Steamer Trunk Restoration - Hearthside Woodworks - Ep 1
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- Опубликовано: 9 янв 2025
- Welcome to the very first episode of Hearthside Woodworks! Isaac will be bringing new life to an old steamer trunk. Or is it a pirate chest?! Lets find out...
To get past, current and future project info, visit Hearthside Woodworks on Facebook, Instagram and at the official webpage at www.HearthsideWoodworks.com
FACEBOOK PAGE: HearthsideWoodwork
#restoration #diy #woodworking
Beautiful job. My dad was known as the trunk man of the Adirondack Mountains, and he restored over 4000 trunks in his life time. An art died with him, so it's wonderful to see a young man such as yourself doing such an amazing job. Loved the video.
This mild restoration approach is the only way for these marvelous relics of the past. In fact I use this minimal approach with all my restorations (furniture, toys, etc.). Great video
Thank you, I really appreciate that!
Okay...looks beautiful and very informational! If they find a lonely tray, with the corner supports, they'll never be able to add the tray back to the piece.
Arch-top trunks like these are often called 'Saratoga Trunks'. Rich New Yorkers would travel by train north to Saratoga Springs to escape the summer heat in the city. The regular flat-top trunks would be stacked one on top of another for the trip, and sometimes get crushed, so they started using these arch-top trunks that couldn't be stacked, so all their finery arrived safely. I used to do visitor/history tours of Saratoga, and the trunks were always a favorite story for the tourists. I have one of my own out in the garage, airing out until it stops smelling like mothballs!
Thank you for the info! I’m a history dork so I always enjoy learning little tidbits like this. 👍🏻
Thanks for the scoop on Saratoga trunks!
The anchors on the straps would indicate it was used for ships and not trains
Good work!
My my my . Gorgeous ! Just absolutely gorgeous.
Thank you! I really appreciate that.
Thank you for this well-done video. I have a late-1930s steamer trunk like this that I need to restore, and you've given me some great pointers.
That’s great! I’m glad this video helped out. Thanks for the comment and good luck on the project 👍🏻
I acquired a 110 year old Louis Vuitton steamer trunk and I did the same thing. I just had it cleaned and freshened up but still maintained its patina. Good job with this spectacular chest.
Thank you very much!
That’s an amazing job! Gorgeous!
I felt a bit comforted with how you spoke (hilariously so)to the drill/screws when things weren’t going as planned. I’ve inherited two steamer trunks, large and medium sized that I’m using your guidance for.
Thank you so much for your kind comment! I really appreciate that.
Good luck on your projects. Let me know if you have any questions
Thank you for this video= some great info here, between the history of the trunk, and the workmanship with it. I found a curve top with a lot of wear - I want to fix it up / restore it. Now I know what to label it.
Beautiful piece. I love that you kept the integrity of this piece of history. And your right, these trunks were built to last. I collect old antique trunks. Home decor & storage. I love anything that’s dual purpose. Thanks for the tip on using the lacquer products & using satin to tone down the gloss.
You’re very welcome and thank you for the comments! I’m glad this was helpful to you.
That looks great. I just came across this as I am looking to restore an antique trunk my grandparents brought over from Sweden when the immigrated to the US.
Thanks man! I appreciate the comment. Good luck on the project 👍
Out of all the videos I’ve seen yours is by far the best thank you so much for sharing your craft. I’m in Washington state and I wouldn’t mind having someone restore my two trunks. I don’t have the tools or the space to do it myself.
You've just inspiring me to get my great grandfather's trunk fixed - it 's in good shape but smells and has old handles. I've also been inspired to dressing up more, wearing gloves and hats while traveling and using Steamer trunks! They have baggage carts and porter men at most airports. I'll pay the extra weight fee to travel in style. I see so many of these trunks not restored at Brimfield and always thought no one restored them. Thanks!
I’m glad to be of help! Good luck on the project and thank you for your comment. 👍
Nice work, I love the sympathetic restoration of an old piece of history. This will be enjoyed by many generations to come.
Thank you, I'm sure hoping so!
WOW!!! THIS PIRATE CHEST AKA STEAMER TRUNK RESTORATION IS FANTASTIC!!!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR INCREDIBLE SKILLS AND WORK!!!
