How to make yourself decorative trunk ? °

TUTORIAL BUILD A WOODEN CHEST - LEARN THE EASY WAY

How to make yourself decorative trunk ?

In this article we will explain how to make a mail or cabin trunk to decorate your home.

 

This article is not intended to teach you how to restore a collector's trunk , nor to make a replica of a Louis Vuitton,  Goyard  or Hermèstrunk  which requires skills and know-how. The goal is to support you in the manufacture of your tailor-made box according to your tastes, to make your dreams come true. This trunk will have the advantage of being made with your own hands, it will be unique.


Préambule


tutorial how to make a decoration trunk build your projects.

You will find 3 separate paragraphs that will help you build your trunk from A to Z: 

  • Concept  :
    Drawing, design, and rules of proportions
  • Materials:
    Choice of materials and flow required for manufacturing.
  • Manufacturing
    Step by step.

In each of its paragraphs you will find the calculation method in order to buy the right quantities, professional tips, tips for smart shopping, decoration ideas  ...

 

The manufacturing steps for this trunk were simplified so that even a beginner handyman could complete this project with a minimum of hand tools. All supplies are available in your DIY store, specific supplies are  available on our online store >> .

 

And even if this tutorial is not for professionals, they will modestly introduce you to the know-how of the trunk maker thanks to our expert tips, you will surpass yourself and obtain an exceptional result. Your entourage will be bluffing!

This tutorial is  completely Free.


Vocabulary


 In order to have a common language here is the vocabulary describing the elements of the trunk.

vocabulary trunk tutorial decoration buy smart

PROPORTION AND DESIGN


drawing of a trunk build be same

Every project starts with a sketch or diagram to determine the design you want.

  

The design is related to the elements you are going to use.

  

This sketch will result in a detailed plan. Even if you are free to free yourself from the codes, if you want your trunk to be proportionate here are some basic rules: 

Lid thickness:  The thickness of the lid is low, it is a lost storage surface. It is determined by the choice of having corners, brackets and the presence of a peripheral belt which traditionally guarantees the tightness of the trunk.

  

Attached are some examples.

  

In order to help you calculate the size of your cover below a very precise notice. depending on the items you are going to add to your trunk. It is imperative to know the exact size of your jewelry (corners, and brackets)

1 Corner (without square) : These thicknesses are the minimum size of the lid. It is quite possible to have a corner put in and have a thicker lid.  

The minimum height of the cover is the inside dimension of the corner.

1 corners + bracket (Without belt)

or

1 corner + square (With Belt) 

  

The minimum height of the cover is the combination of the interior dimension of a corner + the width of the bracket.  

  

Note  : The corner, does not cover the square of the belt.

  

Belt width  : the width of the belt is determined by the size of your lock, and your angle brackets.

Our corner brackets are 29, 36 mm or 42 mm.

  

Remove 8 mm if there is a belt, it is the dimension of the sealing socket which makes the trunk waterproof.

You can also add a finishing bracket, this one is not fixed on the lid but on the bowl (lower part of the barrel). In addition to adding a decorative side, it serves to stop your border and is also a reinforcement. It is not mandatory and does not impact the thickness of the cover.

drawing of a trunk build be same

 

Clasps  : The clasps are placed at the ends of the trunk. Usually the axis of the clasp is between 9 and 16 cm from the edge, depending on the length of the trunk. The most common being 10 cm. For a small trunk or suitcase it will be rather between 6 and 9 cm from the edge. 

 

Wood slats: 

Front  : Unlike the other faces, the positioning of the wooden slats on the face is fairly free, only the 1st slat is always under the lock (between 0.5 cm and 2 cm). The others are free, the spaces between these slats are rarely equal.

 

And the space between the floor and the 1st batten is often smaller than the other spaces. 

how to make your trunk luxury
Drawings: Top of trunk

Rear  : The wooden slats are placed at the same heights as the front of the trunk 

 

Top:  space between each wooden slat:

 

Trunk depth ) - (28 x Number of slats )

_____________________

 Number of slats

 

Nails : The space between each nails on the slats is 8 to 12 cm.

the corner trunk - la-malle-en-coin by malle2luxe expert the best

Border  : their width depends on the choice of the corners of your trunk:

  • Corners 52 mm = Angle 64 mm (32 + 32)
  • Corners 42 mm = Angle 52 mm (26 + 26) 
  • Corners 34 mm = Angle 40 mm (20 + 20)
  • Corners 26 mm = Angle 30 mm (15 + 15) 

The tips are 5mm from the edge and spaced 10-20mm apart.

Favor spacing with a round number to facilitate marking.

 

Handle  : the handle is placed in the center of the side at 1/3 of the height 


CHOICE OF MATERIALS & FLOW RATE


the corner trunk vintage yellow creation

We suggest different materials, which will guarantee you an optimal result. But of course you are free to choose others.

