Snap-On KRL roll cab & top chest restoration

[stubs]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum - I found it via Google search whilst researching about what might be my latest project;

I've got the opportunity to buy a Snap-On KRL series roll cab & top chest at a very attractive price, but it needs some TLC to bring it back to good condition;

I own a powder coating & steel fabrication company, so we do this sort of stuff regular, but I haven't had any experience in stripping one of these particular boxes down before, so it will be interesting.

Does anyone have any advice or guidance they can offer before I get started?
If anyone's done anything similar in the past, I'd love to see some photos or a write up.

Once the box turns up, and I make a start, I'll document and do a write up of my own on here.


Cheers,
Stu

 

[Murphy4570]

It is about the same as painting a car. Snap-On uses automotive grade paint. Fairly straight forward, though somewhat time consuming.

You can get new slides, trim, etc from Snap-On directly, but you can only order the badges themselves from one of their truck guys. Their website *****, so you have to do some digging, but most parts are available for all of their boxes going back 40+ years. I've fixed up a few old KR boxes myself.

I wouldn't go crazy on stripping the old paint off. Just hit it with a DA sander and 400-600 grit paper, get it down to bare metal mostly. Prime and paint. Bam, done.

 

[Trey T]

I would love to see a good documentation of the restoration. Good luck!

 

[zkling]

Do you have a picture with the top open? Those boxes are pretty easy to strip down (depending on which exact one you have). As mentioned, paint it like a car. Since you have a powdercoat setup you shouldn't have any problems. The metal is thick enough to prevent warping unless you really crank it up and linger while blasting.

How good is the price? Since you have access to your own powdercoat that may be a wash, but completely redoing a box (properly) is a huge time investment. Meaning you should probably plan on keeping the box for personal use. Paint is one thing, but make sure the boxes don't have any major problems structure wise.

 

[teletekman]

You can get the badges from fleabay. Last time I ordered one they were about half the price of one off the truck. Granted you have to wait a while for it to ship...

What color you thinking of painting it? Post pics if you can...

 

[stubs]

Thanks for the positive replies.
I've been offered this for £500 (what's that, like $760 or so?) plus I'll need to probably pay about another £100 ($150) to get it shipped to me.
I've spoken to the local Snap-On dealer, and he's said I might be able to replace any faulty bearing runners under warranty, but he's going to price them up for me incase they've been violated!
I'm led to believe that they are originally powder coated, so that's good, as that's what I plan to do.
I was just a bit concerned that they might be difficult to strip down, but for the price, it's worth a shot. I plan to acid dip most of the parts, but probably just gently shot blast & DA the main body.
I don't have any photos of the top open yet, but as soon as I have the box in my possession I'll be sure to get plenty.
I'm hoping to offer it as a service to my local Snap-On dealer for his "worse for wear" trade-ins. However, as this one will be my project, I'm not letting my lads lose on it.. I want to do it myself
Colour wise, I was going to ask on here actually.. what are people's thoughts on this? Should I stick to original colour, or go Snap-On red (like some say Ferrari should always be red), or do I go all out with a hot pink, or crazy candy colour?
I'd like to try and give it some resale value for if I were to ever want to upgrade to a bigger box, but at the same time, it's going to be used & abused at the unit, and I can always re-do it again in future if I fancy it.

 

[stubs]

I was actually thinking standard white, but do all the chrome bits in a satin or matt black, with carbon badges and carbon drawer guards (if I can source them cheaper than RRP)

 

[teletekman]

That sounds like a pretty big project your got brewing. For the price it doesn't sound bad. Definitely post your projects pics when you are doing it.

Good luck with it.

 

[Lx460]

That's a lot of money for that but maybe the market is different wherever you are located? (Subtle hint to add you location to profile)

 

[merbie]

Judging this is a U.K. Based project then yes tool boxes are way more pricey over here


Merb

 

[Lx460]

Have you looked at it in person? That gap in the bottom roller looks fairly large. I'd make sure to pull the drawers and make sure the slide brackets aren't worn out. (Not the glides) the brackets that are spot welded to the drawers and cabinet.

 

[stubs]

lol sorry guys - location added now (they should have that option when you register)

Yeah to be fair, this price is mega cheap for one of these boxes. There's one currently for sale on eBay but in good condition for more than 3 times the price I can get this one for. Granted, this needs work, but the labour and powder won't cost me, just any parts it needs (trim, locks & badges)

Don't get me wrong, £500 is a lot of money for scrap, but I won't let it become scrap. Hopefully it will be a £1500+ box after a little work

 

[stubs]

Have you looked at it in person? That gap in the bottom roller looks fairly large. I'd make sure to pull the drawers and make sure the slide brackets aren't worn out. (Not the glides) the brackets that are spot welded to the drawers and cabinet.

No I've not.. but we also do steel fabrication, so shouldn't be too much of an issue if it needs a bit of welding & fettling.
My only worry was getting all the chrome bits off without bending them up too much, and also getting the hinged lid off if needed. Ive not seen one close up for many years, and even then I wasn't taking any notice of these sort of details.

 

[stubs]

Judging this is a U.K. Based project then yes tool boxes are way more pricey over here


Merb

Yeah UK based - I think these retail about £4000 for the bottom and £3000 for the to don't they? These are old models now, and those prices probably get slashed on the vans & during promotional runs etc.. but still, I think £500 and a couple of weekends work seems reasonable.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Does anyone have any advice or guidance they can offer before I get started?
If anyone's done anything similar in the past, I'd love to see some photos or a write up.

