Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Restoring Wood Trays
Thoroughly clean the tray. A commercial wood cleaner along with a soft bristled cleaning brush or toothbrush is ideal to cut through dirt and grime. Wipe the tray clean after scrubbing with the cleaner and brush.
Reattach any loose pieces. Loose pieces of the tray can be reattached using quality wood glue. Apply the wood glue to the pieces that need to be adhered and then clamp together. Clamps should stay in place about 24 hours or until the wood glue is thoroughly dried.
Replace any missing parts. Parts such as metal handles or tray inserts can be easily found at a hardware or home improvement store. You can distress these "new" pieces to give them a vintage look.
Distress any wood pieces you are adding by using a hammer to create dents and imperfections. You can also hit the wood with a piece of chain for the same effect.
Distress metal handles by allowing them to sit outside (in rainy weather is ideal) for several weeks.
Restore the wood. If the woodwork on the tray is dull and can use some shine, apply a layer of paste wax to the entire tray (wood parts only) with a brush and then buff it using a shoe shining brush. The Refinish Wizard says that a wax can really bring your antique tray to life by giving it optical clarity.
Restoring Metal Trays
Use a wire bristled brush or scouring pad to remove any loose dirt, debris and rust from the tray. If there is excessive dirt or grime, a small amount of warm water and soap can help to clean the tray up easier.
Brighten the metal tray with an aluminum brightener or kerosene dipped scrubbing pad. You should use protective rubber gloves during this step as these products can irritate skin.
Rinse the tray with warm water. You do not want any residue from the previous step so rinse it clean and then hand dry it with a soft cloth.
Leave the original artwork or paintings as is for a rustic appearance. The vintage Coca-Cola tray has its own unique artwork and paintings on it so leave it intact to keep the vintage appearance.