In order to obtain the dimension of the  barrel  if this trunk must fit in a fixed space, remove 25 mm from the height, 35 mm from the width and 40 mm from the depth. These values correspond to the thickness of the elements placed outside (wooden slats, nails, etc.).  

Height - 25mm = (H) x  Length - 35mm = (W) x  Depth - 40mm = (D)  

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS:

It's up to you to determine the exterior dimensions of your trunk: 

STRUCTURE WOOD

structure wood best creation yourself made

For wood, we recommend  plywood

  

Manufacture of a Trunk:  12 mm thick.

Manufacture of a suitcase, box, Vanity, mini trunk, box: 8 mm thick.

Price found: 25 to 45 euros / m2

  

Plywood offers the  advantage of being light and very resistant. Also, it is soft which makes it easy to rivet or staple nails. (unlike medium that is too hard, or chipboard that is too fragile)

  

Note  : 12 mm is a good thickness for a trunk for stapling nails, also to embed the lock, taking a thinner thickness will be problematic and too fragile. Taking a greater thickness will weigh down the trunk and cost more.

For a suitcase 8 mm or 10 mm is sufficient.

  

If you are not equipped with a circular saw, we advise you to buy the panels directly cut to the right size. All major DIY stores offer this wood cutting service.

   

Height = H

Width = W

Depth = P

Wood thickness = Ep

Cover thickness = Co

Saw blade thickness = Sc

 

Debit  wooden panel trunk  with belt

The axis of the hinge is therefore offset so that the lid can open, despite the presence of a bracket.

Designation   Ref Width (mm) Length (mm)  Truckness (mm)
Above   A  = P  = L  = Ep
Front cover   B  = Co - Ep  = L  = Ep
Lid side   C  = Co - Ep  = P - (2 x Ep)  = Ep
Lid side   D  = Co - Ep  = P - (2 x Ep)  = Ep

Rear cover

  E

 = (Co + 8) - Ep  = L  = Ep
Shaft side   F  = H - Co - Ep  = L  = Ep
Barrel side   G  = H - Co - Ep  = P - (2 x Ep)  = Ep
Barrel side   H  = H - Co - Ep  = P - (2 x Ep)  = Ep
Rear barrel   I  = H - (Co + 8) - Ep  = L  = Ep
Below   J  = P  = L   = Ep

Example : if your trunk measures:

Height (H) 0.5 m (= 500 mm) x Length (W) 1 m (= 1000 mm) x Depth (D) 0.30 m (= 300 mm)

Panel thickness (Ep) = 12 mm

Cover thickness (Co) = 72 mm 

  • The side panel ref G = (500 - 72 - 12) x (300 - (2 x 12)) = 416 mm x 276 mm x 12 mm
  • The top panel A = 300 x 1000 mm x 12 mm

Tip  : Since wood is a natural material which "works", i.e. it will not stay straight like a sheet of glass, it will make small curves invisible to the eye, but if we checked the flatness of the surfaces with a metal ruler there would be variations. Variations which can be accentuated in the case of the lid and the barrel which must fit perfectly. The trick lies in making a first cut per side + a saw blade thickness (Sc).

  

(B+F+Sc) and (G+C+Sc) and (H+D+Sc) and (E+I+Sc).

  

Then mark one side of each panel with chalk or marker (for example a diagonal), this mark is used to avoid inverting the direction of each panel. After having marked them, all that remains is to cut it at the level of the opening joint of the trunk.

Variant without belt:

If you don't want to wear a belt, use these calculations instead

(change on lines E and I):

 

Designation   Ref Width (mm) Lenght (mm)  Thickness (mm)

Above

  A  = P  = L  = Ep
Front cover   B  = Co - Ep  = L  = Ep
Lid side   C  = Co - Ep  = P - (2 x Ep)  = Ep
Lid side   D  = Co - Ep  = P - (2 x Ep)  = Ep

Rear cover

  E

 = Co - Ep  = L  = Ep
Shaft side   F  = H - Co - Ep  = L  = Ep
Barrel side   G  = H - Co - Ep  = P - (2 x Ep)  = Ep
Barrel side   H  = H - Co - Ep  = P - (2 x Ep)  = Ep
Rear barrel   I  = H - Co - Ep  = L  = Ep
Below   J  = P  = L   = Ep

Example  : if your box / suitcase measures:

Height (H) 0.28 m (= 280 mm) x Length (W) 0.4 m (= 400 mm) x Depth (D) 0.30 m (= 300 mm)

Panel thickness (Ep) = 8 mm

Cover thickness (Co) = 48 mm 

  • The side panel ref G = (280 - 48 - 8) x (300 - (2 x 8)) =  224 mm x 284 mm  x 8 mm
  • The top panel A = 300 x 400 mm  x 8 mm

Tip trunk / suitcase without belt  : You can make the barrel closed then once assembled glued, nailed, glue dry.

Cut with a circular saw or spindle moulder your box. Be careful not to position nails where the blade will cut at the risk of damaging it. 

