How to restore an old wooden trunk?

[UglyCasanova]

I just bought an old wooden trunk off of craigslist for cheap. The thing is really filthy so cleaning it is step one. It is wood, but has metal around the edges (most of it is rusted), and some kind of mesh fabric around the outside of it that is mostly gone but still there in places. It's a neat looking trunk though, very rustic. There are metal latches that used to hold leather straps. Some questions:

Is it okay to hose the thing down? I would image that alot of water wouldn't be good for it.

Is there a way to clean some of the rust off of the metal caps and latches?

Should I coat it in anything once cleaning? I want to keep the wood look of it, but would some kind of varnish or shellac or something be good for it? I know nothing about this kind of thing so I'm not sure what I would use.

I'll try to get some pictures if I can.

 

[GasX]

first inclination would be to wire brush the metal and sand down the wood and refinish. Post a pic, I'd be interested in seeing what you have to work with...

 

[MongGrel]

Pics would help, I used to restore things long ago.

I wouldn't hose it down.

 

[Fern]

If it has value it'll be ruined by any refinishing etc. Maybe you don't care. If it were me I'd check into it before getting started. Anytime you clean up something old you kill any value it might have had. This is particularly so for furniture, guns and knives.

It won't hurt anything though to clean it with a wash cloth and warm water.

Fern

 

[Markbnj]

If it has value it'll be ruined by any refinishing etc. Maybe you don't care. If it were me I'd check into it before getting started. Anytime you clean up something old you kill any value it might have had. This is particularly so for furniture, guns and knives.

It won't hurt anything though to clean it with a wash cloth and warm water.

Fern

This.

 

[RampantAndroid]

If refinishing is the desired route, get the safe orange wood stripper stuff and then recoat it with minwax.

I think people have used simply green or whatever it's called for cleaning wood?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Murphy's Oil Soap

 

[mizzou]

Wire brush. Sandpaper. New stain. Enjoy your rustic chest and muscles!

 

[BoomerD]

Is it still attached to an old wooden elephant?

 

[UglyCasanova]

Would steel wool or something be good at removing cobwebs?

 

[BoomerD]

y'know.........


https://www.google.com/search?sourc...d&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57j69i60j0l3.5767j0j4

 

[mizzou]

Would steel wool or something be good at removing cobwebs?

I shudder at the type of cobwebs you have