6. Canvas coverings
Canvas-covered trunks originally had paint applied to make them somewhat water-resistant. If you are lucky enough to have a canvas-covered trunk that has canvas still intact and repairable it can be glued back down in any areas that are loose with common white (Elmer's) glue and weighted to clamp down flat. After being cleaned and re-glued the canvas can be repainted or just preserved with 2 clear coats such as Water-base polyurethane.
In the event that the canvas is too far gone to be repaired, the trunk can be stripped of all its canvas and new canvas applied using the old canvas pieces as patterns for the new. This will require more removal of items that are on top of the canvas, (slats, tin, metal corner clamps, etc.) Apply with Elmer's glue and after dry seal with a water-based polyurethane to make the surface more soil-resistant. A new canvas can also be painted a color of your choice.
