Old trunk

Kim Lander
by Kim Lander
Found this trunk in my daughter's garage. I would like to refinish it, but have no idea how to do it. Its got a metal of some kind all around the outside of it. Can anybody help me?
  26 answers
  • M M on Nov 09, 2013
    The one I have I cleaned with Murphy's oil soap and then I liked the old look tht it had so I left it original!
  • Kim Lander Kim Lander on Nov 09, 2013
    Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
  • Deb matay Deb matay on Nov 09, 2013
    I'm about to redo a trunk almost exactly like this. I'm going to try a paperbag treatment on it, I'll let you know how or if it works
    • Judi M Judi M on Nov 10, 2013
      @Deb matay MMMM can you tell me what a paper bag treatment is? Sounds interesting but I haven't ever heard of it
  • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Nov 09, 2013
    instructables.com is awesome for tips... here is a good start! I have a trunk addiction. About 30 in my home! http://www.instructables.com/id/Restoring-A-Vintage-Steamer-Trunk/
  • Kathleen J Kathleen J on Nov 10, 2013
    The joy in this trunk is the "condition" and I would enhance that only by cleaning with Murpheys Oil Soap and maybe topping that with Liquid Gold to bring out the glory of the old wood. What a find!
    • See 1 previous
    • Brenda Hoyt Brenda Hoyt on Nov 11, 2013
      @Kathleen J This is what I would have suggested to. Maybe after it's cleaned to use an oil based product to bring out the natural color of the wood.
  • Beth Bleas Beth Bleas on Nov 10, 2013
    Vacume,vacuumed, vacuumed with a soft brush attachment. And then use Murphy's oil soap, with a wash cloth type rag, rinsing the rag frequently! Wipe excess off...don't soak the wood. Just keep gently scrubbing. Let it dry out...and repeat.
  • Ann S Ann S on Nov 10, 2013
    i had one and i sanded the top because it was so messed up and stained it ,,,vacumned the rest and dusted it then rubbed lemon oil on it .. it is a beautiful trunk that was saved . i use it now to store winter blankets .. helps out in storage. before it was just taking up space and ugly in the shed. i now have it sitting at the end of the bed in my guest bedroom as anyone would a cedar chest
  • Kim Lander Kim Lander on Nov 10, 2013
    It has some kind of thin metal all on the outside of it. I was thinking maybe removing it and see whats under it. I'm hoping the wood is in good shape.
    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Nov 12, 2013
      @Kim Lander Trust me you don't want to remove anything that you can't for sure put back. Tape with frog tape and stain or paint.
  • CB CB on Nov 10, 2013
    I have one exactly like yours, and also used Murphy's oil soap to clean it. I think I will follow up with some of the other suggestions--especially the lemon oil. Mine still had the canvas straps attached, so I used carpet cleaner to spruce them up a bit. As for the musty smell on the inside, I used vinegar and baking soda on a damp sponge to wipe the inside, then left a bowl of (unused) coffee grounds inside for at least a month. The smell is still not entirely gone, so any suggestions about that would be appreciated!
  • Jo DeVetter Jo DeVetter on Nov 10, 2013
    This reminds me so much of the one my grandparents had on their porch with Saturday Evening Post mags inside ....the original Norman Rockwell pics ....omg! I miss them so much ( my grandparents that is) ...sometime wish for just one more visit with them,
  • Liz Liz on Nov 11, 2013
    Kim, I wouldn't remove the tin bands!!! I have 3" bands going the opposite direction of the wood on the top of my trunk. I tried all sorts of metal cleaners and none really did anything. Soooo, I painted all the tin a glossy black, except for the 3" bands on top (they ran the opposite direction of the wooden strips). I then carefully sanded the wooden strips and refinished them. It's been a long time since I did this project, but I think I used a polyurethane on the wood and those 3" bands. No wood or metal polish needed after that. It gave a little gloss to that flat tin and looked pretty good next to the leather! The leather was dry and brittle so I bought a reconditioning creme and go over the leather to keep it from drying more. The interior, I lined with fabric. I store old family photos in it now and even used it as a coffee table for awhile. Good luck and show a few "after" photos when you refinish it! :-)
  • Janet Harris Janet Harris on Nov 11, 2013
    Hi Kim, I have a similar trunk that I found also. I cleaned it up, then I painted it with chalk paint and lightly distressed it to match other furniture in my kitchen. I then placed it against the wall,put a cushion on the top (lid), and added a cushion along the back to make a little bench for 2 of my grand kids to sit on. Extra storage for cookbooks or small appliances too. Works for me! Lol. Hope that you find a great and useful idea for your trunk too. Janet
  • Dale Dale on Nov 11, 2013
    After a good cleaning I'd decoupage a world map on it and then find postcards of different places and put that sort of thing on it. Making a travel trunk of it. It could be world or our good USA highlighting places you've been or want to go. Just an idea that will hopefully inspire you to something you want.
