First ever Garage Sale...

[The Rider]

... and I spotted a matching pair of KRA's at the end of the driveway. Looks like the - sadly deceased - previous owner was something of a Harley fan.

Anyway, following a short negotiation, an exchange of $75 & a trip in the Land Rover later, they were in their new home and awaiting some TLC. Should keep me out of trouble for the next few weeks...

There is some surface rust but no holes, bangs, dents or major damage and everything is flat, square & true.

However, the bottom drawer of the top box has a broken slide. See pictures. The drawer still slides in & out but on the broken side it moves along the floor of the box instead of the runner.

Any suggestions on how this could be repaired / replaced would be much appreciated.

Also, I initially thought the rolling cab was missing the lower drawers, but I have seen a couple of these posted recently and they all have that curious open space at the bottom. Were these drawers optional extras?

Thanks in advance for your input!

Broken drawer slide - Ouch! Any idea how this can be repaired??

 

[hguerrero]

great price...i like that bottom box..do you plan to restore these?

 

[The Rider]

great price...i like that bottom box..do you plan to restore these?

Yes. I'll be stripping, sanding priming & painting them both.

This will be my first restoration attempt though so I'm very much in the research stage right now!

 

[Lump]

This was your FIRST-EVER Garage Sale? Man, talk about beginner's luck!

Nice score.

 

[The Rider]

This was your FIRST-EVER Garage Sale? Man, talk about beginner's luck!

Nice score.

Correct! First ever!! I could scarcely believe my good luck! Right place at the right I suppose.

I also bagged a whole load of tools which I'll post in a separate thread when I've had time to upload the pictures.

 

[Lump]

Ha. Just wait till you see what happens next, if your luck is typical at this point...

For example, first time I went deer hunting I took a giant buck with huge 10-point rack in the first full hour of my first morning of my first deer hunt ever. That was about 10 years ago, and I've taken several deer since then, but never even SEEN anything like that one ever again. Chuckle.

 

[JSBriggs]

Not too shabby.

Land Rover, eh? Leaf or coil?

-Jeff

 

[The Rider]

Not too shabby.

Land Rover, eh? Leaf or coil?

-Jeff

1993 Disco II.

 

[Packard V8]

Yep, I've got that same set and the bottom space was standard, extra drawers were available extra cost option. Does yours have the three small drawers across the top?

As for repairing your broken drawer slide groove, I know a guy who's really good with a TIG welder and once I got mine dinged back, I made a false slide out of a piece of plastic to clamp the loose end in place and spaced just right. He tack-welded the slide in place. We then cut a piece of 1/8" steel as long as the broken part of the slide. He welded that to the drawer side and to the slide as reinforcement.

As to a full restoration - your boxes, your time and your money. However, never again, not for me, no way, no how. I've done cars which took less time, effort and money than a top and bottom box. No way will you add as much value as you add cost. I vote for WD40, sandpaper and steel wool. The patina works for me.

jack vines

 

[mooman]

Good score!
There is a similar bottom box in the classifieds for $150 that looks a little worse than yours.

 

[The Rider]

Yep, I've got that same set and the bottom space was standard, extra drawers were available extra cost option. Does yours have the three small drawers across the top?

As for repairing your broken drawer slide groove, I know a guy who's really good with a TIG welder and once I got mine dinged back, I made a false slide out of a piece of plastic to clamp the loose end in place and spaced just right. He tack-welded the slide in place. We then cut a piece of 1/8" steel as long as the broken part of the slide. He welded that to the drawer side and to the slide as reinforcement.

As to a full restoration - your boxes, your time and your money. However, never again, not for me, no way, no how. I've done cars which took less time, effort and money than a top and bottom box. No way will you add as much value as you add cost. I vote for WD40, sandpaper and steel wool. The patina works for me.

jack vines

Thanks for the insight Jack!

Yes the base cabinet does have the three small drawers across the top.

The slide repair sounds quite involved. I'm no welder, but I know somebody close by that restores & repairs antique Triumph motorcycles. I'll run it by him and see if he can steer me in the right direction.

I hear you on the resto vs patina thing and if I'm being honest I'm still on the fence.

But I was looking for a project piece, so I'll rub out the rust as best I can and then make a decision from there.

 

[Packard V8]

Is your top box a 59 or a 61?

jack vines

 

[crewchief888]

nice score

 

[The Rider]

Is your top box a 59 or a 61?

jack vines

It's a 61C.

 

[JASTECH]

Yes, nice indeed! I should be living where they have flea markets and bunches of yard sales. You guys are lucky. Please keep me in mind for a bigger set. I have 27"W set.

