New look for an old tin trunk

A good friend of mine had this trunk that she had been aiming to give a make-over for a long time. She graciously allowed it into my grubby little paws, along with a box of Rust-Oleum Classic Leather.

 

 

Step 1
First things first. Good scrub down with a wire brush. Oooh!... and here is where my little Dremel 8000 with the wire brush attachment came in real handy. It was really nice to work on the corners and edges but a normal wire brush would do the trick – just requires a little more elbow grease.

Step 2
Next most important step would be to wash the surface with soapy water. And of course make sure it is completely dry and dust free before you start.

Step 3
In the mean time – cover all the areas that you are not going to spray with news paper. I decided not to do the inside, but in hind sight it might have been nice to have done the inside of the lid – it is always nice to also display the truck with a open lid and a comforter spilling out.

 

CONTINUES BELOW

 

 

Step 4
Spray the entire surface with the base coat spray. You might need more than one coat. Don’t forget to also pay attention to trimmings such a handles and clips. Once dry, you are ready for the top coat. Make sure you were the protective gloves as the top coat can stain your hands and (from experience) can require quite a scrub if you want them clean.

Step 5
Paint a small section and use the plastic sheet included in your box – or alternatively you can use any plastic bag – but make sure you use the same type of plastic throughout your project. Eg, if you are going to use old groceries bag – stick to them – this will ensure that you get the same pattern throughout your project.

Step 6
Crumple the plastic and place it on the newly painted area immediately. Avoid using plastic with paint on already as it lessens the effect. If you only have a small piece of plastic rather wash the plastic and wait until the plastic is completely dry before continuing. (this is also why do you not paint too great a area – cause if this dries you wouldn’t get the desired effect) If you don’t do this you run the risk of pulling some of the paint of the project.

And there you go – a plain tin trunk with stunning Classic Leather finish.