How to Clean or Restore Old Steamer Trunks
- Use a putty knife to remove old paper from the inside of a steamer trunk. ...
- Most steamer trunks have tin on the exterior and wood slats. Use a soft cloth with a water and mild bleach solution to remove any mildew or mold.
- Replace the old paper with wallpaper in a similar design. If preferred, lightly sand and stain instead of replacing the paper.
- Cut pieces of wallpaper to fit, leaving about 1/2 inch extra, and reline the ends. Do the front and back before the bottom and top.
- Remove damaged nails with pliers or use the tack lifter to pry the head of trunk nails. Replace the nails.
- Inspect the outside of the trunk for any damage, especially wood trim. Use oil soap on wood trim to clean and then use a clear varnish.
- Remove rust from tin surfaces with a wire wheel, used on an electric drill or sandpaper, and then buff with steel wool.
- Use a gloss or satin black paint on the tin after sanding, and finish with a clear coat of shellac or polyurethane to help prevent rusting.
- Reattach canvas, if it is just loose, with plain glue. Some steamer trunks were covered in canvas, and the canvas was covered with a clear coating for waterproofing.
- Use paint close to the original color of the steamer trunk, usually dark brown or black and gold. Clean with a soft cloth and mild detergent.
How to refinish a steamer trunk?
Step 8: Finished Trunk and Key Replacement
- Get more than one key. You WILL mess up at least one, so have a few extras
- Learn how to pick the lock first. There are tutorials online that will teach you and it'll give you an idea of the shape you need.
- As the key gets closer to the right shape, it'll slowly turn the lock more and more. ...
How to remove a musty smell from a steamer trunk?
Things You Will Need
- Vacuum with soft brush attachment
- Murphy's Oil Soap
- Bucket
- Sponge
- Bleach
How to clean the inside of an old steamer trunk?
- Sweep the inside of the steamer trunk out. ...
- Mix up a 1/2 cup of Murphy's Oil Soap in a bucket of warm water. ...
- Place the steamer trunk in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location for a few days. ...
- Smell the inside of the old steamer trunk. ...
- Clean stubborn mold from the inside of an old steamer trunk with diluted bleach. ...
How to refurbish an old trunk?
- How to Remove Canvas From Your Trunk Plus how to fix up the wood beneath to prepare for applying finish.
- How to Remove Rust and Other Miserable Stuff Cough, hack, wheeze... ...
- How to Deal With Odors In the trunk, I mean. ...
- How to Attach Parts to Your Trunk Secrets of nail bending revealed! ...
How do you redo a steamer trunk?
Step 1: Tools and Supplies You're Going to Need. Tools: ... Step 2: Disassembling Your Trunk. ... Step 3: Cleaning Up the Metal. ... Step 4: Removing the Canvas Cover, Paper Liner and Sanding. ... Step 5: Staining and Finishing. ... Step 6: Building the Tray. ... Step 7: Adding the Leather Work. ... Step 8: Finished Trunk and Key Replacement.More items...
How do you refurbish an old trunk?
2:468:02DIY: Refinishing An Antique Trunk - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first step was tearing out all of the old canvas. And then after that we sanded down the insideMoreThe first step was tearing out all of the old canvas. And then after that we sanded down the inside of the trunk and applied a polyurethane to seal during this filming I was not wearing gloves.
How do you restore a wooden steamer trunk?
1:1423:12Steamer Trunk Restoration - Hearthside Woodworks - Ep 1YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd and getting some finished material on it to help seal the wood up really pop the the colors andMoreAnd and getting some finished material on it to help seal the wood up really pop the the colors and the tones that are already here and just make it a usable trunk.
How much is an antique steamer trunk worth?
While a luxury antique Lois Vuitton steamer trunk may not go for less than $20 000, there are normal household vintage types you can get on Amazon for less than $100.
Are old trunks worth anything?
Your trunk is worth a few thousand dollars, up to as much as $50,000. You may want to consider having a reputable antiques expert near you perform an appraisal to get a handle on what that thing is worth.
Can you paint a steamer trunk?
Clean and sand the trunk until it is free of any dust and has a smooth texture. Dip a paintbrush into the paint until it is barely covered. Wipe it off on a soft cloth to reduce the amount of paint on the bristles. Brush the paint onto the trunk with an light pressure, letting the trunk's original finish show through.
How do you get rust off an old trunk?
Rub the rust in a circular motion with steel wool, remembering that steel and tin, which are harder, may require a wire brush, while brass, which is softer, might be quickly restored with steel wool. Still, a heavy buildup of rust on brass might require the wire brush.
How do you restore an old wooden chest?
2:1010:00Restoring an Old Chest - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSomebody's have a go at least with a sander. You can see where all the swirl marks are. And. So weMoreSomebody's have a go at least with a sander. You can see where all the swirl marks are. And. So we need to please some work to this and we want it to be a bit lighter as well.
How do you open an old steamer trunk without a key?
1:373:25How to Open an Old Vintage Antique Trunk or Chest Lock - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut the way that I found to to circumvent this at the simple lock is to take a flathead screwdriver.MoreBut the way that I found to to circumvent this at the simple lock is to take a flathead screwdriver. And push it on an angle like this so I'm gonna get as tight as I can here. An angle like this.
