happymomma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078 
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Post by happymomma on Apr 4, 2016 15:39:30 GMT
What product do I use to spruce up this old trunk?
Im not worried about the hardware, and I'm not trying to restore it.
I'd just like to make it look less 'dusty' and give it a conditioned appearance, if that makes sense.
I have never done anything like this but for some reason my mind is telling me there must be some kind of paste to rub into it.
I have seen some of you show your talent in this area before, so help a clueless girl out!
Thanks!
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Post by 5peanutsnana on Apr 4, 2016 15:51:19 GMT
I have one very similar to that (a family antique). It has some wood slats on the top. I chose to leave it as is. There are however many pins on Pinterest that have used chalk paint and other techniques to refresh them that look great. You could search there.
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happymomma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078
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Post by happymomma on Apr 4, 2016 16:14:05 GMT
I found it at a junk shop for $20 last year. Inside we found an Easter Seals stamp from 1943 and some other odds and ends. It's fun.
We just redid the room with deep warm shades like espresso trim, so I just wanted it to look a little richer, but just as battered as it is. It's just dusty and dull looking and it will match better if I condition it a bit, I believe.
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Post by not2peased on Apr 4, 2016 16:32:52 GMT
I would try rubbing a little bit of vegetable oil on it to make it a little less shiny
no idea if that is a bad thing, or a good thing, but I would try it, lol
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gsquaredmom
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Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Apr 4, 2016 16:47:38 GMT
I might use something for shoes like a wax or polish. Maybe mink oil or a conditioner. If paper based, I would stick to a wax rather than liquids. There is a wax people use on chalk paint. That might work. Even car wax might work.
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The Birdhouse Lady
Drama Llama
Moose. It's what's for dinner.
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Location: Alaska -The Last Frontier
Jun 30, 2014 17:15:19 GMT
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Post by The Birdhouse Lady on Apr 4, 2016 17:16:19 GMT
They make a conditioner for leather furniture. I might try that, but honestly my first thought was coconut oil.
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Post by papersilly on Apr 4, 2016 17:22:47 GMT
I would decoupage it. I would use vintage dictionary pages, old maps, vintage music sheets or pages from a book written in French.
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by blue tulip on Apr 4, 2016 17:24:21 GMT
is it leather? If so, I would clean with murphy's oil soap and use a leather conditioner like mink oil paste on it.
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Sue
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Location: SE of Portland, Oregon
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Post by Sue on Apr 4, 2016 17:25:52 GMT
You can get a product (can't remember the name) at an automobile parts and products store for cleaning and polishing car dashboards. Seems like that might work well.
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tincin
Drama Llama
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Jul 25, 2014 4:55:32 GMT
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Post by tincin on Apr 4, 2016 17:41:58 GMT
Like you, I'm certain that there is a product for just this application. If I were you I would goggle DIY restoring footlockers and see what you get. You can also check Pintrest, there are probably thousands of them on there.
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Post by peano on Apr 4, 2016 17:49:16 GMT
My first thought is that we need to know what the trunk is made of before we go recommending products willy-nilly.
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Kerri W
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Location: Kentucky
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Post by Kerri W on Apr 4, 2016 17:52:44 GMT
I would try to clean it really well with Murphy's Oil Soap and see what you find underneath.
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happymomma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078
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Post by happymomma on Apr 4, 2016 18:34:04 GMT
My first thought is that we need to know what the trunk is made of before we go recommending products willy-nilly. I will try to figure that out. Good idea. |
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Post by Lexica on Apr 4, 2016 18:47:09 GMT
It will depend on what it is made of. It looks like it could be either leather or even metal. Once you determine what it is made from, we will be able to make better suggestions.
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Apr 4, 2016 19:42:40 GMT
I'd chalk paint it. No sanding, no prep other than cleaning with a rag the dust off of it before painting it.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 1, 2024 15:41:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2016 21:04:26 GMT
Mineral oil. Will clean and give a nice patina
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suzastampin
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Post by suzastampin on Apr 4, 2016 22:53:37 GMT
is it leather? If so, I would clean with murphy's oil soap and use a leather conditioner like mink oil paste on it. I was going to recommend the Murphy's Oil Soap also. It can also be used on any leather that might be on it. We use it for horse harnesses and it really does a nice job softening up the leather. |
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Post by Zee on Apr 4, 2016 23:00:17 GMT
If it's not papery, I'd try some Murphy's Oil Soap and go from there, some type of oil rub.
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by blue tulip on Apr 5, 2016 0:50:22 GMT
is it leather? If so, I would clean with murphy's oil soap and use a leather conditioner like mink oil paste on it. I was going to recommend the Murphy's Oil Soap also. It can also be used on any leather that might be on it. We use it for horse harnesses and it really does a nice job softening up the leather. that's how i know of it too. murphy's and mink oil kept all my saddles and bridles supple.  |
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Deleted
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Oct 1, 2024 15:41:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 1:00:41 GMT
If you want to preserve the original trunk do jot paint it. Some type of leather treatment seems best.
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Post by disneypal on Apr 5, 2016 1:04:15 GMT
You can get a product (can't remember the name) at an automobile parts and products store for cleaning and polishing car dashboards. Seems like that might work well. That was my thoughts as well - Armor All I wouldn't spray directly on it. I would spray on a cloth and then wipe the trunk with the cloth |
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PLurker
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Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Apr 5, 2016 1:05:18 GMT
If you are not worried about perfect or initial failure, just go for it.
I bought an old cheap trunk like that that had college stickers on it. I wanted to make a cat litter box enclosure out of it and I did. It was a little more shiny (vinyl?) than that but since it wasn't a treasure I just went for it because perfect wasn't an expectation for a cat box. I went with black chalk paint as prep is minimal. (right up my alley)
I just removed the stickers best I could and painted it. Then I googled "free printable vintage luggage stickers", found some I liked, printed and mod podged them on the trunk. Mod podge comes in gloss or matte and I believe I went with matte. It turned out really cute. If I hadn't paid less than $10 I don't think I would have had the heart to cut hole in end for cat to enter. But I did and it looks pretty cool.
I'd do it again in a heart beat for storage use. DD is in college and is planning on stealing idea as soon as she is able to get own place and a cat. She loves it possibly more than me.
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Kerri W
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Location: Kentucky
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Post by Kerri W on Apr 5, 2016 1:09:56 GMT
I was going to recommend the Murphy's Oil Soap also. It can also be used on any leather that might be on it. We use it for horse harnesses and it really does a nice job softening up the leather. that's how i know of it too. murphy's and mink oil kept all my saddles and bridles supple. Ha! That's how I initially learned of MOS too...cleaning horse tack! I use it on all my wood furniture, trim and baseboards now. Works well! |
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Post by mikewozowski on Apr 5, 2016 3:48:26 GMT
i saw some new kind of wipe nu by rustoleum on tv yesterday
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Post by anxiousmom on Apr 5, 2016 12:07:00 GMT
I use Murphey's Oil Soap on pretty much everything but tile. I have a lot of wood in my house and use it to dust, clean the floors, condition old wood...pretty much everything that isn't the walls or tile.
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happymomma
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078
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Post by happymomma on Apr 5, 2016 14:28:21 GMT
I can't determine what it is made of. I think a laminate of some sort over the wood.
I tried armor all first but as soon as it dried it looked all dull again.
So I tried the coconut oil and it worked great. Still looks good today. I only did the top so I have to finish it whenever I have a day that I feel good enough to do it.
Thanks for all of your ideas!
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