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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: sapphire on September 16, 2012, 02:05:42 PM
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Trying to get at some of my projects and get a room ready for a visiting daughter at the same time. I've decided that I want to put my old steamer trunk in the bedroom I'm getting together (waiting on painted furniture to dry).
Other than deodorizing and airing out I've done nothing with it. The finish on the wood has more or less been worn off, I'd like to just give it a good cleaning and use a natural treatment (suggestions?) to give it more life. The metal I'll be painting black, as that's what appears to have been on it originally. Now as for the canvas.........it's not in horrible conditon, but not great. I'd like to keep it. I'm wondering if I should just give it a cleaning and refreshing (but with what) or should I paint?
If I end up painting I don't want to totally seal the trunk, so was wondering if a water based paint would be good, or is there a paint specifically for canvas. Really don't want to do such a total make over as to make it 'new' again, I'd like to retain as much of it's character as possible.
It still has an old shipping label which I'd like to try to freshen up as well, but it's similar to card stock, so other than dusting I doubt there's much I can do with that.
The inside has all it's lining (linen or light canvas) but needs some re-gluing. No tray was with it, so that's not an issue.
So any suggestions or helpful hints would be appreciated........ just really want to help it look more like it should.
**second pic shows more of the true color, light khaki green
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Forum doesn't like my pics again. :P
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Forum doesn't like my pics again. :P
not too keen on them either....can,t see a bloody thing...perhaps a test is needed...testing 1.2
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what size are the pics ?? maybe resize them smaller !!
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Two more.....
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what size are the pics ?? maybe resize them smaller !!
Had to move them over to photobucket to resize. Usually able to just upload straight from the photo library on my laptop. Weird.
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pics here now...maybe mine gave yours a push....a good thing for restoring canvas, is either bees wax...or the cheaper alternative..paraff in wax....whatever you do .do not paint....and if you use paraffin wax...make sure you wash yer mitts afterwards before you have a ciggie...cause if you don,t you,ll end up like i did one time after i,d waxed my bushwackers riding coat....after applying the paraffin wax with a sponge and no rubber gloves...i decided to roll a smoke...within a couple mins of lighting up... i was as high as a kite... ;D
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i think this is a different more porous canvas than that bigwull !! you want to keep it Sapphire and just make it look better ??
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you want to keep it Sapphire and just make it look better ??
Absolutely! This baby isn't going anywhere. She deserves a 'natural' makeover right down to her brass casters. ;)
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take your pick Sapphire...there,s plenty to choose from
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=canvas+waterproofing&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=9533750360&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=636725708572078361&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_63qtc5ssbj_b
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pics here now...maybe mine gave yours a push....a good thing for restoring canvas, is either bees wax...or the cheaper alternative..paraff in wax....whatever you do .do not paint....and if you use paraffin wax...make sure you wash yer mitts afterwards before you have a ciggie...cause if you don,t you,ll end up like i did one time after i,d waxed my bushwackers riding coat....after applying the paraffin wax with a sponge and no rubber gloves...i decided to roll a smoke...within a couple mins of lighting up... i was as high as a kite... ;D
Good lord, thought you were going to tell me you lit up like a bon fire. Watched that happen to a friend who thought squeezing a can of BBQ lighter fluid towards a cantankerous fireplace was a smart idea.........NOT! In is squeezing/flicking he had managed to get it on his hands suit jacket/pants/shoes, fireplace hearth, carpet and coffee table. Needless to say when it lit up it ALL lit up.
Do you think waterproofing products would help with cleaning and 'spiffing up'? I've used it years ago (the paint on kind) but never paid any attention other than it kept me dry. ;)
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No that happened years before when i was at a Pink Floyd concert at Hockenheim in Germany....we were camping in the forest that rings the stadium..and i,d had a good many beers ,a few joints...and noticed that the BBQ had died...so i syphoned some petrol from my motorcycle,into a mug...then threw it on the smouldering coals....whoosh!!...and the flames ran back to where the petrol had come from...and i was still holding the damn mud...which was made of aluminium...luckily for me the the mouth of the mug was still facing down....but.it did,nt stop me wetting myself.....did i learn from that experience......not really......there are times I see Avril watching me....when i,m doing something that she considers is dangerous ....and she,ll come out with...Wull!....you,re,like an accident waiting to happen,...and the last time she said it was a few months ago..and it distracted me..and i hit my thumb with a hammer....then i blamed her.... :D
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Don,t say I,m not good to you Sapphire.....see link...now we,ve seen your before,s....i await your afters with eager anticipation....now get yer finger oot...
