How To Refinish a Trunk

A trunk is a good storage option, but to get an old trunk to look its finest you might want to refinish it. To have one professionally refinished can be expensive, but with the right mixture of solvents and a little bit of work, you can easily refinish a trunk yourself.

Things You'll Need

• 100 grit sandpaper
• Electric hand sander
• Pure tung oil
• Empty coffee can
• Mineral spirits
• Solvent-based wood stain
• Clean rag
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Attach 100 grit sandpaper to the electric sander. Sand the trunk until the old stain is removed and the wood is smooth to the touch. Make sure you go in a circular motion and that the wood is evenly smooth for best results.

2. Mix the solvent. Pour the pure tung oil into the coffee can until it is one-third full. Make sure you use pure tung oil and not the kind that has been thinned. Then add an equal amount of the mineral spirits. This will help the tung oil dry within a few hours.

3. Add stain to the mixture, If you want. Pour in a small amount of the desired color. Make sure the stain is solvent based, not water based.

4. Use a paintbrush to apply the mixture to the trunk. Make sure to put on even amounts of the mixture to make it look its best. Use a clean rag to wipe up any excess on the trunk.

5. Set the trunk in a dust-free area for three to five hours to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• This mixture allows the trunk to stretch, while using straight wood stain will make the sides of a trunk hard and sometimes brittle.

• Make sure to apply the mixture in a well-ventilated area.

References

• Brettuns Village