Choosing The Right Tub

For Your Trade Show Display

Do not go out looking for an old tub.

Purchase a new porcelain on steel tub and prepare it for display. A new tub cost less than $100 dollars at Home Depot, Lowe's etc.

Call as many plumbers as needed to find an ugly, old , worn tub drain outlet  for your display. You do not need the entire drain outlet fitting that the outlet screws into just the outlet itself.

With a new tub you can distress any area of the tub you desire and leave the remainder looking like new.

Start by placing a piece of silver duct tape at the top edge of the tub above the over flow hole. Run the tape down the tub wall to the drain outlet hole. Make a 90˚ turn and run a piece of duct tape from the drain outlet hole up the back side of the tub to the upper back edge.

Front side of tub      Back side or wall side of tub

Be very careful with the next step. Use a 2 inch paint brush and carefully apply etch on the tub surface inside the taped area  that you have just outlined. (smaller area in corner of tub)

Before applying etch make sure the tape is pressed well against the surface. Place something under the opposite end of the tub to keep the etch from running on bottom of tub.

Allow the etch to set for 15 minutes. Rinse tub thoroughly with a water hose starting at end opposite of the drain. 

Remove tape.

Look carefully at the tub and use a hammer to chip a place on the rim of the etched area.

Now rub some black tint mixed with acetone on the etched area. Us a small amount and rub it on to look like dirt and wear.

Choose the appropriate drain wrap tub mat for the tub. trim off the area that would cover the etched area of the tub. Apply the tub mat to the tub bottom. 

Install a new drain overflow cover to hide the overflow hole. It can be held in place with silicone caulk. Place tape on overflow cover until silicone dries.

 Place the old drain outlet in outlet hole. Use silicone caulk to hold the old drain outlet in place.

The modified part of the tub should look something like this

Apply a thin even coat of Liquid Glass or SPR polish to the surface of the tub that remains new and the display is ready.

Cary a drain dress up kit to the show.  When you are explaining what you do show them how you can make their old drain outlet and over flow covers look like new again by dropping the drain cover over the old outlet fitting.  Do not glue in the new drain cover.

When your prospects ask what you do. Say we use space age products to chemically restore the surface to look like it did when it was installed.  We do not paint the tub like other refinishers do this surface is not painted and we guarantee it will never peel like a painted tub!

Your competition will go crazy truing to figure out how you restored the surface to look so good. They will try to scratch the surface to see how durable the finish is with a key or pocket knife when you are not looking.