http://ridiculousredhead.com/?tag=steamer-trunk
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Don,t say I,m not good to you Sapphire.....see link...now we,ve seen your before,s....i await your afters with eager anticipation....now get yer finger oot...
http://ridiculousredhead.com/?tag=steamer-trunk
Sweet! Saddle soap and Tung oil ! That I can do. Once I give it a good cleaning I'll decide if I want to touch up some bits of canvas. I still want the same color, actually sort of doing the room around the trunk.........so I may end up picking up some acrylic craft paint that I could use sparingly to make the worn bits blend in before finishing. It's got a nice character all of it's own and I would hate to strip it of that.
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Sapphire please don't use any acrylic craft paint on this beautiful trunk!! Try a very small spot in the back & use very watered down water colors, I think the canvas will get just a slight hint of color and not be completely covered like with acrylics. I love to see the wear & tear on these well loved & used pieces!
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I've repainted a simple wicker three tier stand for a bedside table for now, but this is what will eventually replace it. Once I get through the layers of paint (at least 4 that I can tell) I'll be able to see just how much damage it suffered. It's got quite a burn patch right through, luckily at a bottom rear corner, on one side. I will likely end up painting but we'll see. ;)
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Sapphire please don't use any acrylic craft paint on this beautiful trunk!! Try a very small spot in the back & use very watered down water colors, I think the canvas will get just a slight hint of color and not be completely covered like with acrylics. I love to see the wear & tear on these well loved & used pieces!
I know what you mean wendy. I would only use it in very obvious sad spots (but only if it works) by applying a bit with a damp cheesecloth or sponge, then wiping most of it away. More of a gently wash......absolutel y NOT painted. Maybe acrylic was the wrong term. I was thinking along the lines of tole paint, which I have used as a wash on wood/ceramic items.
Once I have given it a gentle cleaning I'll have a much better idea of what it actually looks like. I'll post some pics of it here for opinions before going any further ;)
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Sapphire please don't use any acrylic craft paint on this beautiful trunk!! Try a very small spot in the back & use very watered down water colors, I think the canvas will get just a slight hint of color and not be completely covered like with acrylics. I love to see the wear & tear on these well loved & used pieces!
wear and tears ok..but its not to everyones taste...here,s a before...and after....i know which one i,d go for.....btw...i think Sapphire,s is superior to this one...
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Why thank you, Sir Wullie! You can call me Mother Superior :D
My one challenge with the trunk will be where it must have been rammed into something (or something into it). It sat in a garage for years before being put out for trash. Neighbour's loss, my gain.
It has a crack across the front, you can see the 'crease' and feel where the upper part of the board has retreated inwards. Surprisingly it did very little damage to the canvas, more so to the metal strapping which can be straightened. I just hope I'll be able to 'pop' it back out without making anything worse.
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when you come to fix the sprung board...get a piece of wood..3/4 ply or something similar...put it at the back and cut a piece of wood...4 x 2 slightly wider than the inside of the trunk,then uae it like a wedge..to ease the sprung board back...if you don,t have eye contact with the sprung board..you nmay need to make an incision to the cotton interior lining...in order to run in some glue....as for the cleaning of the canvas...once you,ve done it....you can waterproof it,by using diluted Uni-bond...which is a PVA white glue...which needs to be diluted...and when its dry..it dries clear...
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I've used that trick for other 'jobs', didn't even think of it for this. :P
The lining is still mostly attached so it would mean getting behind it. But that I don't mind as having it out would make it easier to eliminate any lasting odors or unseen mould. I've got plenty of fabrics around (actually IN the trunk) that I'm sure I could find a replacement.
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I've used that trick for other 'jobs', didn't even think of it for this. :P
The lining is still mostly attached so it would mean getting behind it. But that I don't mind as having it out would make it easier to eliminate any lasting odors or unseen mould. I've got plenty of fabrics around (actually IN the trunk) that I'm sure I could find a replacement.
looking back at my post...i can see some editing that needs doing....andthats without a drink or a triple whotsit....
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Water color would be very hard to match I think just due to their nature !! What i would do if it were me is try to find a fabric paint a shade lighter and one a shade darker and mix till you are as close as possible !! Then dilute with water and use as a wash !! Craft paint would actually be OK but it would need to be diluted as well !! And used sparingly,, dont flood it !!