Gentle Galoots,

I just finished making an 18th century style, leather covered, flat-top
trunk to use with my American Revolutionary War period civilian
impression. I bought a poplar box from Ralph the Boxman at Fort de
Chartres in early June, and decided it was just right for making into a
medium sized trunk that would be correct for the period. The links below
will take you to photos and more detailed descriptions of what it looks
like and what was involved.

http://galootcentral.com/index.php?option=com_copperminevis&Itemid=2&pl-
ace=t humbnails&album or

http://tinyurl.com/2bjylyr

Cheers, John

John M. Johnston There is a fine line between hobby and mental illness.
Dave Barry

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On Jul 29, 2010, at 4:23 PM, Sgt42RHR@a... wrote:
> I just finished making an 18th century style, leather covered, flat-
> top> trunk to use with my American Revolutionary War period civilian
> impression. > I bought a poplar box from Ralph the Boxman at Fort de
> Chartres in early> June, and decided it was just right for making into
> a medium sized trunk that> would be correct for the period. The links
> below will take you to photos> and more detailed descriptions of what
> it looks like and what was involved.
>> http://galootcentral.com/index.php?option=com_copperminevis&Itemid=2-
>> &place=t
> humbnails&album=507

        (I'm snipping the TinyURL because it led me to someone else's
        machinist chest) A wonderful project, John, even if most of the
        woodworking part was already done. A couple of questions:
1) Where did you get the hardware (lock, handles, tacks)?
2) How is the linen lining material (and the outside leather, for that
   matter) attached, besides the tacks--is the surface glued? If so, is
   there a "period" recipe for the glue? Tom Holloway, envisioning this
   trunk beside the Geo. Washington-inspired camp bed.

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Tom, I got the lock, hasp, and key, butterfly  hinges and nails, and brass 
nails from Katie and Steven at The Trunk  Shoppe   
http://www.thetrunkshoppe.com/    They also  unselfishly gave support and
answered questions.

The lining is medium  weight 100 percent linen andit is attached by 
painting on a coat of Valspar  latex, clear satin protective finish, fitting
the 
panels of cloth and then  painting a second coat on top of the fabric.  
Squeegee it out, and then  wiped out the excess with paper towels.  It needs to

dry overnight, but  it's just like putting up fabric as wallpaper using 
starch, and feels pretty  much the same.

The leather is attached using DAP/Weldwood Green low-VOC  waterbased 
contact adhesive.  It's like thin paint, almost no odor, cleans  up with water.
 
We painted a thorough, even coat on the box surface and on  the leather.  
Then wait 30 - 45 minutes till they are shinyish and just  barely tacky.  We 
put wax paper over all but the top 1/4 inch of the box  face, lined up the 
leather with the edge of the trunk, and pressed it  down.  Slide the wax paper 
out an inch or so stretch the leather and press  it down.  Repeat until you 
get to the edge.  I used a cobblers hammer  to work the rim edges and the 
corner edges, then worked the face over thoroughly  with a rolling pin and 
lots of pressure.  Infinitely easier than putting in  the lining.  

The original adhesive would have been hide glue which  I've never used and 
did not want to experiment with on expensive leather.   

Cheers,
John

John M. Johnston
There is a fine line  between hobby and mental illness. Dave Barry

In a message dated 7/29/2010  7:36:29 P.M. Central Daylight Time, 
thholloway@u... writes:
A couple  of questions:
1) Where did you get the hardware (lock, handles, tacks)?
2)  How is the linen lining material (and the outside leather, for that 
matter)  attached, besides the tacks--is the surface glued?  If so, is there a 

"period" recipe for the glue?  

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

::-----Original Message-----
::From: oldtools-bounces@r... 
::[mailto:oldtools-bounces@r...] On Behalf Of 
::Sgt42RHR@a...
::Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 7:24 PM
::To: oldtools@r...
::Subject: [OldTools] Finished Something
::
::Gentle Galoots,
::
::I just finished  making an 18th century style, leather 
::covered, flat-top 
::trunk to use with my  American Revolutionary War period 
::civilian impression.  

::http://tinyurl.com/2bjylyr

That, sir, is a thing of beauty of which you can be proud and enjoy!

- Bill T.

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