Brass and Metal Work

I started to clean the metal work with a good rub over using steel wool. 
A major problem occurred...When going around the scolloped edges the steel wool was leaving rub marks on the newly finished canvas (Damn Blast) Thinking caps on again.

First up, I taped out one end section as a sample, this little section was ok to do. 

It was quicker to clean, but there was yet another concern. Seriously.... the thought of taping this process to all the metal, which is double edged, I am talking 8 long sides and 16 short. 

Taped out section

I ended up using the two scrapers below as a barrier between the canvas and the steel wool. I worked with one hand holding the scraper and the other using the steel

wool. A long process to do, but I got there in the end.

With the straight end of this scraper being wider and once I got a rhythm going.

The straight end of this scraper fitted into the scollop shape and I used it when I needed

After cleaning the metal, I gave thought to how I was going to set the task of re-painting the metal edging. I am so glad my wardrobe steamer trunk has got this lovely scalloped edge, but this painting process needs to have some thought put to it.

 I simply try it free hand. Having the thin edge of the metal a little it bit away from the canvas and again using these two scrapers above helped to keep the paint away from the canvas.

 As for the brass nail heads I started ok, but yeah! there were a few oops! and the need for quick wipe off with a cotton bud, again a very long process ahead. 

While on the subject of scrapers, pictured below are the group of scrapers I used for all the different areas of work needed on the trunk. The plastic ones were used to smooth out the material of the lining.                    

                                                      
                                

Variety of scrapers used throughout the trunk

Now for the cleaning of the brass nail heads. To avoid continual rubbing on both the new canvas and paint work I ended up making a little template with different size holes to accommodate the three different size brass heads throughout the trunk 
(well I actually made several because they wore out)

The plate fitted fitted over the nail heads and gave a barrier of protection needed. All brass nail heads were cleaned with steel wool, followed by a thin coating of Brasso, the buffed it all over with a micro fibre cloth. This process worked very well. 

 

Cleaning brass with a protective template

Hub's had an old set of 'needle files' which were the best ever little toolset have as they helped me do many things on the trunk. I could to clean into any tight corners, scrape the paint off the base of the nail heads where needed and clean in and under the handle of the brass connectors and any other pokey little hard to reach places.

Also, I found them useful for re-align parts that needed to re-join with the holes from outside the trunk, and to poke through the newly lined material of the trunk. 

Set of Needle Files

Cleaning out the base of a large nail head

Cleaning away excess paint 

Cleaning around the brass handle connectors

helping to re-line holes

An overview of the brass and metal problems that occurred: 

I um'ed and ah'ed whether it was best to do the paint first, or, clean the brass. To be quite frank, I really think it's six of one and a half a dozen of the other. Painting first, the brass heads often ended up with paint at the base, then cleaned with the needle files (this process was time consuming) and to be frank I never got all of it !!

But then, with the process of cleaning the brass after. While my little template worked so well, it was still very time consuming..But then I guess it would have to be with a scolloped edge like this!

 I am going to have to re-think if I can come up with any other ideas that might help improve this process for side two of the trunk.