How old is my antique steamer trunk?
1) To be considered antique, trunks must be at least 100 years and cannot have been restored. This greatly affects their value and should definitely be taken into consideration when you're looking to start or expand your collection.
What are old steamer trunks made of?
They were usually made of pine and covered in decorative material or leather. Some of the more recognizable styles of trunks include the Jenny Lind, Saratoga, steamer, barrel-top (also known as "Camelback Trunks"), and full dresser trunks.
Why do steamer trunks have curved tops?
The curved top not only offered a little more storage space, it meant that when traveling it had to be placed on the top of the stack, and not the bottom, thereby reducing the likelihood of damage.
How do you get the musty smell out of an old trunk?
Here's a method I use to lighten up old trunk odor:Vacuum the interior carefully and then set it outside in direct sunlight for a day.Wad up newspapers and fill the interior with them. ... Next, spread out fresh newspapers. ... Repeat these steps until the smell has lessened.More items...•
How do you refurbish a wooden chest?
2:1810:00Restoring an Old Chest - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you can see I've already made it start sanding just to get an idea for you know what the woodsMoreSo you can see I've already made it start sanding just to get an idea for you know what the woods like underneath lovely big white pine. Board no joynton at all at one piece.
How do you clean brass on an old trunk?
Rub the rust in a circular motion with steel wool, remembering that steel and tin, which are harder, may require a wire brush, while brass, which is softer, might be quickly restored with steel wool. Still, a heavy buildup of rust on brass might require the wire brush.
How do you get paint off an old trunk metal?
Apply a coat of paint stripper to the outside surface of the trunk. Allow the paint stripper to sit on the trunk for approximately 10 to 20 minutes. Read the manufacturer's instructions for wait time for your particular kind of stripper. Scrape the paint or finish from the surface with a putty knife.
What are the problems with steamer trunk restoration?
There are always a few obstacles. In the case of this steamer chest here are the main issues: spider webs. mildew odor. labels falling off. Let’s address these issues.
Why is a steamer trunk called a steamer trunk?
A steamer trunk actually got its name because it was designed to be used aboard a steamship, also known as a “steamer”. These sturdy wooden travel chests were popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s for those traveling long distances aboard these ships. Which is exactly where this particular antique trunk came from.
How to get rid of steamer trunk odor?
The first step to rid this large steamer trunk of the stench is to air it out. I left the trunk in my storage unit for a couple of months with the lid open before bringing in to the shop. This helped but certainly did not do the job completely. My next step is to spray the vintage steamer trunk with OdoBan.
How to apply lemon verbena to vintage trunk?
Using your dedicated brush apply the lemon verbena to the entire vintage trunk. Work the furniture salve into the wood as well as gently applying over the labels.
What sealer do I use on a wood trunk?
For the inside of the trunk I brushed on a coat of waterlox sealer in satin which penetrates the wood and seals it. I chose to leave it natural looking because the wood inside had so much character.
How do I clean a bad boy tree?
The first thing I did was sand this whole bad boy down from top to bottom with a fine grit sponge and clean it really well with steel wool and warm vinegar water. (Be careful not to soak the wood slats on the exterior. The wood might warp). I had to change the water quite a few times as the trunk had collected quite a bit of dirt and grime over the years.
How long should I let my car trunk sit out?
I let the trunk sit opened up and out in the sun for one day to dry out. The sun also helps get rid of any funky smells that might be left over too.
Materials used to restore this antique steamer trunk
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How to restore the antique trunk
Before we get into restoring or painting, I needed to clean up the trunk.
Antique Steamer trunk restored
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How to clean a steamer trunk?
If there is any dust, you need to wipe them off with dry clothes first. Step Two: The inside of the trunk should be covered in wallpaper. What you have to do is scrape off all the paper using a putty knife.
Why do people have steamer trunks?
The steamer trunks used to be so famous in ancient times. People who love to go traveling would have a steamer trunk to keep all the valuable belongings safe. Here we are going to tell you ways on how to clean an old steamer trunk. The steamer trunks are very heavy and thick. They are made in a way to keep things inside safe.
How to remove mold from a tree trunk?
To remove the mold, you can use bleach and water solution. Be careful not to use too much bleach as it could ruin the wood or steel. After using the mixture, you can let the trunk dry in the sun for a few hours. Step Four: There are probably going to be some damaged nails and pliers on them.
How to make steel shine?
To make the steel part shine, you can use a polyurethane coat to prevent it from rusting further. And again, if something is damaged beyond repair, make sure to replace them. Step Seven: You can now add the wallpaper inside the back. Buy a similar pattern. You may find them easily in an antique craft store.
When cleaning a trunk, do you restore it?
When you are cleaning, you may be restoring the trunk as well. That is why you would want to use everything that will stay similar. Otherwise, the whole trunk will become something new and loose its antique feeling. And there will be no meaning left by collecting them.
Can you replace a steamer trunk?
If the steamer trunk is way too old and has some wooden parts damaged beyond repair, you can replace them. Though this might be a lot of work, it will save the trunk from further damage. Step Six : As for the steel, you can use some sandpaper and then buff them properly with steel wood.