IT IS SO DELIGHTFUL TO SEE WHAT YOU DO TO RESTORE THIS TREASURE OF A CHEST !!!💖💖💖💖💖
Thank you so much for saying so, I really appreciate that.
You have just given that piece CPR and another 100 years of life. Great job👍
Thank you! I appreciate that.
So gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the process and your personality with us!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it. More videos are on the way.
Nice! You keep the patina! Congratulations!
Beautiful job.I love these humpback trunks.Wish I had your video before I refinished mine.Thank you.
Thank you! I really appreciate the comment. If you find yourself another trunk to work on, you know where to find me 👍
Stunning
Thank you! I appreciate the comment.
That turned out beautiful!!
Loved your video!!
I found an old trunk on craigslist for free and it very similar to the one you did here. On my trunk, there is decorative tin on the outside and the handles were riveted instead of screwed on with anchor brackets . there is a hole in the back on the tin and there are sharp pieces from the tin on the inside of the trunk. I too am missing the handles I was thinking since I don't have a place in my area to get replacements. I was kinda considering using a rustic leather belt for handles. I love a good challenge so this one is gonna be great. I so enjoyed watching your video and you gave me several good ideas on restoring my trunk thanks!
I’m really glad you enjoyed the video; hopefully it was helpful as well. Thank you for your comment and stay tuned, many more videos are on the way.
Excellent work
Thank you very much! I appreciate that.
Great job. The patience alone to do a project like this is admirable. I have none. Really, though, nice work.
Thank you. I appreciate that!
@hearthsidewoodworks it turned out nice. I also saw one done on 2 of my favorite channels. Both got replacement antique hardware and leather straps from Kennedy Hardware. Scott on Fixing Furniture and Trena on John's Furniture Repair.
Your really go at this!!!!!! Woodworking is so cool!
Awesome video! Inspires me to refresh my parents’ pirate treasure chest!
Absolutely! I’d encourage anyone to try a project like this. 👍🏻
Wow! It looks amazing! Great job! I just bought one today. I'm going to restore it also.
Awesome video! I just got me a steamer trunk. Can’t wait to work on it. Especially after looking at your video and wonderful tips. Wish I had you as a neighbor or friend to do all kinds of work and share ideas. 🤓👍🏼
Thank you! I appreciate the comment and thanks for watching. 👍
hope that you will continue with more projects. showing the work done without turning it into a "one man show, because i have to entertain" is really cool. thanks. hope to get more soon.
Thank you! I currently have 1 TB of raw footage that I'm editing right now. More videos are definitely on the way. Thanks for the comment!
Awesome. Excellent job.
Thank you! I appreciate that.
If you maintain your refreshing level of "softness" in your presentation, I expect you to be very successful in this endeavour. Too many believe that three-ring-circus blast and bling sells well. You make the piece being "refreshed" the star of the show, and not yourself. WELL DONE!!! I wish you much success! ...Barry
Thank you so much! That’s very kind of you to say. Glad to have you as a subscriber
I agree
Very nice restoration. Great attention to detail!!
Thanks man, I really appreciate that 👍
Beautifully done. Looks amazing. I need to find someone in the UK to repair my trunk handles.
Thank you, I appreciate that! I found mine on Amazon because I couldn’t find anybody locally to make them for me. Good luck on your project!
Excellent work!
Hey there! Ha! Thank you. I appreciate that
Cool video. I found you video as I was just given a chest that belonged to my great-great-grandfather, given to him when he moved out to the city in the late 1800's to become a tailor. Unfortunately my grandparents painted it at some point so I can't wait to restore it
Yeah, paint happens! I’ll be posting a video shortly on removing paint from an antique dresser. It might give you some tips for your trunk. Thanks for your comment and good luck on the project!
Your comment, "Yeah, Paint Happens" is very funny and also so appropriate for some poor pieces. That would make an excellent title for an episode about how you manage a piece that has been given an unfortunate paint job. Love your style of informative videos and how you share your knowledge with humour and good examples.
Great job thanks for the advice
You’re welcome! Hopefully it was helpful. Thanks for watching
Older the better to make like arignal as much as we can .Really good box to work on used to do things like this in 1970s butifull box
I appreciate the comment, thank you. I love working on these ol’ things.