Thanks, JASTECH

 

[arkangel06]

You did good

 

[jethro29]

great score,you ****!LOL. WISH I HAD YOUR LUCK.THANKS FOR SHARING.

 

[Grigg]

...However, the bottom drawer of the top box has a broken slide...
Any suggestions on how this could be repaired / replaced would be much appreciated.

I have a box with a similarly worn out drawer slide.
Talked to my Snap-On guy a couple weeks ago and he said no problem to get the removable slide parts, and with the box model number he's pretty sure he can get the replacement part that is spot welded to the case or drawer.
Been trying to catch up with him for almost three weeks now, hopefully this Friday I'll have an answer weather he can get the parts or not.
If so I'll remove the old and TIG plug weld the new in it's place.

Grigg

 

[The Rider]

I have a box with a similarly worn out drawer slide.
Talked to my Snap-On guy a couple weeks ago and he said no problem to get the removable slide parts, and with the box model number he's pretty sure he can get the replacement part that is spot welded to the case or drawer.
Been trying to catch up with him for almost three weeks now, hopefully this Friday I'll have an answer weather he can get the parts or not.
If so I'll remove the old and TIG plug weld the new in it's place.

Grigg

Interesting. Would you mind updating and letting me know how it turns out as well as how much it costs.

Thank you!

 

[JSBriggs]

2003 Disco II.

Ive got several Rovers myself, and that box too. (mine is a 59 / 300 set) Its a decent home garage box.

-Jeff

 

[mrholeshot]

I really like those old roll front Snap-On boxes

 

[Grigg]

Interesting. Would you mind updating and letting me know how it turns out as well as how much it costs.

Thank you!

Just got off the truck, my dealer had the replacement drawer slides in stock and exchanged my old ones.
Looked in the catalog to find the part numbers for the fixed part of the slide, and the number is still good but none shown in stock at the warehouse.
He sees no problems getting them, but only time will tell if it actually happens.

I'll let you know, but you might as well take your tool box number to your dealer and order what you need.

Grigg

 

[The Rider]

I'm in the throes of sanding off my KRA300E bottom box pictured in the initial post. Drawers and slides have all been removed but I have a couple of questions:

1. How do I remove the Snap On emblem?
The aluminium roller louvres do not allow access to the rear of it. Do I just pry it off?

2. How do I remove the side pull handle? (see picture below)
Again, there is no access from inside the box to the outer steel wall the handle is attached to.

3. What is the purpose of the small access plate on the left hand side of the box (again see picture below)?
I have removed the four corners screws, taken off the plate and peered around inside but it doesn't appear to have any function that I can discern!

 

[jaysonb]

Does it give one access to take the handle and emblem off by chance?

 

[The Rider]

Does it give one access to take the handle and emblem off by chance?

Wouldn't that be nice?

But no is the answer.

 

[crewchief888]

I'm in the throes of sanding off my KRA300E bottom box pictured in the initial post. Drawers and slides have all been removed but I have a couple of questions:

1. How do I remove the Snap On emblem?
gently pry it off

2. How do I remove the side pull handle?
remove the rubber end pieces, slide the outer 1/2 of the handle off, )friction fit)remove the 4 screws that go through the inner handle 1/2, the spacers, and screw into the box inserts
3. What is the purpose of the small access plate on the left hand side of the box
i have one of these boxes at the shop, i never noticed an access plate on it

 

[billymade]

I have one in my Snapon box; AFIK, they used to sell a pig tail eletrical cord setup, that had electrical outlet plugs on them.... that way you had protable outlets for your toolbox!

 

[crewchief888]

I have one in my Snapon box; AFIK, they used to sell a pig tail eletrical cord setup, that had electrical outlet plugs on them.... that way you had protable outlets for your toolbox!

this has got me thinkin' now

 

[Rickster]

I had one of those bottom boxes for a while. On mine that door pull went all the way to the top and there were three smller drawers across the top row.

 

[The Rider]

crewchief - thanks for the info. Teasing apart that bent & rusty handle looks like being a project all in itself...!

billymade - electrical outlet would make sense.

rickster - mine also has the three small drawers along the top.

 

[The Rider]

Well thanks to crewchief888 & a little gentle persuasion removing the handle turned out to be a piece of cake.

Ends caps removed & outer portion half way off:

Handle outer completely off & sitting on top of the box:

And here's how the box sits now; drawers & slides removed...

...wheels scrubbed clean, & caster hardware soaking in vinegar.

Next step is sanding & paint prep.