  

Variant Suitcase / Trunk that can be opened in two after assembly (without belt):

Sc  : Thickness of the circular saw blade enabling the box to be opened in two after manufacture.

 

Designation   Ref Width (mm) Lenght (mm)  Thickness (mm)
Above   A  = P  = L  = Ep
Face   B - F  = H - (2 x Ep) + Sc  = L  = Ep
Right side   C - G  = H - (2 x Ep) + Sc  = P - (2 x Ep)  = Ep
Left side   D - H  = H - (2 x Ep) + Sc  = P - (2 x Ep)  = Ep

Back

  E - I

 = H - (2 x Ep) + Sc  = L  = Ep
Below   J  = P  = L   = Ep

COATING

Coating leather chrome or vegetable for your trunk

The wood will be covered on the outside, the possibilities are multiple: 

  • Leather (chrome tanning): 25 to 80 euros m2
  • Leather
  • (vegetable tanning): 50 to 200 euros m2
  • Skai (coated canvas): 4 to 25 euros m2
  • Cotton canvas: 3 to 20 euros m2
  • Wallpaper: 4 to 50 euros m2
  • Creative collage: 2 to 10 euros m2
  • Varnished: 3 euros m2
  • Painting: 4 euros m2
leather truc example of layout
example of layout

If it is a patterned canvas, remember to calculate the surfaces taking into account the direction of installation, the fittings, see also to center the pattern on each side.

 

If it's leather you won't buy a perfect rectangle, there may be flaws right in the middle of the hide. So if the total surface to be covered is 1 m2, do not buy 1 m2 + 10% waste, it is not a liter of paint.

 

Leatherworker's tip : Make the cutting templates (patronage) in Craft paper or thin card (0.3 to 0.5 mm cardboard) in order to place them on your skin to optimize the cuts while avoiding defects, this is the layout plan, and thus buy the right quantity of leather.

 

 If your trunk is large, you will need to use several skins.

 

We recommend the cow and the sheep which, unlike the goat, offer large surfaces. 

 

We recommend chrome tanned leathers which offer a wide choice of color, resistance and flexibility. This noble material will offer a result superior to other materials without being so much more expensive.

trunk home made by malle2luxe

 

In addition, it works quite easily, is more suitable for collages than cotton canvas or a synthetic coating and it will age better too.

 

Exterior coating thickness:

  • Ideally: 1 mm
  • Maximum: 2 mm
wrap your trunk with leather

It will be necessary to wrap up inside the lid so make sure that the chosen coating will be flexible enough to fold over the thickness of the barrel (Thick), i.e. 12 mm + 20 mm rim.

 

In the lower part, the coating will be glued over 20 mm.

 

Note  : the underside of the trunk can be treated with a material other than the visible sides, especially if you are using an expensive material.

 

Good plan: cover a trunk with leather, favor destockers and end of series.

                                                        External fabric flow (mm)
Designation   Ref Lenght Lenght
Above   A  = P  = L
Front cover   B  = Co + Ep + 20  = L
Lid side   C  = Co + Ep + 20  = P
Lid side   D  = H - Co + Ep + 20  = P

Back

  E + I

 = H + 5 + 20  = L
Shaft side   F  = H - Co + Ep + 20 + 20  = L
Barrel side   G  = H - Co + Ep + 20 + 20  = P - ( 2 x Ep )
Barrel side   H  = H - Co + Ep + 20 + 20  = P - ( 2 x Ep )
Below   J  = P  = L 

Example : if your trunk measures: Height 0.5 m (= 500 mm) x Length 1 m (= 1000 mm) x Depth 0.30 m (= 300 mm) and Panel thickness (Ep) = 12 mm.

Cover thickness (Co) = 72 mm

  • The external coating dimensions of the face of the barrel (F) is: 480 mm x 1000 mm
  • The outer covering dimensions of the top (A) are: 300 mm x 1000 mm

 

WOODEN SLATS

wooden slats for your trunk

The wooden slats make it possible to stiffen the support, but also to give character to the trunk.

 

For the reinforcement slats, use "2 rounded champlats" - 5 x 28 mm

 

The width of 28 is perfectly suited to our angel brackets 29 x 105 mm. 

You will easily find it in your DIY store, the price observed:

  • Oak: € 2.50 / m
  • Ayous: € 1.40 / m
  • Fir: 0.90 € / m 

The slat runs the entire length of your trunk = (L). 

wood for your trunk home made

 

For the slats under the trunk, "sharp edges": 4 mm x 38 mm

 

You will easily find them in your DIY store, the price observed:

  • Oak: 3.10 € / m
  • Ayous: 2 € / m
  • Fir: 1.50 € / m 
wood under trunk

Unlike the wooden slats above, these champlats will be under the trunk. Their size therefore has no impact on the jewelry or on the manufacture of the rest of the trunk.

 

The lengths are = (L) and (P), quantity x2

 

All the woods can be left raw, but also be varnished, waxed, stained or painted according to your tastes and desires.

