Antique Trunk With Metal Sheeting Cleaning

Metal brass steel and iron were often used to make the latches corners and edges of a vintage style steamer trunk.

Antique trunk with metal sheeting cleaning.

Allow to dry for 48 hours. See picture at left these trunks were primarily covered with metal but also canvas and leather and have the horrendous nickname of waterfall trunk. All of the edges are metal and there are metal straps and leather handles. Give yourself plenty of room to.

Allow to dry and then prime with rustoleum aluminum primer. Jul 24 2016 like most antique lovers you can largely overlook a piece s minor flaws to appreciate its obvious beauty. The statement i read said it the monitor trunk was named after the civil war iron clad battleship uss monitor because of the resemblance of the tops. This is a guide about cleaning and restoring an old trunk.

The hardest part of the entire project is in the preparation of the piece. Pay special attention to grooves and indentations so. It is covered in a material that is torn in places. How to clean rust off of antique metal trunks step 1.

Whether it s an heirloom or an antique store find an old trunk can be a wonder addition to your home for both storage and decoration. Restoring a vintage steamer trunk. To some extent imperfections are exactly what make antiques so endearing and desirable. The metal on an antique trunk is designed to protect the trunks corners.

But rust is another matter. I suggest de glossing the surface of the aluminum with 320 grit sandpaper and then wiping the sheet metal clean with a lint free cloth and mineral spirits. Rust is something you ll want to remove because it undercuts the beauty of a piece. Antique steamer trunk large clean vintage victorian flat top chest w key c1895.

Set the antique trunk on a drop cloth or old blanket in a well ventilated area. Gently clean paper lined trunk interiors by spraying the vinegar solution on your cleaning cloth and carefully wiping down the interior. After years of use the antique metal may develop a characteristic patina. Trunk restoration is a combination of wood working metal craft and leather work so it helps to have some experience in all three fields.

Clean metal antique trunks with a mixture of one part white vinegar and one part water in a spray bottle. Removing the old material covering. Step 4 prop the trunk open and allow it to air dry completely. Remove surface dirt from the trunk with a microfiber cloth.