Scavenger Chic

Upcycled Life Boat Supply Trunk

• By Joan
• January 7, 2018
• 8 Comments

I keep going back to this photo of my flea market finds from August of 2016.  This is my tenth project from this pile and if you stay with me until the end I’ll show you all of these flea market transformations.  This time I’m making a coffee table from the yellow trunk on the right.

This old trunk was apparently used as the supply box on a life boat.  On the top there is a list of the contents that the box once held…bailing bucket, signal flares and field rations to name just a few.

Normally I wouldn’t necessarily need a glass on top  of a trunk but I wanted to see the life boat lettering while still preserving it.  I was able to find an old window at the salvage yard pretty close to the size I needed for my table top.

I’m also using this perfectly aged end of a pallet, also known as an old 2×4.

Before I get to the transformation, one more picture of the inside of the trunk.  Something oily had been stored in here but that will soon be covered up.

On the window, I removed anything  that was sticking up or sticking out, like those metal pieces and weather stripping. 

I cut two pieces of  pallet wood slightly wider than my window and placed it in a vise then used a circular saw to cut a groove wide enough to slide the window. I needed to make several passes with the saw until the groove was wide enough.  This method worked, but If you have access to a table saw, that would be a much better option.

To cover up the window pane groove, I cut 4 small pieces of wood (old shutter slats)  sanded the edges, painted black and attached with finish nails.

Around the rim of the trunk there was some kind of tar like substance that probably once kept the box waterproof.  It was no longer gooey, but it had to go.

I picked a lot of the gunk out of the groove with the end of a screwdriver  and the edge cleaned up nicely with a good sanding.

The inside was painted with  lime green chalk paint followed by a coat of vintage wax.

Remember this  hardwood flooring I rescued from the old farmhouse?  I’m about to put it to good use.

That old hardwood flooring ended up being brand new, never been used, oak hardwood flooring.  It makes a great base for my trunk.

I cut it to fit and used builders adhesive to attach.

Last week I was singing the praises of the Hobby Lobby legs I used on my Graffiti Table…this week, I’m using another style, also from Hobby Lobby to finish off this project. 

These cast iron legs are regularly $12, but make sure you wait for one of their half price sales.  

Use screws to attach to the bottom of the trunk.

The plywood on the trunk is very thin and if  I didn’t install the layer of hardwood on the interior,  I would probably see the screws poking thru.

When I was picking up the legs, I found the handles at Hobby Lobby as well.  The perfect color match.

I painted the edges of the window and the slat end pieces on the pallet wood black then followed up with a layer of vintage wax.  That color combination gives me a black/brown, really close to the color of the handles and legs.

If you’re ever in a shipwreck this is all you’ll need to survive a day or two.

There still might be a couple more projects waiting for me in this pile of flea market finds.  Stay tuned.

 Metal File Box Bar Cart,  Hand Truck Coffee Table,   Apple Picking Bucket  Feed Sack Ottoman, Barrel Hoop Mirror,   Thingamajigs ,Pendant Light  .  Pottery Barn Inspired Barrel Top and Dorm Room Cabinet.

Have a great week.  Stay inspired.

Shared at Metamorphosis Monday,

Talk of the Town, Wow us Wednesday,

I was featured at

Related posts:

Battered and Bedraggled Trunk Coffee Table Antique Clothes Wringer Coffee Table Upcycled Hand Cart Coffee Table Version II Vintage Mirror Window Side Table