Yes! This is awesome - not only the project, but the editing, humor (of course) and music choices. You'll have to have your brothers on as guest stars. :-)
Thank you so much! Really glad you liked it. Brothers may be invited for some screen time, but not 'til they get some clippers on the back 'o' that neck!
Turned out amazingly! New subscriber from Australia here, hi 👋
Hi 👋 Welcome to the channel and thank you so much for subscribing!
This makes me want to do my own. I have other projects to finish first though. I love the look of this one. Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome and thanks for watching! More to come…
Fantastic project and great video!
Woo-hoo! Thank you.
Good job Issac.
Thanks, Dale. I appreciate that.
This turned out so nice. Keep up the good work!
Thank you very much!
Just subscribed! Love, love, love your work and humor. I just won a steam trunk in an auction last week and working on a plan on how to tackle some repairs. I will definitely check out more of your videos! #porchnook
Thank you so much! I see you’re on “The Tube” as well! I’ll be subscribing
That’s the idea! Patina! If you make to look new, there is no charm!
Great video IJ.
Thanks man! I appreciate that.
this is awesome. i have a chest almost exactly the same and im looking to touch it up. awesome video and extremely helpful!
Thank you very much! Good luck on your project
So tottalllyyy cooll🤞🏻
Thank you!
I have an old dirty steamer trunk I came across over 45 years ago.......... I will use your awesome info and redo mine too. Thanks for your awesome video. Can you tell me what products you used???
You’re very welcome! Thank you so much for your kind comment.
This is by far the closest "revive" I have been looking for. I'd like to know what the ?gel stain? Linseed oil? Was that you applied to the outside. You said a tinted version...of what? The shellac? Laquer?
Thanks. This is awesome.
I love this so much!! Looking forward to future videos. :)
Thank you, I appreciate that! More videos are definitely on the way!
Nicely done! When are we going to see new videos? The way you explain stuff is great! Keep going and hope to see on the next one soon!
Thank you very much! I already have 4 more videos filmed, I just have to find the time to get them edited. If only there were 9 days in a week that were 27 hours long 🤪
great video and just what I need. I have a super trunk and partner had it "refinished" but gal cleaned it and WAXED that wood strips! Bad job so now, how do I get that wax off and do some of what you did? I've hammered tin, black metal panels, wood strips, camelback hump small trunk. Thank you!
Thank you for your comment. You can remove the wax with mineral spirits. Use an old toothbrush or a stiff bristle brush and some rags. It may take a few times but it will come off. After it dries, I also lightly scuff-sand to look for leftover wax and to remove any residue.
Good luck! 👍
Greetings! We have several trunks and we want to refinish. What solvent do you prefer to clean outside leather? If leather handles and straps are missing, what do you use? This piece looks great. Great work
Did you ever say how to tell a steamer from a stagecoach chest?
I just recently came across a trunk that looks very similar, what caught my eye was the anchor handles. That trunk still has all of the designs and leatherwork intact
You delivery is a lot of fun, and your shop exploits are similar to my own. Subscribing and looking forward for more.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that. Welcome to the channel! 🍻
I just snagged mine less than 24 hours ago, but I was just wondering around in the dark until saw the light from your video. Thanks from a great full new subscriber. I'd like to offer a suggestion, "list all the products that you use and pin them to the top of the comment section and that will save you from getting asked what did you use. Also it will help your fans from trying to figure it out."
Welcome to the channel and thank you so much for subscribing! I really appreciate that.
Yes, I have had numerous Facebook and Instagram messages with people suggesting that.
I have another steamer trunk video coming up shortly and I will definitely take that advice. 👍
Awesome video buddy, fantastic restoration! I’ve just brought two of these old trunks and am going to follow your guide and try and bring them back to life like you have. 👍🏻😁
Thank you, I appreciate that! Good luck on the project. Let me know if you have any questions 👍🏻
@@hearthsidewoodworks - Thanks buddy will do 👍🏻😁👌🏻
my favorite part was the funky beats.
