Tongue Oil on steamer trunk

I watched a restoration video of a man using tongue oil on a Louis Vuitton steamer trunk canvas to "brighten" it up.

My trunk definitely has some dull areas on the canvas and I'm wondering if this is a good method to bring it back to life.

Has anyone tried this?

 

YUCK!
~
Tung oil!!!

 

Tung oil is a good choice but may take multiple coats. A tung oil varnish will provide similar results with fewer coats. It will be a bit shiny so if you do not want this, get a satin finish product. Another option would be paste wax but not a great option if the canvas finish is very worn.

 

*Tung

Its not very worn. It looks like someone tried to clean it at one point with something abrasive and left dull marks over the area, or maybe its raised areas from the original glue coming through?

I dont think I want the canvas to be *shiny*, Id like to keep it as original looking as possible, just enhancing it.


Also, I bought the leather straps to replace the handle and now need to buy the proper nails. The wood is 1/2" thick
I know its going to need to go through the bracket, through the wood and make a U turn to lock it in place.
Im afraid Im going to have the nail come back through.
Should I get 1" or a 3/4"?
And Im not sure the center nail that goes through the slot of the handle.
Same concept?
This is where Ill be ordering from
http://www.brettunsvillage.com/trunks/howto/parts/nails.htm

 

Would it have been rivetted originally?

Could you get a period travel label to paste over the dull bit. Removing an old label may be why it is dull.

 

Do you mean the handles riveted?
When you look inside you can see where the nails do the U-turn.
I dont know if that helps lol

Its dull like that throughout the canvas