 

 

BORDERS

borders leather skai wallpaper trunk

The angles protect the edges of the trunk, they arenailed with small spikes.

They can be of the same color, of the same nature as the coating or of another color to contrast, and even of another material, we recommend leather which offers a luxurious finish, ease of implementation. But they can also be made of brass or vegetable leather, chrome leather, leatherette, painted cardboard...

 

Note  : Lozine is not marketed, don't be fooled, we have seen several unscrupulous sellers offering flexoid at 470 euros / m2 as if it were lozine. Flexoid is a laminated cardboard that has no relation to lozine. Are true price is 9 euros / m2.

 

Border thickness:

  • Leather: 1 to 1.5 mm
  • Skai: 1 to 2 mm
  • Metal: steel / brass / copper / Aluminum: 0.3 mm 
  • Varnished or painted cardboard: 1 mm

If your leather is too thick, you can have it split by a leather worker, if your leather, leatherette, wallpaper ... if they are not thick enough you can stick them on: split leather, cardboard or a other material of the same color so as not to have to process the finish of the edges.

Print Leather trunk yourself tutorial

Cardboard  border tip: If you use painted cardboard, 2 coats are enough, no need to varnish it if you used a washable paint.

If the cardboard is tinted you can just varnish it to waterproof it.

  

Idea : you can also have leather printed with your logo, several sites offer these services online.

Thanks to Jean-Marc for this very nice idea

  

For the manufacture of your trunk, you will need: 

              Angle / edge flow (mm)
Designation Lenght Quantity : 
Lid  = P  x 2
Lid  = L  x 2
Lid  = Co  x 2
Lid  = Co + 8  x 2

Was

 = H - (Co + 8) + Ep  x 4

Example  : If your trunk measures: Height 0.5 m (= 500 mm) x Length 1 m (= 1000 mm) x Depth 0.30 m (= 300 mm) and Panel thickness (Ep) = 12 mm.

Cover thickness (Co) = 72 mm.

  • You will need lengths of: 300 mm (x2) + 1000 mm (x2) + 72 mm (x2) + 84 mm (x2) + 430 mm (x4)

 


JEWELRY STORE

It is important that your accessories are  made of solid brass. 
Brass-plated steel ones will look good the day you make your trunk, but very quickly the steel will rust and blister, they will be unrecoverable.
Jewelry store trunk luxury corner

Definition  -  brass-plated steel: 

The steel part is covered with a thin layer of brass, the thickness is between 0.003 mm and 0.0003 mm.

The layer of brass will naturally oxidize, and the steel below will also. We quickly understand why these pieces cannot keep their beautiful golden appearance over time. Simply cleaning the brass will remove it permanently.

 

You will spend time making your trunk as well not to regret it by the choice of low-end materials such as brass-plated steel.

 

The brass massive meanwhile offers quality and a resistance to any test, even if you scratch. It may tarnish, but will not rust , so you will be able to regain the bright yellow color very easily throughout its life.

 

Finishing of your jewelry stores.

It is important that all of your jewelry is of the same nature. If your lock is gilded brass (i.e. gold plated), it is imperative that your nails are as well.

On the one hand because polished brass does not have the same color as golden brass, and above all they will not age in the same way, as you can see on this suitcase where part of the jewelry has been gilded while another was not.  

 

If you want a golden, nickel-plated, red gold, palladium or other finish, it is important to have all of your parts treated by the same subcontractor, because each treatment bath has its own formula so if you take two parts treated by two different companies you will have two different colors. And once on the trunk the result will be unsightly and disappointing.

 

We recommend polished brass without any hesitation, because golden brass will not take on any patina, while polished brass offers exceptional reflections and color. Even today, it is no coincidence that the jewelry on Louis Vuitton trunks and suitcases are in polished brass.

 

You will need to choose:

Trunk lock x1:

 

Clasps  (also available in 3 sizes FB-S / FB-M / FB-XL) 

The two most common types of installation for a lock or a clasp are:

  • Laying flat: Means that the lid and the barrel are on the same plane.
  • Offset installation: the cover is not on the same plane as it was, for example if you have a belt.

Trick of trunk maker:  In order to put any clasp or lock in all situations, you just need to cut a leather shim of the missing thickness to position at the top or bottom depending on the configurations.

trunk malle en coin by malle2Luxe corner luxury for sale best price
Note : Buy squares to fold in the factory, it is impossible to perfectly fold a square at home (the square, in the center, perpendicular ...), more after folding it will have to be machine polished because the deformation of the material makes microcrack.
  • Attachot:
    • Xs : small box, case
    • S : Suitcase (President)
    • M : Vanity (bottle box), Suitcase (Bisten, Alzer)
    • XL : Trunk, Wardrobe

Definition : Flat metal part provided with a longitudinal slot, fixed on either side to the lid and to the bowl of a box or luggage, intended to retain the lid by limiting its opening towards the rear.