Ha! Well good, I aim to please! 🕺
What was the first and second coat you put on ?Someone just gave me a big steamer trunk yesterday. Glad I found your video.
Hi Isaac, thanks much for the great video on such a beautiful restoration. I was recently given my grandfathers old steamer and came across your video looking for ideas and inspiration. I'm curious what you did for the bottom corners to repair the damaged tin. Mine has "twangy" tin and busted up corners as well. I'm contemplating just adding tin/metal corner pieces to cover the damage for both safety and aesthetics. I'd appreciate your input.
Very nice. I like the color you put on the second trunk you did. This one could use an accent color to get away from the brown blob look.
Thank you for your comment! I totally agree with you. My client wanted this trunk to be a little more muted so I didn’t have quite as much “artistic freedom“. Thanks again, and stay tuned! 👍
Nice work! Thanks for sharing! -- Suggestion: Tell us where you obtained the perfect leather handles.
i found my spirit animal
I literally laughed out loud at this. Thanks for the comment!
@@hearthsidewoodworks I work exactly like this too
"Why are you working on the floor, Mel"
*Gives strange look*
Great video and tutorial on how to do this restoration. Where did you find the new leather handles?
Thank you! I found the handles on Amazon, but it took some hunting. Let me peak at my orders and I’ll send you the actual link. They were really good quality.
Well, I couldn’t get the link to work but they are called:
Havana Brown Leather Slotted Steamer Trunk Handles. They’re sold on Amazon by Arcaro’s Saddlery, Inc. 👍🏻
Great video and very informative. I noticed in another post that you said you used clear coat with brown dye added for the finish.
However, I noticed that you had two cans of liquid on the go while you were brushing the trunk. Could you advise on the product in the other can please.
Thanks
Thank you! I appreciate your comment.
I used a waterborne poly to seal the interior and I use a tinted dewaxed shellac as a toner/sealer on the exterior and then sealed that with Satin lacquer. 👍
Beautiful work, would you describe advantages of shellac over tung oil for interior and exterior seal/finish? Also, hinges appear to be installed with what type of screws? What’s the story on mismatched latches ? Not a criticism, but I’ve never seen that. Thanks
Hey Larry, thanks for the questions.
Shellac is a “film finish” that also helps to kill mold/mildew due to it being alcohol based. It’s also a universal binder, meaning, it can over the top of almost any pre-existing finish (after some prep) and nearly any finish can go on top of it. It’s slightly tricky, and sticky, to apply but it’s a fantastic product.
As for the hardware: this particular trunk came with all of the mismatched hinges, laches and fasteners. I just left it as-is.
Thank you again for the questions and the kind comment 👍
@@hearthsidewoodworks Thanks again. After seeing your video, I’ve used Zinsser shellac on the inside of the last two trunks I’ve restored and like the results. In other trunks I’ve used tung oil, danish oil or polycrylic depending on the condition . I’ll probably use shellac as the first choice now.
What would be the value of a trunk like that? I have one that looks almost the same. How much would a service like yours cost?
I am not an antique dealer so I really have no idea as to the value of this old trunk. I can tell you that my cost to do a restoration for steamer trunks ranges from $450 - $1800 depending on many factors.
Thank you for your question!
@@hearthsidewoodworks Thank you for the response. You do great work.
Thank you! I appreciate that.
I’d like to know where you got the leather straps from ?
The person I originally got them from retired. I’m now looking for another vender myself! Pretty much any local leather worker will do it as long as they’re not super busy.
Thanks for your comment!
I inherited a trunk just like this, it started peeling and smelling really bad. Has the leather handles but one has snapped in half. Think I'm going to restore it just like you have (mainly for the smell lol)
That’s great! I’m glad the video was helpful. Good luck on the project 👍🏻
Hello I’m a new subscriber with a trunk project ongoing. Can you remind us what you used for the wood treatment? Lacquer or shellac… tung oil or Murphy soap. Any advice would be much appreciated. 1:29
its like a treasure box.
If only it had actual treasure in it. Damn!
I'm currently working on restoring an old chest and am wondering what kind of glue you use in this video? Any help would be appreciated
I enjoyed the video, however, I wanted to learn more. Did you paint the tin in black, or did you clean it and then cover it with shellac? More detail on the metal corner pieces would have been nice to know.