  • Stacy Cooper Stacy Cooper on Nov 11, 2013
    http://www.brettunsvillage.com is a good resource for parts and how-to's for restoring trunks.
  • Thrifty Treasures Thrifty Treasures on Nov 11, 2013
    I would also just clean it up and see how it looks. It is an awesome find. You can start with a light vacuuming, then murphy's oil soap. I might also try the olive oil and vinegar! Good luck. I hope you post after you have finished it!
    • See 2 previous
    • Babby Blair Babby Blair on Nov 11, 2013
      @Thrifty Treasures I have to disagree with you there. once you put oil on wood and it's absorbed what ever you put on it will just peel off. just my experience talking. My mom and I did ALOT of refinishing and any wood that had absorbed oil was NOT A GOOD THING. lol
  • Robin James Robin James on Nov 11, 2013
    Kim, the bands are additional character need to leave them on the trunk. You might want to put some industrial wheels on the bottom if you want to use it as a coffee table, or just to add to the industrial look. Have fun, and make sure to air it out before you put stuff in it.
  • Babby Blair Babby Blair on Nov 11, 2013
    I refinished an old trunk my mom had when she was little. I just cleaned it up real good then painted the whole thing black. then I took some gold paste and with a rag hit the high spots of the metal parts. The inside tray was long gone so took an old quilt that had never been finished and glued it to the inside. they had some sort of chip board cedar at the lumber yard that was only about 1/4 inch thick and put that on the bottom and the sides. It took the old smell away and gave us something flat to glue the quilt to. It turned out great. I'll add a picture if it works for me. nope. I made the pictures small and it still wouldn't let me put them on here.
  • Linda Linda on Nov 11, 2013
    I have a trunk like that and it was used foe a coffee table with apiece of glass on top.
  • Deanna Riles-Cox Deanna Riles-Cox on Nov 11, 2013
    I agree with @ Babby Blair my experience is the same as hers. Once you oil untreated wood it will repel what you want to paint it with I. The future.
  • Woody Michael Woody Michael on Nov 11, 2013
    Don't paint it!
  • Linda Jowers Linda Jowers on Nov 12, 2013
    Not sure what type of metal you have & how it might clean up. My stepfather let me have his trunk & I redid it many, many years ago, our 2nd apartment. I used navel jelly to clean the metal which was not impressive, then painted it & 'antiqued' the metal surfaces [a soft, old gold] - 'antiquing' was big then, so you can tell how long ago it was. I cleaned, sanded & stained the wood, painted the hinges & other corner parts black & oiled the leather handles on each end.I have used it as an end table, coffee table, but my favorite is as a[large] chair side table against a wall with the top open & 2 separate sections in the tray. It had the original torn, and not attractive paper lining. I am on my 3rd upholstery lining - folded & stapled, never glued so it could be changed with changes in furniture, reupholstered furniture, different wall colors, etc. Also with the top open the front edge of the top forms a small shelf that lends itself to various small displays. I still love it!!! Forgot to say Good luck!
  • Kim Lander Kim Lander on Nov 14, 2013
    Thank you everyone for sharing your ideas. I think I'm going to paint the metal areas, haven't decided what color yet. I'm going to sand and refinish the wood. Replace all of the missing or broken hardware on it. So when I'm done I'll post a picture.
  • Babby Blair Babby Blair on Nov 15, 2013
    that would be great. can't wait to see your finished product. you will do great.
  • Erin@UpcycledUgly Erin@UpcycledUgly on Nov 15, 2013
    Hi Kim- I painted my old steamer trunk with chalk paint and distressed it a bit. I sealed it with polyurethane. It was super easy! I'm sure yours will look awesome when you're finished! http://upcycledugly.com/woods-blues/
    • Julie Moyna Julie Moyna on Nov 17, 2013
      @Erin@UpcycledUgly That is awesome! I have one I am in the middle of right now with ASCP Graphite and emperor's silk!
  • Amintaa Alaniz Amintaa Alaniz on Nov 13, 2014
    I inherited my grandmas trunk & would like to give it a small face lift. Very interesting ideas as I'm hesitant to use just anything on it, as it hold sentimental value, trunk was give by my grandpa to her before marriage. It's over 100 years old.
  • Babby Blair Babby Blair on Nov 14, 2014
    very nice. I love it. you do great work