Use either a scrubbing pad, an electric-powered wire brush or metal polishes to remove the tarnish and dirt and to restore the shine of the metal.

If you have an antique storage trunk in your attic, don't neglect it; a trunk can be restored to create something functional and beautiful. I painted the wood with sealer, lined the drawers with mod podge and fabric. Leather handles, a common problem area on old trunks, are easy to replace. It has great potential, but as you can tell from the photos, it’s very dirty and needs some help. Typically, these trunks were made of wood and were very sturdy. I just wanted to say thank you! Step 7 Sand the entire trunk. Many old storage trunks were lined with paper, which holds mildew and odour. Aug 7, 2016 - Explore Re-Find Restorations's board "Old Trunk Upcycle", followed by 155 people on Pinterest. One might even become your coffee table. Stripping the old Green canvas took so time, as did the metal polishing with a steel brush which was pretty brutal. Dust it with a dry cloth and then use a wet cloth to wipe it down with plain water before adding furniture cleaner for additional cleaning.

When an old antique or vintage trunk is seen, it often looks beat up, damaged and ruined.

Older trunks have metal reinforcements at the corners.

For the amateur it's a weapon of mass destruction. Stain new leather handles with a commercial oil-based stain before installation. Some will spray directly onto the wood while others will be added to water. They were so durable that many are still around. The outside was sanded and scrubbed to remove any rust. Dampen the paper to help dissolve old glue, if necessary. Aug 7, 2016 - Explore Re-Find Restorations's board "Old Trunk Upcycle", followed by 155 people on Pinterest. Once the Wise Owl verbena is applied to the entire steamer trunk make sure to go back and buff any excess salve with an old T-shirt.

Includes safety precautions to carefully restore antique or vintage metal. Jun 22, 2017 - Like most antique lovers, you can largely overlook a piece's minor flaws to appreciate its obvious beauty. Your website was instrumental in helping me restore my first Steamer Trunk. When sanding metal pieces, slip an old license plate or other thin piece of metal between the part and the trunk to protect the wood.

I already know I’m going to wallpaper the inside of the trunk, but I’m somewhat at a loss as to the proper way to clean and refinish the exterior… I don’t want to use something that would corrode the tin. Use a tape measure to locate the nail point on the inside of the trunk lining, then tap it loose with a nail-punch and hammer. Q: I just came into possession of an old trunk that needs restoration. One might even become your coffee table. In the hands of the skilled master this is a delicate instrument of restoration.

Throw away the old nails, especially if they are rusty. Step 6 Remove rust and grime from the metal using steel wool. One of the trickiest parts of the project is disassembling the trunk.

Restore Old Trunk.

The total project probably took me 80hrs, but it was totally worth it!

Stain new leather handles with a commercial oil-based stain before installation.

Move the sandpaper back and forth along the trunk until the wood is …

Leather handles, a common problem area on old trunks, are easy to replace. Replace the old paper with wallpaper in a similar design.

The best way for me to clean all the nooks and cranny’s is with a shop vac. I already know I’m going to wallpaper the inside of the trunk, but I’m somewhat at a loss as to the proper way to clean and refinish the exterior… I don’t want to use something that would corrode the tin. If you haven't given up yet or haven't already finished your trunk, following are some links which might help. Old trunks were once used as luggage or storage during times before modern suitcases were available. How cool! it has beautiful embossed metal all around it but it is really rusty.

Q: I just came into possession of an old trunk that needs restoration. Rinse the rust away and dry the metal completely. Restore the Metal and Leather Trunks typically have metal hinges, latches or decorations. The outside was metal, so I used Rustoleum products. Before we get into restoring or painting, I needed to clean up the trunk. the wood on it is going to have to be replaced but i need some tips on how to restore the thin metal that has a lot of detail. Clean the trunk to remove all dirt, dust and grime.