  

Embedded in the thickness of the wood, or placed directly against the wood, it is an ingenious system for your trunks and boxes. Our fasteners are equipped with a brake (to prevent the lid from falling once opened.) The curved part is against the wood.

x2 handles

MALLETIER NAILS

trunk luxury malletier nails brass solid

Mallet nails 

We have a wide choice of trunk nails, unlike upholsterer nails, trunk nails are not only decorative, they are also structural.

You will need nails for:

  • Corners = 3 to 9 nails per corner for a total of 24 to 72 nails
  • Squares = 2 to 4 per squares
  • Lock = 7 nails
  • Clasp = 6 or 7 studs
  • Handle = from 4 to 8 nails
  • Wooden slat: 1 nail every 10 cm
  • Belt: 1 nail every 4 cm

 

To help you make your choice, here is the image of the different designs that can be obtained on the same corners 52 mm and 26 mm  as well as the same brackets  36x105 , with different nails more or less domed with different head diameter .



How to use trunk nails?

 

Malletier is an ancestral craft that has existed since ancient times. The use of nails is just as old.


The interest of trunkers' nails and that the same nails can be used in 3 very different ways: Nailed - Stapled - Riveted


1 - NAILED

trunk nail secret manufacture Louis Vuitton by malle2luxe luxury

The nailed method is the simplest.

 

The nail allows at least two elements to be fixed together. In the case where the thickness of the wood is greater than the length of the rod, for example at the ends of the trunk.

 

trunk nail secret manufacture Louis Vuitton by malle2luxe luxury wood carpenter tip

Carpenter tip:

  • The passage of the rod of the nail in the first element to cross must be free, whether it is a piece of brass, wooden of small thickness or width likely to split or leather ... the rod of the nail must pass freely, drill so + 0.5 mm compared to the diameter of the rod, is only the 2nd part which has a smaller pilot hole of -0.5 mm compared to the diameter of the rod). So that once nailed the tightening of its two parts is perfect. Thanks to the pre-drilled holes you will not cut your wood.
damage the head trunk luxury brass nails

 

  • You never hit the head of a brass nail with a hammer, always use a wooden or rubber mallet so as not to damage the head.

 


2 - STAPLED

stapled home made creation luxury trunk

This technique is used when the thickness of the wood is reduced, it is exactly the same system as a paper stapler.

This assembly is very resistant.

 

It is mainly recommended for assembly: brackets, corners, wooden stick...

secrete manufacture trunk nail brass corner coin Louis Vuitton
  1. Pre-drill the wood
  2. Nail with a mallet
  3. Twist the staple-shaped rod with pliers
  4. Hold the head of the nail in the dowel and strike the rod so that it staples into the wood

Note  : it is important that the rod is well nailed with the wood, a just twisted nail will not hold.

It will be two in most cases, on one side a person who holds the head of the other a person who holds the hammer.

 

Tip if you don't have a dowel: 

To staple your nails without being in possession of a dowel used a "pile" in metal (For example a hammer head (in hardened steel)) and put a piece of leather, cardboard or thin wood between the metal and the nail head.

It is important that your nail head is not damaged coin by malle2luxe luxury trunk

It is important that your nail head is not damaged.

 

Also there is no point in hitting like a brute, 10 small necks are better than 2 large ones. The nail should not go into the material, but in a moderate way. 

 

 


3 - RIVETED

This technique of permanent fixing is widely used in the 19th century allowing a very resistant assembly. Thanks to a counter rivet (washer) the end of the nail is cut then matted in order to create a rivet. This assembly technique is recommended for highly stressed parts, such as the lock, clasps, handles. And the only fixing solution for thin thicknesses (in wood of 3 or 5 mm or quite simply to fix 2 metal plates or 2 pieces of leather).

 

It requires specific equipment: riveting hammer, washer driver and ideally a rivet...).

riveture tête laiton clou massif malle de luxe prix

Riveting step (on the same principle as a stapled nail, read the previous chapter):

  1. Pre-drill the wood ( Nail shank diameter (or nail shank diameter -0.5mm)).
  2. Nail with a mallet.
  3. With the "washer driver" insert the washer.
  4. The depth of the washer punch hole being insufficient to do it in one go, cut the nail shank.
  5. With the "hunting washer" strike the washer until it crashes and blocks (in fact the conical shape of the washer once flattened, the inside diameter is reduced coming to tighten the nail stem).
  6. Cut the rod about 2 mm above the washer
  7. Using part A of the riveting hammer, hammer the rod (ideally perpendicular to the line of cut.)
  8. With part B of the riveting hammer, flatten the shank of the nail in a circular manner for uniform and solid riveting.

 

Stapled or riveted pro tip:

There's no point typing like a bully. It is necessary to give time to the material to deform 20 small blows are better than 2 big ones which will deform everything.

riveted trunk luxury nail

Professional riveting tools.

Custom-made snaps for each type of nails sold in our shop. The rivet is a tool with a rounded head in which the head of the nails is positioned. There is therefore 1 rivet per nail reference.

