Give yourself plenty of room to.
Antique trunk with metal sheeting cleaning.
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.
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.
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.
The metal on an antique trunk is designed to protect the trunks corners.
But rust is another matter.
This is a guide about cleaning and restoring an old trunk.
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.
Restoring a vintage steamer trunk.
Metal brass steel and iron were often used to make the latches corners and edges of a vintage style steamer trunk.
Rust is something you ll want to remove because it undercuts the beauty of a piece.
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Step 4 prop the trunk open and allow it to air dry completely.
Other non aluminum primers may not adhere well to the aluminum.
It is covered in a material that is torn in places.
Allow to dry for 48 hours.
A metal patina is a change in color that takes place with exposure to oils.
Jul 24 2016 like most antique lovers you can largely overlook a piece s minor flaws to appreciate its obvious beauty.
How to clean rust off of antique metal trunks step 1.
Set the antique trunk on a drop cloth or old blanket in a well ventilated area.
Remove surface dirt from the trunk with a microfiber cloth.
All of the edges are metal and there are metal straps and leather handles.
Antique steamer trunk large clean vintage victorian flat top chest w key c1895.
Pay special attention to grooves and indentations so.
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.
Allow to dry and then prime with rustoleum aluminum primer.
The hardest part of the entire project is in the preparation of the piece.