Dads Dental School Kennedy, how to proceed?

[Absynthe]

Been putting off this project for a while, I have my dads Kennedy from his dental school in the mid 60's, that he gave to me in the early 80's. I put it through the paces, storing model car paint, stickering it up, it is showing it's age. I called Kennedy and got a new drawer pull for the one missing from the front drawer cover. Anyway, getting toward the holidays, and he's not around and we never left on good terms, but figure it is time... Consulted with my oldest daughter about full restore, or just clean, stop the rust and let it show the battle scars and memories. She chose the latter. We agreed, but pics make the rust look worse than it looks to naked eye. Rust is surface, but what is the best way to stop, but not have to completely refinish? Or really is that the best way to go on this thing?

Absynthe

 

[jwh]

If it were me I'd go the full restoration route. I'm pretty sure you can get new drawer felt and wrinkle finish brown paint from Kennedy.

They are really great boxes I have 1 at home and the bright red version of yours at work.

Good luck.

 

[Aerogt01]

I have that exact box, except worse condition. I would go the full restore route if it's sentimental enough. I have done the research, and a full restore is quite easily more expensive than a nice used one.
However, the one I have is from the father-in-law who made a livelyhood for years out of it and I will be giving it to my son.

Be careful, my drawer pulls were plastic, but that Kennedy paint REALLY wants to stay on there. I'm still trying to figure out how to redo the rivets for the latches.

 

[countryroad82]

I'm with your daughter, that box earned it's battle scars and it shows them proud! The rust, as long as it is kept in the dry, kept away from major moisture, that surface scale will pretty much stop.

 

[vagabondmidget]

Chicks dig scars and your daughter agrees! Why restore and make like every other box? You can always buy a clean Kennedy but can't get back what the box has earned.

How will you use the box? If it will be a working box you can just knock the rust down with a scotchbrite and put a little oil on it. If it won't be a working box you can knock it down still and hit it with a clear or Eastwood has a "patina preserve" paint.

 

[Absynthe]

Yep, cleanup and new felt it is. No complete restore.

 

[zkling]

Go with something other than felt and don't glue it down. Another one of my pet peeves about those boxes is the IF they ever get damp, the felt will hold the moisture right against the metal causing it to rust. Unlike other liners that can easily be removed to wipe up or check on moisture problems.

Cork sheet looks really classy, might want to try that. If you cut it with a straight edge and exacto knife you can get a very good fit that won't need to be glued down. For the external surfaces a good scrub with penetrating oil and a fine steel wool will hep to clean it up.

I'm a bit surprised they allowed felt lined drawers for storing dental tools. Seems like that could really harbor bacteria.

 

[Angelfire]

Spray a coat or two of clear over it.

 

[garboui]

ot, but are those the dayton mtm tl kits?

 

[Cyberbear]

I, too, still think Kennedy is the king of tool boxes, and because of that I think because it has been through hard times, it absolutely deserves the best of care. I am a firm believer that old trucks and tool boxes should be restored, I love rusty metal but not on everything. There used to be a product we used when I worked in a body shop that you squirted on and wiped off to stop the rust from coming back, can't now recall the product name. Perhaps something as simple as a bottle of cold gun bluing would do the trick if you decide against a full restoration job. Also, I like the thin plastic drawer liners now available, easy to slip out and wash when needed.

 

[7echo]

I'm with your daughter, that box earned it's battle scars and it shows them proud! The rust, as long as it is kept in the dry, kept away from major moisture, that surface scale will pretty much stop.

I am with country here. Will it be kept in a conditioned space? Just a little clean up and use it. Go with the daughters plan, that adds to the family story as well.

 

[kingstrider]

That's pretty cool. When I was in dental school we used the plastic Plano boxes. I bet this would have been heavy lugging around.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

I, too, still think Kennedy is the king of tool boxes, and because of that I think because it has been through hard times, it absolutely deserves the best of care. I am a firm believer that old trucks and tool boxes should be restored, I love rusty metal but not on everything. There used to be a product we used when I worked in a body shop that you squirted on and wiped off to stop the rust from coming back, can't now recall the product name. Perhaps something as simple as a bottle of cold gun bluing would do the trick if you decide against a full restoration job. Also, I like the thin plastic drawer liners now available, easy to slip out and wash when needed.

Loctite Extend Rust Treatment is one of those products. My son says its available at AutoZone.. I believe it requires painting afterword, and have never simply tried to "coat it" with oil .. Maybe that on the interior, and a quick touch up with a Kennedy wrinkle spray-bomb, and it'll be good to go.. I believe the felt idea is good if being used in an industrial environment where oil will be in the felts in short order, otherwise cork or those polymer drawer liners are good alternatives.

Fixing up the drawers preserves them, and keeping the exterior like it is keeps the sentimental.. A good compromise imho.

Dennis

 

[Sachseguy]

Check out Eastwood Patina Preserver........it allows you to protect the box from further corrosion while keeping the original finish.

http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-patina-preserver-aerosol.html

 

[bulletpruf]

Spray a coat or two of clear over it.

I wouldn't use regular clear; too glossy. Use a flat clear.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Check out Eastwood Patina Preserver........it allows you to protect the box from further corrosion while keeping the original finish.

http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-patina-preserver-aerosol.html

That's what I love about the GJ.. The collective wisdom, experience, and friendliness of those on here are utterly amazing. I didn't know this existed and now I'm off to purchase a can on their website. I believe they are in The Alliance too if memory serves..

Dennis