 

The rivet is essential if your nails have a surface treatment so as not to mark the head during riveting. You are an industrialist, you want to equip yourself with a snap, consult us. We have a standard of each in stock, other models can be developed according to your needs.


FLAT HEAD NAILS

These flat head nails will be used to make the barrel, as well as to nail the rods under the trunk.

 

Pro  tip: the rule in carpentry is to tierce the assemblies, so you will need x 3 the thickness nailed to get the length of the suitable nail.

flat head nails trunk metal

Our panel is 12 mm (Ep), so the length to choose is 35 mm.

We recommend 1.8 x 35 mm nails.

 

Trunker's tip : these nails can be stapled like brass domed head nails, use the steel pile to hold the flat head of the nail.

These nails will be used for: 

  • Nail the barrel.
  • Staple the hinges
  • Nail and staple the slats on the underside of the trunk 

EDGE TIP

Domed head point in solid brass , to nail the border or loziner trunk

OPENING COMPASS

OPENING COMPASS trunk brass or metal

The opening compass ensures the opening of the lid. There are a large number of aperture compasses on the market:  

  

Fabric strap  : €2

Even if unsightly it is possible to use 2 straps which will keep the lid open. However, they will often get stuck between the lid and the barrel when closing.

  

Economic steel versions : €5 per pair

High -end brass version:

More complex to install, but much more aesthetic, this model is fitted to luxury trunks, they require machining with a router before the assembly of the barrel.

Installation of ties

Traditionally the attachments are embedded in the wood by 3 mm. The notch is made with a router. The precision of this notch does not matter, it will be hidden by the plates.

It is possible to replace the notch by adding a 3 mm plywood board, cut with a jigsaw to create a recess in the wood.

It is even possible to do without the notch (it all depends on the level of requirement.) because in fact the complete system is 2 mm thick. 

Each installation is unique, because it depends on the type of square, the thicknesses of wood...  

  

Traditionally the attachments are riveted. The top rivet is caught in the bracket of the belt. The bottom rivet is positioned on a case-by-case basis.

  

It is strongly recommended to make a small wooden template representing the lid and the bowl. In order to make the layouts and thus obtain the right dimensions. And location of the rivets.

The laying technique is as follows:  

1/ position the nail on the cover (which is normally the corner bracket) (drilled and nail slightly inclined in order to pull and press the bracket)

2/ once these nails are positioned. Trace the location of the cover (it must be 2 mm under the rolled edge covering) covering the inside of the trunk, passing through points (A) and (B) which can therefore be tilted.

3/ draw an offset axis of 5 mm (as in the diagram)

4/ the bottom nails must pass through this axis, when you open the lid the opening must not exceed 90° (so I recommend 85°)

5/ Ideally, the clip is 3 mm between the bracket and the corner of the cover so as not to damage the future coating. 

HINGE

Hettich universal hinge: 30 mm x 80 mm for trunk vuitton
Hettich universal hinge: 30 mm x 80 mm

Universal hinge.

 

We recommend stainless steel models from Hettich: 30 x 80 mm

 

Available at Leroymerlin price: 2 to 3 euros / piece

 

You can put any other universal model whose dimensions are:

 

Maximum length: 100 mm (50 + 50) x Width = indifferent

Universal steel hinge: 50 mm x 85 mm for trunk Louis Vuitton
Universal steel hinge: 50 mm x 85 mm

The quantity depends on the length of the trunk (L): 

  • L <800 mm = x 2 hinges
  • 800 mm> L> 1000 mm = x 3 hinges 
  • 1000 mm> L> 1200 mm = x 4 Hinges
  • 1200 mm> L> 1500 mm = x 5 hinges

 

They can be in steel, stainless steel or brass, they will be covered by the canvas. These hinges will be stapled with male head nails.

Label holder

  Leather label holder  dimension: 52 x 80 mm

 

Leather label holder  dimension: 52 x 80 mm

 

 


Manufacturing

Now that you have chosen, purchased and cut your materials. It's time to go to the assembly:


Make the keg

MAKE THE KEG trunk wood luxury

 

This crate will be glued with white wood glue and nailed with 35 x 1.8 mm flat head nails.

 

Note  : to avoid splitting the wood, nail at least 4 cm from the edge.

 

Pro tip: Tracing the thickness of your panel on the face where you nail will help you center the nail.

 

Warning : if you have chosen the opening calipers, you will have to cut the panels inside before assembly.

  Carpentry tip: alternate nailing, this assembly will be self-tightening like dovetails. trunk

Carpentry tip: nail at an angle alternately, this assembly will be self-tightening like the dovetails.


BREAK THE EDGE OF THE SHAFT

After gluing, generously sand all the outer edges to create a rounding with a radius of approximately 5 mm. This rounding allows you to have a nice rounding when you install the Loziné borders, it will also help you when installing the brackets and corners to have a perfect junction.

It can be done with a wood grater, sandpaper (grosgrain between 40 and 100), a sander, a router... It is not necessary to have great precision, just break this sharp edge.

