1950s Retro Cooler Themed Restoration - Rusty to Mirror Finish

In this makeover, I transform an old piece with inspiration from retro coolers from the 1950's. I picked up this very unique piece from FB Marketplace for just $10. When I saw how the metal frame was rusting and painted all over, I was itching to bring it back to life. Using a grit progression of 60, 120, 280, 600, 1000, to 2000 and a final buff with Flitz Polish, I gave the frame a mirror finish. Given the round shape and the amount of surface area, this was quite the time consuming task. Luckily, I found this process to be extremely satisfying, so I was only a little bit miserable sanding away at it for days. For the body, I wanted to switch out just the top with a bit of a thicker and sturdier wood. It was just a little too flimsy for my liking, and it's a simple way to drastically increase the quality of a piece. For the paint, I used Krylon's All-In-One Fusion spray paint in Glossy Red Pepper. The back of the can tells you to apply the next coat within 2 hours or after 48 hours, and I learned that there's a reason for this. I applied my third coat 24 hours after my second, and it looked like there had been an earthquake. I believe this happened because the surface was dry while the inside was still drying, and applying another coat made the dried up layer "scrunch up". To fix this, I waited the full 48 hours for it to dry, sanded it smooth, then applied my coats. Lesson learned! The handle design was heavily inspired by some of the fridge door handles from the 1950's that I found through a Google search. I really love the retro look... I hope you find this video enjoyable. If you do, please give it a like! I appreciate it :) - Andy ---------- Below is a list of some of the tools and products that I used. SurfPrep Electric Sander: https://www.surfprepsanding.com?aff=76 (Use code MODERN10 for a 10% discount!) Flitz Polish: https://amzn.to/3DjnDKs Glue Syringe: https://amzn.to/36JsIhj Krylon Fusion Spray Paint: https://amzn.to/3oiULxV Minwax Wood Stain (Jacobean 2750): https://amzn.to/3G1p7Lk Minwax Polyeurathane Spray (Semi-Gloss): https://amzn.to/3yrxaxS As a disclaimer, the above links are affiliate links, so if you make a purchase with the links provided, I may receive a small commission. There's no extra charge to you, but it helps me out! ---------- Follow me on Instagram to see more makeovers that you won't see here on YouTube: https://www.instagram.com/modern.makeovers