How to restore old, beat up tool box?

[mtd240]

Well, I picked up an old craftsman box/cart last night (See first picture). It doesn't have ball bearings - just sliders. It has a bit of surface rust in several areas, and the sliders FEEL TERRIBLE.

How do I go about doing a "minor restoration" on this thing? I have an angle grinder, so I am guessing I could just run out and grab some wire wheels and get the rusty parts, then do a light sanding of everything else. What kind of paint should I use?

And - most importantly - how do I get these sliders back up to par? I will use some brake cleaner to clean them out - what kind of oil/grease should they be lubed with?

Also..the box came FULL of old US made (proto, easco, SK, Giller[?], Craftsman, Williams, etc etc) and Japanese made (KAL, Fuller, and a couple others) wrenches and such. The majority of them are larger than 5/8". I am going to keep anything metric (close to nothing)..but the ~120 other US wrenches, 1/2" proto ratchet, sockets, nut drivers [not pictured], etc are up for grabs (looking for ~$200 shipped - will come out to ~$1.50 per item ha!). Note that picture #4 is all of the "import" stuff - Taiwan for the black sockets and ratchet (forgot the company - "all" somethin' - ratchet has a thumbwheel and feels nice), combo wrenches are all junk India/China. They will be thrown in the shipped box as well, for you to dispose of in any method you choose. Email me if you want an inventory...see pictures below for a general overview. There is also a MAC angle sander I don't need..$50 shipped should be fine. I will probably put an ad in the "for sale" section later.

Anyway - lets focus on the box here Any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated

Michael

 

[Ft.ValloniaStreaker]

i'd say for a "minor restoration" buy a can of wd-40 and spray and rub all week-end....put that grinding wheel away!

 

[Slip_Kid]

Just clean it, lube the slides...............not worth it to repaint that box.

 

[mtd240]

Okay - I am guessing its from the 80s-90s? What kind of lube should I use? White lithium grease, silicone-based lube, WD-40, heavier weight oil, grease?

I just needed a real box, as I have been using an assortment of bags and other smaller toolboxes to hold everything. I am interested in repainting in..since I am a little OCD. I realize it might not be worth it..but I don't expect to invest in a "nicer box" anytime in the near future.

 

[lauver]

i'd say for a "minor restoration" buy a can of wd-40 and spray and rub all week-end....put that grinding wheel away!

Agreed. Use a 3M scuff pad (green) and WD40 to clean the all surfaces of the chest and cab. Wipe down with paper towels after the scrub. This process will remove all surface rust, grease/grime, and dead paint. You'll be surprised at the result when you're done. And you can repeat this process at any time in the future when your tool boxes get dirty.

Regarding the slides-- Clean and derust them well, then lube all the friction surfaces with a heavy bearing grease. This should keep the slides moving smoothly for about 5 years of normal use. The slide mechanisms need to be recleaned and relubed about every 5 years.

Git er dun...

 

[Packard V8]

FWIW, I've done a dozen old friction slide boxes. The only way to get them right is a complete disassembly and cleaning the slides and the inside of the box with solvent and and a brush. There can be an amazing amount of grit in there.

Sometimes the slides are bent on the long axis or across the short axis. Eyeball them for straightness and correct with a vise, anvil and hammer as necessary.

Check the drawer and case slides as well. They're part of the system and can be bent or in extreme cases worn through.

Do a "slide lube" search and you'll find a dozen opinions, but lube is what makes it slide.

As for painting, your OCD, your time, your money. I'll never, ever paint another box.

jack vines

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Just clean it, lube the slides...............not worth it to repaint that box.

+1

It's simply too cheaply made to make it worth your while to spend much time and money on it. Just get it usable enough for resale and let someone else decide if they want to polish that turd.

 

[Outlawmws]

Beeswax makes good slide lube after they and the drawer and box tracks are cleaned.

Wet lubes just attract more grit.