  

Note : depending on the thicknesses chosen, chase your nails to avoid damaging your tools.


GLUEING OF THE OUTER CANVAS

GLUEING OF THE OUTER CANVAS trunk
  • For leather, cotton canvas, you can use white glue or neoprene glue.
  • For synthetic materials such as leatherette  , neoprene glue , or  contact your retailer to find out the appropriate glue.  
  • For wallpaper, use wallpaper paste. 
Glue each side in the following order trunk luxury home made

Glue each side in the following order:

  1. Below
  2. Above
  3. Cover side
  4. Cover side
  5. Cover side
  6. Barrel side
  7. Barrel face
  8. Drum side                                                       
    Then fix the hinges with flat head nails (stapled)
  9. Back 
secret pro tip Louis Vuitton trunk Goyard collection

Note : We recommend placing the metal hinges under the covering. They will be more discreet. It will be more aesthetic than putting them on the canvas. (9)

  

Pro tip: The edges of the trunk will be covered with the borders, only the thickness of the wood will be seen, we suggest miter cuts at 45° in the angles, like the sketch opposite.

  

Gainier's tip : Use a CB format plastic card (loyalty card, old blue card, telephone card, etc.) as a "smoother" to smooth the canvas in every nook and cranny and avoid creases.

 

Universal steel hinge trunk luxury pro tip

Attach your hinge 70 mm from the edge, the knot on the outside.  

  

Pro tip:

Temporarily place 2mm assembly shims between the barrel and the cover when positioning the hinges to ensure perfect operating play.

  

If you have chosen to turn the borders over the thickness of the wood of the trunk without embedding it (see lozinage tip), you will have to add the thickness of your border in addition to the thickness of the wedge.

LOZINAGE - BORDER

lozine border trunk

The borders are nailed successively with brass points.

 

Leatherworker's tip : it's easy to point your borders 

 

Use a dry-tipped compass and draw a line along the edge of your leather 5mm from the edge. Then using a ruler and a small nail point each point location. In order not to have to do any calculations, we recommend a spacing between each nail of 10 mm or 20 mm. 

 

For nailing we recommend our L2.5 nails  with a length of 10 mm. They are adapted and will not go through the wood (if it is 12 mm + coating thickness + edge thickness).

glue border trunk leather

 

Tip : In order to simplify the installation, you can use thin double-sided tape 4 or 6 mm in width to be placed 8 mm from the edge so that it does not interfere with the installation of the points. This tape is not intended to secure the element, only to hold the border while nailing. 

  Tip malletier : to nail spikes used a blunt hammer, which will not mark your area when nailing. trunk

Trunk maker 's tip: To nail the spikes, use a blunt-ended hammer that won't mark your surface when nailing.

  

Of course used a hammer suitable for woodworking, for example a roofer's hammer, the pointed end is very practical for laying slate, but perfectly unsuitable for making a wooden chest.

Finishing of the borders at the level of the cover.

Finishing of the borders at the level of the cover. 

 1 - If your trunk does not have a belt, it is better to put a finishing square to stop your border.

We recommend symmetrical brackets:  36 x 105 mm  or 16 x 58 mm

 

2 - If your trunk has a belt, the trick is to cut the outer covering with a cutter in order to embed the border on the thickness of your trunk, so the border will not take on any additional thickness.


BELT

The peripheral belt giving character to the trunk can be painted, or dressed in leather or canvas.

It consists of 3 elements: the  reinforcement , the  wedging , the covering.

  

The belt is based on your corner brackets with a final width of 36 mm or 42 mm. In the example below we will talk about the 42 mm. But of course you can apply the same method to the 36 mm belt. 

secret of making a belt trunk luxury Goyard

Thickness of the assembly including wedging: 4 mm

Belt thickness without wedging: 3 mm (see diagram)

 

Of course it's case by case, you can adjust the thicknesses of the different elements so that the thickness of the belt is 3 mm.

 

Example :

Reinforcement 0.5 mm + (2 x trim 1.25 mm): 3 mm

Reinforcement 1 mm + (2 x covering 1 mm): 3 mm

2 mm reinforcement + (2 x 0.5 mm covering): 3 mm

Reinforcement 2.8 mm + (2 x 0.1 mm paint coating): 3 mm

 

Reinforcement  :

Thickness :

  • Traditionally, it is made of steel, brass or aluminum 0.5 mm thick.

Leatherworker's tip  : For a decorative trunk, the reinforcement can be made of Texon or 1 mm thick rigid cardboard.

  

Width :

The final width is 42 mm so deduct 2 times the coating thickness to obtain the dimension = 42 - (2 x coating thickness)   

  

Belt length:

  = Left side + front of the trunk + right side  

  

Wedging:

The wedging is essential for your trunk to open and close, it is made of 1 mm cardboard

Dimension:  Belt length x 30 mm x 1 mm

  

Dressing:  

Dimensions: thickness 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm x width 84 mm x belt length  

  

Pro tip : check that the coating bends perfectly, reduce the thickness if necessary.