Cheers,
Stu

Check out the threads in my signature for some of the toolboxes I've restored. Some of the information may help you.

 

[Waggoner72]

Here's my thread from restoring a Snap-on triple bank box with neglect and rust issues.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=265621

 

[nia573]

Interesting project! I think I saw this box on one of the Facebook groups? Good luck with it

 

[stubs]

Thanks for the links guys.. they all look good, and have given me some more inspiration! Waggoner72 seems to have really trumped me though, that's a hell of a box for the money! well done.

nia573, that's correct - a guy called Keith was selling it on Facebook, and it also went up on eBay. Luckily I was quick enough to get in touch, and he also turned down other offers whilst we were in discussion. He's a man true to his word, and was great to deal with. He let me have it for £470 in the end, as he wanted it out of his way. Courier was sourced for £60 and picked it up from Keith last night. It will arrive with me on Thursday, and I hope to get started on it by the weekend - however, I'd like my Snap-On guy to assess the runners before I touch it, in hope that he might do them under warranty. He's aware of my plans, and seemed to be behind me.
Can't wait!

 

[stubs]

Hi all,

I spoke with my local snap on dealer earlier this morning, and was discussing colour options.. I originally wanted to keep to the original white with maybe black trims, but he seems to think changing to red might be the best option to give it more resale value. He explained that white isn't very practical in a garage environment, so people tend to go for red instead.

What's people's thoughts on this? If I'm going to change from white, should I just go all out crazy and do it in a candy or gunmetal or something? I quite like the blue or matt black, with gloss black trims.

Any suggestions, advice or inspiration would be great.


Cheers,
Stu

 

[FJ 432]

Paint it whatever you want!!!

Here's mine:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=264579

 

[stubs]

Yeah I suppose I could always return it back to original White if I ever wanted to sell it on.
Ok so to pick a decent colour scheme then..

If anyone has any inspiring photos, please post them (not just relating to older or restored boxes)

 

[merbie]

Yeah UK based - I think these retail about £4000 for the bottom and £3000 for the to don't they? These are old models now, and those prices probably get slashed on the vans & during promotional runs etc.. but still, I think £500 and a couple of weekends work seems reasonable.

Considering I spent 600 for a kra2007 new off the truck I reckon he got a good deal


Merb

 

[stubs]

Ok, so the box turned up last week and when I first saw it in person I was initially pretty disappointed. This was partly though due to the fact that my local Snap-On dealer had already been over to my unit and checked it out before me, and had decided he wasn't going to cover the drawer slides under warranty

Anyway after a quick look over it, I got over my first impressions and started to look under it's skin. The box itself is pretty straight, and other than where the top box has suffered fire damage at some point in it’s life (no, I wasn't made aware of this before buying!), there seems to be little amounts of rust.

6 of the 11 drawers needs new slides, as they've been totally seized and/or buckled under heavy load. The remaining 5 sets have been soaked and free'd up ready to be re-greased during re-construction.

The drawers have now all been dipped, and minor surface rust taken back by hand, and the main carcasses & top lid are going to be shot blasted late this week / early next week.

We gave one of the drawers a quick test with some RAL3020 - Traffic Red powder that we had in stock. I know it's not the exact colour that Snap-On use for their red boxes, but it's close enough for my liking and it's very vivid and fresh looking. I think I'm going to continue with this colour and have the chrome bits finished in a gloss black.

Snap-On have taken my order for replacement locks / drawer slides / badges and lock N roll latches; totalling £400 - delivery due 30th March.

So here are a couple of pics to show how it looked, and a sneaky pic of the "tester" drawer;

 

[stubs]

pics continued...

 

[stubs]

and some more...

 

[merbie]

Looking good, will be interested to see how it turns out


Merb

 

[firecracker]

You are going to put my little refurb to shame, mind you I only paid £40 for it and only painted the outside. Good luck I think it's going to be Awsome.

 

[stubs]

You are going to put my little refurb to shame, mind you I only paid £40 for it and only painted the outside. Good luck I think it's going to be Awsome.

Yeah? let's see it... can't argue at £40!
To be honest, I'm hoping it will put some newer boxes to shame when it's done.. trying to impress the snap-on dealer into letting me at his trade in boxes

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Stubs, what were the drawers dipped in?

 

[stubs]

We use a product called stripsol, but the main chemical in it is called dichloromethane. It's wicked stuff, but nasty at the same time.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

That box is going to look incredible when you finish.

 

[stubs]

Cheers bud!

I gotta thank you and Waggoner72 for your inspiration & supportive comments.
Out of interest, what did you use on your drawer edge trims to bring them up so nice? Was it that evoporust stuff?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Nope, just used real fine steel wool.

 

[stubs]

Ah gotcha.. And a dab of that elbow grease that people seem to be running out of these days lol

 

[Trey T]

Did you use a blast cabinet to shot blast the drawers or is it outdoor? Can you share some photos of the process?

 

[zkling]

Do you actually have an entire vat of the stripper that you dip parts in, or do you slather it on with a brush?

I use fine steel wool lightly and a little mothers mag and aluminum polish on the drawer trim.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

Starting to look better already, I can't wait to see how it turns out.

 

[Two Door]

Must one be wearing tights and slippers to do this ?

In all seriousness, that looks so good your Snap-On guy probably won't want these in side by side competition with his new ones.

 

[nia573]

Looking good! Not tempted to go for a custom/unusual colour for the box?

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Re: Snap-On KRL roll cab & top chest restoration

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