint i leave it these condition that it is, only remove the rust with acid solution and then laying the surface with the rust protecting solution. Usually I dont repaint this items, because old finish have a warmer effect.
Actually i have one shell project which is in progress as yet, here ill painting it over, I attach some pictures of this.
Regards
E