No I did not have to repaint the tin. I only cleaned it with a brush and some solvent. I then let all dry and sprayed it with lacquer to seal it up.
Thank you for your question. I always enjoy comments! 👍
Are you staining this towards the end of the video? My mother has one of these and I’m wanting to clean her house for her. I want to make hers look nice again! It’s in perfect condition btw, I just need to clean it (wipe it down, and make it look new again). Any tips welcome! Thanks!
Hi Kaylee. No, I didn’t stain anything on the chest. I tinted a clear coat with a little bit of brown dye. It just acted like a glaze to highlight the existing colors.
If your trunk is in good condition, there is a product you can buy at pretty much any hardware store and department store called “Restore A Finish” that will do something similar for you. It’s a wipe on, wipe off product.
Thanks for your comment, let me know if you have any further questions and good luck on your project!
Do you have any tips on identifying the age of a steamer trunk?
Hi there. Unfortunately I don’t. I can repair them and make them look nice, but I’m no expert in the timeline or history of them.
Think of me as the mechanic that can restore the classic car, versus the historian who knows the background.
nice work. are you in ny?
Thank you! No, I am in Washington State.
@@hearthsidewoodworks bomber
I wonder why you didn’t tackle the tray rails and making the tray itself. Looks incomplete without them. Outside looks fantastic.
Those things weren’t in my clients budget. We did talk about the possibility, but she couldn’t swing it.
I appreciate the question! I’m sure others were wondering as well.
How can I tell the age of a trunk I have? The hardware has the stamp USA Excelsior Stamford Conn 5986. I've researched and keep being led to what the value of the trunk is. I would just like to discover how old it is. Thanks! Great video!
Thanks for your comment! In all honesty, most of my knowledge about antiques either comes from info I get from the clients I do the work for or…Google 🤷♂️
Another trick I use is to search For Sale ads that fit the piece I’m curious about. Sometimes sellers will give very detailed information and that at very least gives me some ballpark references. Good luck! 👍🏻
I just bought one today. It’s very similar to this one and the overall look is much worse than this one. I never restored anything before. This is going to be very challenging.
They can be challenging for sure, but I’m sure you can pull it off! Hope you enjoy the process.
What did you use to seal the fabric inside the trunk and lid?
I used General Finishes High Performance water based topcoat in satin.
Thanks for your question.
@@hearthsidewoodworks would you recommend using that on the whole inside fabric liner if we wanted to retain the fabric and the originality
I would, yes. Some could argue that applying a modern film-finish topcoat to something like that would “ruin its originality” but on the contrary, a topcoat like we’re discussing would in fact preserve its originality, halt the decaying process and improve its durability.
It’s easy to forget that objects like clothing and furniture are made of natural materials and they break down and decay like anything else.
If the interior is completely wrapped in a fabric liner, I would recommend using a flat sheen instead of a satin; it will help it look more natural.
@@hearthsidewoodworks this trunk does have a full fabric lining lid and all with a paperboard box that sits inside wrapped in the same fabric. It is very delicate. Having a hard time even vacuuming the inside without ripping the fabric. Not sure how it will even hold up to a light cleaning to remove stains.
Yes, sometimes the stains simply need to stay put. Trying to remove them can sometimes cause more damage and problems than just leaving them alone. That might need to be the case with your project.
I recently purchased a similar trunk at a resale store. What method would you recommend to remove the handle clasps for cleaning and eventual replacement? Mine appear to be nailed in place, and since I'm angling to replace the rotted original handles with bison leather, I'm trying to damage it as little as possible in the process.
Where would one obtain the round studs in the leather around the edges? The 4 to 5 pronged kind.
That is a very good question. One, unfortunately, I don’t have an answer for. Sorry!
question what product did you use for the three coats before the satin lacquer?
I have a trunk from my father in law. He was in the army and traveled with this trunk throughout his whole career. He retired as a Brigadier General and traveled a lot in his career. It is well over 100 years and I want to restore it so it can stay in our flat. What were the varnishes you used pleased?
