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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: hosman321 on June 20, 2010, 01:01:57 pm

Title: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: hosman321 on June 20, 2010, 01:01:57 pm
Just bought my first humpback trunk. I thought it was called camelback but apparently camelback has the piece of wood running along the top, mine doesn't.

I'm finding so much conflicting information online and it's getting very frustrating! Some say to do one thing and others say to never do it. My question is:
What can I do to make the metal shiny again?
Some sites say this is tin. Some say it's not tin, it's steel. I just want to make the metal shine again, I'm not doing any painting or wood refinishing, just shining the tin/steel pieces. I have started sanding the disgusting inside though, it was BAD. :P
This monster is huge and I love it but I need to know what to go out and buy tonight. Some say use steel wool and vinegar. Some say never use steel wool, use brass. Some say only to use some kind of power tool. I don't care if it's brand new looking, just more shiny than now. HELP!
Note, the camera makes it look better than it really is in person. In person, it's very dark and dull, not shiny at all. The parts I am interested in cleaning are in between the wood slats and just above the closing latch thingys. And the decorative pieces all over it. Not the brown metal areas.
Oh, and I could have sworn I saw a topic on this a few months back. But when I search "trunks" and "trunk" I can't find it. ???
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: waywardangler on June 20, 2010, 02:58:17 pm
Yes, I remember someone restoring one on here months ago but I do not remember who.  I suggested 0000 steel wool and oil to polish the tin.  0000 steel wool does not scratch (to the naked eye) while coarser grades may.  I will try and find the old post hosman.

I think it was this post by wendy...

