Sealer for removeable trunk

G

Gold Digger

Well-known member
I have an old Packard trunk I use on my 30 Tudor most of the time. It is covered with some kind of fabric that was coated with some kind of sealer from the factory but that was over 90 years ago. It's still in good shape but I need to put a sealer on it soon. I go on tours where we run in the rain sometimes and I want to keep it for another 90+ years. If anyone has got any ideas I would appreciate the advice.
 
Shellac maybe? or a Urethane, varnish. Back then I am going to assume they used dope like for aircraft fabrics that would tighten when it dries and be water proof. You can still get it I think but it WILL be spendy.


Mike
 
You could fashion a waterproof cover for it. I had removable motorcycle luggage at one time , Samsonite I think, that came with water poof covers, worked great.
 
Spar varnish would probably work, and is fairly easy to get. I am unfamiliar with the aircraft dope mentioned earlier, though that sounds like an ideal solution. Shellac would not hold up well in rain.
 
The trunk on one of my cars didn't seal so well so I made a cover for it. A small piece of canvas, a little measuring and a few minutes on the sewing machine and it is a winner. It's easy and it will protect your trunk. If you use the right material, it will look good too. I'm considering sewing a reflective triangle on the back of it too - for obvious reasons.
 
I got a fantastic deal locally on the same type of trunk and the fabric was a mess. My wife and I patched it up as good as we could and then I went to lowes and sprayed quite a few coats of plasti-dip black coating on it. The finish is different than the fabric but to me it's much more practical as it's like a waterproofing agent and will help keep my tools and spare parts dry inside the trunk.
 
Here's a picture of the final result (trying to do image upload with attachments for the first time)
 

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    trunk.jpg
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I would try a solvent test on the trunk first to see what it is. Take a bit of Lacquer thinners and rub a small area out of the way. If the coating melts then it a lacquer based material. If it doesn't then it a enamel or other base of paint. I would use a clear urethane and add flattening agent to it so it's not shiny. Then spray 2 coats over the trunk. That will seal it up and keep it waterproof without looking odd. It would be a good idea to give it a sanding with a Grey Scotch-brite pad first to give the clear something to grab onto. JP
 
Gold Digger said:
Thanks everyone for the information. Not for sure yet which one to try, definitely one.
Click to expand...

Try some rattle can spray undercoat and then some semigloss enamel over that if you want more gloss and less texture. Many original trunks were covered with canvas type duck still available at fabric stores and then coated with pyroxilyn lacquer or a flattened enamel.
 
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