Any ideas on how to remove the handle hardware that is nailed on? The metal is thin and there are 3 small nails for each piece. I would like to try and save them. 😊
Our family came from Scotland in 1952 and we used a second hand (I assume) trunk very similar to this to ship some of our baggage. In my wisdom as a teenager i decided to paint the leather which is between the slats (I don’t know if it goes underneath) bright blue. The leather is dried and curled up. The interior is in good shape except for the bright blue wall paper I put in, it is in good shape. The original paper lining is split at the creases, but the tray a hatch covers are all there. Is there a guild or organization i could contact about a restoration. I have not heard of anyone that does this in Vancouver Canada. I just don’t know where to start looking for help. Your trunks are lovely and the workmanship is even more impressive when you see what they looked like before. Thanks for any advice you have. Stay safe
Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate that. To be honest, there aren’t many people who do this kind of restoration work anymore. Maybe try searching “antique restoration“ in your area, or maybe contact some antique stores and ask them? I wish I could be of more help. Good luck on the project and thanks for watching!
Question: I have a truck just like this, I want to restore it, what kind of finishing did you use? and also I wanna put canvas fabric on the inside because my truck is not in the best shape on the inside, how would I go about fixing it?
I used a brown tinted dewaxed shellac over the outside of the trunk, and then sprayed 3 topcoats of satin lacquer.
As far as lining the inside with canvas, I don’t see a problem with that at all! You would just want to make sure that the interior is free of dust and debris before applying your fabric glue. As far as installing the actual canvas, I don’t have a lot of wisdom to share with you there. I am certain that RUclips is full of videos on that.
Thank you so much for your questions and good luck on the project!
What type of glue did you use for reattaching the fabric on the inside of the lid?
Hey Chad. In this case, I just used basic white glue. I needed something thick to cling to the lid but also sticky enough the keep the fabric from curling. It worked quite well!
@@hearthsidewoodworks cool. Yeah, I was looking at the jar you had and could not make it out what exactly it was, but I was gonna guess Modge Podge, which isn't a bad choice as it dries very clear but with a shine however.
Nice, apart from cross-head screws.. sacrilege!
Ha! I know, I know.
As always, I give my clients “detail options” that include different levels of fit and finish. Her budget required a few shortcuts and those were part of it. I feel your pain. But let’s be honest, apart from a few people like us…most would never notice nor care.
Thanks for your comment 👍🏻
Glad you clarified that, had me wooried😢.....I do like the other suggestion of putting them lower for a tray to rest on at some point in the future. That is an easy diy project for many people.
Where did you get the leather handles from? I am in need of some for my trunk.
Hi, can you recap what supplies you used for this trunk? Glue, stain, etc. I found an embossed tin( Poppy design) steamer trunk at Goodwill and would like to “gently” spruce it up without distorting it. Thanks!
Sure!
I scuffed the entire exterior of the trunk with soft wire brushes and #0000 steel wool.
I then used Zinsser Seal Coat (de-waxed shellac) on the body and a brown tinted version on the trim. I then sprayed the entire trunk with satin lacquer. The interior was sanded with 150 grit sandpaper and I applied a water based poly topcoat to seal it up.
Thanks for your comment and good luck on the project 👍
How would you take a brass closure and fixture from a steamer trunk and make it black? My idea is to go with a navy and black but the fixtures are brass I think
You mention there was a section of leather on the front you would try to preserve but it looked like you finished over everything. Did you save the leather? If so, what did you do to restore/protect it? I have the same trunk with different handle brackets.
Yes, I did manage to save that small piece. I coated it with a product called Howard’s Feed’n’Wax. It’s made for wood but also does a great job on leather. I wouldn’t necessarily use it on your car seats! But it does a great job on rejuvenating old leather components on dusty old trunks like this.
What do you do when a trunk smells really old? And it’s not a pleasant smell?
Great video! Thanks for sharing your process with us! What did you use to coat the trunk with? Did you need to repaint any of the black areas, or did the color just look more vivid with the top coat?
Thank you for the questions. I did not need to paint any of the metalwork. The base coat of shellac that I used was called 'Zinsser Seal Coat' and that popped all of the colors. The final coats of lacquer I used was called 'Deft Clear Wood Finish'.
What colors and brands and kind of stains did you use?