http://www.antique-shop.com/forums/index.php?topic=6469.0
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: hosman321 on June 20, 2010, 03:23:54 pm
Thank you for finding the link! I was thrown off by the post title. To Home Depot I go!
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: hosman321 on June 20, 2010, 08:45:47 pm
I broke down. I bought a Dremel. Also known as a back saver! What a marvelous investment! The upper left is the part I did in about 2 minutes. Zippin' through it. Not sure yet if it's gonna work on the panel parts. But it's workin' great on all the accent pieces. Saves my back and saves time, I highly recommend one. :P
I'm using the stainless steel wheel.
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: waywardangler on June 20, 2010, 09:09:27 pm
Dremels are great...I have 3 and one Ryobi along with numerous bits, grinders, cutters, brushes, wheels, and drums that fit them.  My oldest Dremel is a single speed from about 45 years ago.  The Ryobi multi-speed is Ok but I find the motor brushes foul from wood dust more than the Dremels.  Must be the design of the air intake ports.
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: hosman321 on June 20, 2010, 09:19:24 pm
I'm hoping it does well and will last a long time. Most of the people we know say they have had theirs for years, my husband's grandpa has had his at least 25 years. I'm happy so far. :)
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: Omega Entity on June 20, 2010, 10:39:09 pm
Dremels are indeed very useful, and very versatile. I use mine for grinding, shaping, and polishing opal!
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: KC on June 21, 2010, 08:51:34 am
Have 2 Dremels and a Ryobi as well......they both work great in restoration work.  Agree...that my Dremel is the most preferred!
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: hosman321 on June 21, 2010, 05:47:13 pm
Well, I've given up on the monster. I'm not big on restoration. I believe in cleaning items rather than making them "brand new again." I wasn't liking how super shiny the tin was becoming. I realized it would look ridiculous to have brand new metal and everything else stayed old looking. Then, I'd have to make everything match. Which would mean sanding and refinishing the wood and repainting all the painted surfaces. Not very appealing.  :-\ Maybe I'm just lazy? Maybe I like the look? I think it's a bit of both :P
So, I slightly cleaned up most of the metal but it still looks old and yucky. Just the way I like it. Polished the brass escutcheon. Most importantly, it all matches and doesn't look funny. So, I guess my little project is done on the outside. Still some sanding needed inside. Mildew heaven in there. The Dremel was very handy, but it gets a break now. Thanks for the input guys (and gals).
By the way, I just love the star handles, had to show those. And as for sunshine to air out the mildew, Western Washington State has not been above 74 degrees in 270 days. I need a few days of sun! Although I live here because if I live in a sunny place I fry alive. I burn on cloudy days!
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: waywardangler on June 21, 2010, 09:05:59 pm
It is a nice looking trunk as is.  Objects are to be admired by their owners in order to be enjoyed.  If you like the trunk as is, then that is the way it should stay.
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: hosman321 on June 21, 2010, 09:17:19 pm
Did anybody watch Pawn Stars tonight? Rick bought a trunk like mine and I can't believe how much he spent on it and it's restoration. Even though it had all the compartments, it's not worth what he paid for it.
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: waywardangler on June 21, 2010, 10:30:31 pm
Yes, I watched it and I could not believe the price either (before restoration).  Evidently prices are much different in Vegas.  I do not see how he can come out on it.  Maybe the trunk looks much better in person.  They did say it had a leather covering.  I would think it would be $150-200 tops in my area of the Midwest.  Without the compartments, I see these all the time in varying degrees of wear for $25-100.
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: hosman321 on June 21, 2010, 10:42:36 pm
I thought the brown part on my trunk was leather, too. But it's painted brown metal. I think they were mistaken about that part. I think maybe these trunks are more rare out in the desert. Wood items don't last long. I also have that exact same Dante's Inferno book that was on there. I paid a whole $10 for mine. I laughed when the guy wanted $1,000. Or was it $3,000?
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on June 23, 2010, 06:05:53 pm
Nice job on that trunk Hosman321!
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: hosman321 on June 24, 2010, 05:35:19 pm
Thanks tales! All the cleaning, sanding and bleaching on the inside is not helping. The mildew smell is overwhelming the house. So, I am going to buy one of these. I have used them before but forgot about them. They've been amazing, I'll let you guys know how they work for mold and mildew smells!
http://www.thebadairsponge.com/mold_mildew_odor_remover.html
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: waywardangler on June 24, 2010, 06:18:09 pm
What is inside your trunk?  Plain wood or paper or ?  Bleaching should have killed all the mold and mildew.  If the bad sponge does not work I think you need to mask the inside odor.  If you shellac the inside that should seal it.  Whether or not it stops the odor is the question.  I have heard of using grass clippings, red cedar shavings, crumpled up newspaper, and of course, Waywards' Whacky Tebakkey Trunk-cure (aka cured tobacco leaves).  ;D
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: hosman321 on June 24, 2010, 07:54:10 pm
It was covered in paper, glued on. I got most of it off by sanding but quite frankly...I got exhausted and didn't get every bit of paper out. I also saved the decal on the upper lid and the fabric that is underneath it. That's probably what is still smelly. I just can't bring myself to rip it out because it does de-value it a bit and (in my opinion) takes away a bit of it's past. I need to find a way to clean it. Getting it moist makes the glue melt and the fabric peels off the wood. I'll read more about how to clean that part. I'm hoping the bad air sponge helps. If not, I'll try Wayward's Whacky Tebakkey Trunk Cure. :P
The antique shop lady said banana peels. Eventually, the dang smell will be gone. Even if it's replaced by 10 other smells!
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: wendy177 on June 25, 2010, 06:35:26 am
Hi I have been told the best way to rid your trunk of bad smells is to leave it sit in the hot sun  (bring it in at night) for several days. This has worked with my trunk I am working on, I have also heard Place an open bag of kitty litter in trunk and close.  Check it in about a week.  The cheap brands usually work the best.  Have not tried that one.  As far as finishes I contacted these guys for help this is what I got in reply :Dollars to donuts says there's a partially-full can of polyurethane or varnish out in your garage or barn, and that's what you're planning on dousing on your trunk.  This sickens us.  These types of finish will clog up every open pore on that trunk.  At Brettuns Village, we learned the hard way, over 15 years ago, that these finishes do much more harm than good to an old trunk.  Simple test - how many antique trunks have you ever seen that were still in good shape and had been varnished originally?  Not many.  The ones that were made with goopy finishes like that just flat aren't around anymore.  Now, on the other hand - the trunks that are still around and in good shape mostly used a simple finish coat.  Curious?  It's a top secret formula, protected by the offspring of the old trunk makers.  Can't tell you what it is. The concoction is pretty easy to whip together.  Here's the basic mixture:  one part tung oil, one part mineral spirits.  A couple of notes - 1) we use real tung oil, pure form, uncut.  You can find this through some refinishing supply houses or at some hardware stores.  Most tung oil sold in stores these days has already been cut with mineral spirits - check the label (Homer Formby brand works great and has already been thinned for your convenience).  Pure tung oil is very thick and takes days to dry.  Cutting it in half with mineral spirits can cut the drying time down to just a few hours.  2)  The second half of the mixture - mineral spirits - is exactly what you want to use.  Don't substitute paint thinner.  Buy mineral spirits and use it.  That's that.  Oops, one more note - 3) to this mixture you can add some stain to give the trunk wood the desired hue/tone/color/shade.  A little bit will do it.  We usually add some golden oak stain.  Make sure this is solvent-based stain - not water based - or it'll all end up at the bottom of your mixing can.  OK, one last note - 4) a coffee can magically turns out to be a great size for this - mix up about a quarter can of tung oil, a quarter can of mineral spirits, and a few tablespoons of stain.  About a half a coffee can - always turns out to be about the right amount to do one trunk.  An important note - tung oil dries harder than varinish or polyurethane - it DOES NOT remain oily and anyone who tells you it does needs to stop eating those mushrooms that grow out of the goat poop.  We use tung oil because that's what trunk makers in the 1800s used. 

Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: wendy177 on June 25, 2010, 06:40:55 am
One more thing The glue under your fabric is mucelage, made from old horses, and this also causes a very nasty smell. Just remember  It took 100 years to build up that smell - you can't get rid of it in an afternoon.
Good luck
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on June 25, 2010, 08:02:14 am
I wonder if the sun/kitty litter technique would also work with baking soda? I remember hanging a non-washable costume out in the sun on the advice of a friend when it got cigarette smell in it after an event. The sun technique worked well for that. I bet it would help.
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: regularjoe2 on June 25, 2010, 11:21:29 am
Diatomaceous earth is the best 'organic cure' for smells in trunks .

One of the problems with molds/mildews/fungus/rot is that it has a microscopic structure , which can even penetrate into wood .
With metal-clad trunks , this means that the micro-critters can be encapsulated in the happy & dark space between the tin & wood , which makes abatement problematic , time-consuming & adds a bit of labor/supplies to the project .
More or less , the abatement is a 'fumigation' process which requires the trunk being sealed-up inside of large plasic bags (preferably outside) for a day or so , while the volitile/aromatic chemicals do their work .

As wendy177 stated , mucelage glue (& fabrics/papers) is also an issue , and very small insects too .

I'm guessing that you're planning on putting a finish on the interior of your trunk ; if you do , you can add a fungicide to the water/acrylic-based paint/varnish you use , which is a long-term prophylaxis .
The big deal here , besides doing micro-genocide , is to fully dry out your trunk before (& after) finishing its' interior .... this process can be aided (on the cheap) by using a small heat source , like a 40watt light bulb in a safe light fixture (no plastic drop-lights) , inside of the trunk - this will cause some odors , so again , do it in a well-vented space .

Some restoration specialists use a UV lamp , closed up in the trunk , to kill microbes (prior to finishing) .

Bottom line is that these types of items are usually closed-up (dark,damp&stagnant) for most of the time ....living in the NW , you know how this feels... :D :D :D

I keep a small sachet of cedar shavings , with a drop or two of food-grade cinnamon oil , inside of closed-up trunks like these (usually inside of an old cotton sock) , with another small bag of diatomaceous earth .
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: hosman321 on June 25, 2010, 01:41:01 pm
Thanks for the input everyone. I plan on leaving the inside bare, no sealant or paint or anything. I read that it's better that way. ???
I covered the inside in baking soda and let it sit for 24 hours. Then I brushed it all out. Drastically cut down on the smell. Still smells a little bit musty but not nearly as bad as before. Maybe I'll do that one more time for 24-48 hours and then leave a bad air sponge in there for a few months. I'll just store stuff in there that will be ok with the bad air sponge like glass items/bottles that can be easily cleaned. Maybe I'll be able to save the decal without ripping it out.
The sun treatment is pretty much out the window. :P
Us Washingtonians know that sunshine is rare on the menu. And when we do get it, you gotta watch the skies all day to make sure you don't get a sudden downpour of rain out of nowhere. I have been dragging it inside, then outside, inside, then outside for the past few days. Gets a bit old, especially since I have to do it alone and it's huge and akward. I need to find some wheels to put back on this thing, I can see where they used to be but that doesn't help me much. A garage would be a beautiful thing right now. We're looking at houses right now. The supervisor at my husband's job that has been making our life miserable may be getting fired for everything he's done. So, we may get to finally buy another house and get out of this 910 square foot box!
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: fancypants on June 25, 2010, 01:51:27 pm
Sounds like you've got your hands full , hosman321 .

I will suggest that you place the baking soda in a glass/plastic/ceramic tray/footed dish , etc. - rather than spread it loose .

Baking soda is both highly alkaline & chemically reactive (and tough to fully clean up , when in loose powder form) .

Just sayin' ......

Hope you folks find the home of your dreams !
Morg. rates are at a 50 year low here (Pac.NW) now !
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: hosman321 on June 25, 2010, 02:09:22 pm
Dangit, guess I won't spread it loose again. Oops! :)  I'll be sure to take a damp cloth and wipe out the inside good. I tried to put it in a bowl and leave it in there overnight and it didn't make a difference. So, I spread it thinking it'd be better but thanks for the correction!

Houses are dirt cheap around here now. Our problem is that we owe $160,000 on our house and it is now worth $100,000. Which is the same problem everyone in the country is having right now, they owe far more than their home is worth. So, we could never sell it. We definitely don't want to be landlords and deal with renting it out. We're probably going to have to do a short sale, where you tell the bank that you are going to leave and let the house go into foreclosure. They don't want to deal with the hassle, so they agree to let you sell the house for less than it is worth. But I doubt they will agree to sell it for $100,000. So, the only other option the lenders and real estate agents are giving us is this: Find your next home, buy it and then just leave this one behind to go into foreclosure. It will hurt our credit for 18 months but at least we can buy the house of our dreams for dirt cheap and leave this one in the dust.  :-\
Title: Re: Has anybody ever restored a tin trunk?
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on June 25, 2010, 03:19:15 pm
I think you can just set a BOX of baking soda in the trunk, like you would in a refrigerator to remove smells, and then toss it out afterwards. That wouldn't hurt the trunk, right?

I should have been more clear.  :( Sorry Hosman!