BELT MANUFACTURING

BELT MANUFACTURING

 Bonding in 3 steps: 

  

1 - Glue a 30 mm x 1 mm cardboard on the reinforcement  

Neoprene glue is perfectly suited for everything that is bonding cardboard, canvas and leather.

BELT MANUFACTURING trunk secret

      2 - Glue the covering on the reinforcement 18 mm from the edge

As the attached plan

BELT MANUFACTURING crazy trunk leather

3 - stick the back of the belt

 

Trunk maker tip  : if your leather or canvas is smaller than the total length of the belt make the joint in the center (where the lock will be fixed)

BELT MANUFACTURING nail trunk 15 mm
  • Metal reinforcement: 

If the reinforcement is made of metal, you can fold it in 2 angles. (thanks to a vice and 2 wooden calles so as not to damage the coating)

Drill the belt and the wood of the cover with a 2 mm drill, then drill only the metal belt with a drill 0.5 mm larger than the diameter of the rod of your nail.

  • Soft reinforcement:

If the reinforcement is made of cardboard, you can fold it easily by hand.

Method of laying trunk nails spaced about 4 cm apart, stapled laying. The nails are 15 mm from the top edge.


WOODEN STICK

WOODEN STICK

Before installing the wooden sticks, they must be machined, each end of the stick must be machined according to the attached plan.

  • The rebate on the underside corresponds to the thickness of the border.
  • The slope on the top corresponds to the brass square 29 x 105 , 105 = 60 mm + 45 mm. 

You can make these cuts with a circular saw, or with a hand saw, a wood grater, a router, a router or a sander depending on your equipment. 

 

The strip is fixed with trunk nails, stapled.

 

At each end a brass square 29 x 105 mm 

WOODEN STICK trunk brass

 

The slats below are fixed with man head nails stapled to the bottom of the trunk.


JEWELER

This is the last step, all that remains is to install the jewelry

 

With the technique of laying stapled nails as seen above 

 

Who understands the pose:

Installation of clasps 

  

Tip:  In order to install any clasps or locks in all situations, all you have to do is cut out a shim of the missing thickness to be positioned at the top or bottom depending on the configuration.

  

The wedge can be leather, wood, or even leather-covered wood. It will have the shape of the clasp or the lock or even be larger with another decorative shape.

  

Pro tip : close the trunk and put your clasp in the closed position. This way it will be perfectly positioned.

Installation of the lock

  

Regarding the lock, there are 2 types of installation:

  • Surface mounting : 
    There is no machining to do which makes the installation very easy
  • Built-in installation:
    Check that the thickness of the box is less than that of the wood of the barrel (front)

Carefully measure the size of the safe and cut out with a saw or router or by drilling a multitude of holes the location of the safe, leaving 3 mm clearance.

  

Pro tip : Just like the clasp, fix the lock in the closed position (do not leave the key in the trunk), this way it will be perfectly positioned.

Placement of corners 

  

Trunk maker 's tip : to place the corners it will be necessary to break the angle with a grater, or a sander, or a hand saw.

 

Tip : 

To make your trunk move easily, glue felt glides in the four corners. We strongly advise against casters that scratch the parquet, as well as any other metal part.

How to put leather handles on your trunk?

 

Pre-drill all the holes in accordance with the manufacturer's dimensions.

Gradually nail the 4 nails of the loop at the same time so that it is positioned perfectly.

the handle must be able to be taken (hand passage behind). But also being able to lay down to take up minimal space when not in use.

How to put a label holder on your trunk?

 

The label holder is made of leather, it can have a flexible plastic window to protect the paper label.

 

It is nailed with the same points as that of the border  L.2.5

 

Trick of trunk maker:  place the  label holder  3 mm under the belt, so the label cannot be raised without the trunk being opened. 


CUSTOMIZATION

CUSTOMIZATION trunk labeled

In order to further represent you, you can:

 

  • Paste hotel labels and stick them on
  • Stick labels of the flags of the countries you have been to.
  • Make stable bands 
CUSTOMIZATION initials trunk
  • Put your initials on the sides

So many customizations that will make your trunk even more unique. 


INTERIOR

Your exterior is now perfectly finished, all you have to do is line the inside of your trunk.

  

For ease of implementation, we advise you to stick paper, fabric or suede on cardboard supports, and to nail these panels inside the trunk.

  

You will find a large number of tutorials on cardboard on the Internet.


PAMPERING

maintenance product brass trunk

Your trunk is now finished, before a well-deserved rest!

  

All that remains is to pamper everything, thanks to our brass maintenance product , you will give a homogeneous color to the brass and will remove the fingerprints made all throughout the manufacturing process of the trunk.


EXAMPLE OF YOUR TRUNKS MADE BY YOURSELF:


Thank you to JM, Fabiola, Deroy... for these superb photos, do not hesitate to send us your creations so that they complete this article: malle2Luxe@gmail.com