Oldtuleguy
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I always thought those were for beer cans....
Restoring my two vintage Blackhawk toolboxes
- Thread starter y'sguy
- Start date
Got a couple hours of sanding prep done this morning. Worked outside in the shade, perfect breeze for this kind of job! It took me awhile to get all set up and get in the groove with my friends equipment. All is moving forward. Well, except tomorrow I'm outta town. Maybe more on Thursday?
One note on the trim: I didn't take any pics because I was figuring out as I went along. I removed some of it by tapping with a hammer and a wood block and letting it slide away from it's base holder. Later on when I did the top box they were configured slightly differently. I used a series of thin putty knives and pried up on the trim from the side and removed it that way. That method seems better than the previous one. Less chance of scratching the paint and bending the trim. So, the trim goes back on (I hope!) by simply covering it with tape and tapping it back on with a wood block and a mallet.
Oh, Did I mention I hate sanding! Love the results though.
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Lookin4'67Galaxieconv
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y'sguy, those are coming along nicely.
FJ 432
Well-known member
y'sguy, those are coming along nicely.
Thank you, Lookin4'67Galaxieconv! Did you find it yet? Find me a 67 GalaxieWagon whilst your Lookin!
And Thank you too FJ432, although now dammit I find I am a 'hankerin for some oil cans or proper holders!!!
I could of sworn I said earlier I wound not be needing them? How does this happen?
JoCoSawdust
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I'm really enjoying watching the progress of your project y'sguy. Great boxes!
1930artdeco
Well-known member
Y'sguy,
Great thread and maybe I missed it but how did you end up stripping the paint off? Did you sand, blast or chem strip it?
Thanks,
Mike
Great thread and maybe I missed it but how did you end up stripping the paint off? Did you sand, blast or chem strip it?
Thanks,
Mike
Farmer J.
Well-known member
Neat job there. Interesting too, as I've never seen those oil can holders here.
Farmer J.
Well-known member
Got a couple hours of sanding prep done this morning. Worked outside in the shade, perfect breeze for this kind of job! It took me awhile to get all set up and get in the groove with my friends equipment. All is moving forward.
Oh, Did I mention I hate sanding! Love the results though.
Sanding looks good, and as folk always say "the key to a good finish is in the preparation".
What method are you using? I decided the best way to get this tedious process done is to wet sand using my 1970's B+D orbital sander, and wear those modern gel gloves to isolate the vibration!
JoCoSawdust, thanks so much for looking in. Respect!
Thanks for asking, you might look back at some of the pics, 1930artdeco. I have been sanding it, something I am not fond of.
Thanks Muchly, Farmer J.!
I'm not sure this will measure up to high quality but I do want it to last and look good. There is no use to me making this a "show " finish. It will sit in my garage and be used by me. And as I'm 67 now that won't be any high pressure usage. I think of it more as a small honor to my Dad and his career. Mostly I just think it looks cool!
I am using a high volume air compressor, screw drive, that sits about 100 feet away from me inside the building. I never hear it. I wear gloves, but yours sound like a better version to try.The sander is a small palm size DA 6" with adjustable speed. Easy to use with little vibration because of adjustment speed. Also a hi-flex soft hose that seems to make a difference on resistance moving the sander around. So that cuts down on fatigue. (I think!?) No wet sanding yet, but I will be. I'm just removing paint and getting the surface ready.
I must confess I decided to have the shop painter do the primer/paint application. It's his territory and his experience and his price is fair. (like cheap,really) I haven't done this in a long time and this keeps me from asking him so many questions and he will be able to do it second nature. Materials are too expensive to waste by making rookie mistakes. I'll be happy with it. I know how to pick my battles. (well sometimes)
Thanks again for looking in a looking in. I plan to hit it in the morning for more prep.
Fun Sanding
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don long
Well-known member
If you are planning to prime and then paint these boxes , get some 80 grit paper on that D A and get that paint off those boxes Your painter will know how to get rid of the scratches.
I hate the mess of paint removal but enjoy seeing the flaws disappear while wet sanding the primer.
Thanks for the honorable mention too
I hate the mess of paint removal but enjoy seeing the flaws disappear while wet sanding the primer.
Thanks for the honorable mention too
thehorse13
Well-known member
This. Make sure you do this.
Nothing ***** more than realizing that the prep work was not done properly after you lay down your new paint.
95% of the work rests in proper prep.
Farmer J.
Well-known member
Yes. Heed these wise words from the guru of automemorobilia restoration..
It's handy you have a local paint guy who can do a fair priced job for you, the only one local to me does a lovely perfect job but of course needs to charge a fortune for doing it.
It's kind of nice being at the stage of life when you won't be needing to work under pressure, I do enjoy letting the younger ones take the strain!
I got my excellent gel filled anti vibration gloves from the Snap On truck guy no doubt they could be cheaper elsewhere but he gave me a massive discount, and wearing them when using power tools truly improves my quality of life.
Thanks, don long good advice.
Absolutely correct! thehorse13 thank you for the encouragement and yes, I have been there before and it's a drag.
Okay Farmer J. My paint guy has given me a fair price for shooting this stuff as I said before. Although, I wish I were making Don Long type of progress on this project. I'm not! Just baby steps. My cost for paint and materials is still hard to take. As usual, these things always take more time and money than I figure. But, it will be worth it when done.
Only slight sanding progress to report.
Here's the sander I've been using. 3M.
I spent time this morning and made a support from a scrap of wood I had and was able to get all the trim, knobs and handles buffed out, polished and cleaned up. So made some small progress in the details There are some dents I'll live with but overall I think they will be fine. It was time well spent.
Oldtuleguy
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Trim looks fantastic!
Looking good.
JoCoSawdust
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Wow. That trim looks incredible. Glad that you're taking your time and doing it right. The results will be worth it!
Oldtuleguy, 930dreamer and JoCoSawdust! Thanks for the compliments and thanks for checking in on me. I haven't done an update as yet because life got in the way.
What I did do is gather up all my toolbox sheetmetal and had it blasted with water and glass slurry. It turned out great and I will post up pics ASAP. It provided a real nice finish to apply primer to and got rid of all the stubborn aircraft primer & paint. A rust inhibitor was then applied. The process is good for these kinds of things to prevent metal heating up and warping. In the mean time the stuff is just sitting there waiting for me to get around to working on it! As far as the trim goes, It did shine up nice. I do wish I could have got the dents out better. You can't see them in the photos. ( I am a better photo stylist than a metal worker. haha)
twertsy
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Jealously checking in and watching with interest. Nice job so far!
bobemmerich
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WOW! That's a ton of work! But that sucker is gonna look brand spanking new when you're done! Very cool!
No additional progress to report other than bringing these back from the blaster. As I mentioned earlier these were blasted with water and ground glass. This maintain a cooler surface temp on the metal to prevent warping. I should have started this way. The surfaces are all ready for primer now except a quick blow off of possible ground glass and a few flash rust areas.
If anyone is interested, the guy is local of course, Does pick up and delivery included. this took about 5 days to get back. He's out of Oologah, OK and is portable. Willy's Dustless Blasting 918-344-1311.
He also said with the rust inhibitor in this environment these could stay in this condition for several months before painting. Let's hope I can work faster than that! But, I am pretty slow.
If anyone is interested, the guy is local of course, Does pick up and delivery included. this took about 5 days to get back. He's out of Oologah, OK and is portable. Willy's Dustless Blasting 918-344-1311.
He also said with the rust inhibitor in this environment these could stay in this condition for several months before painting. Let's hope I can work faster than that! But, I am pretty slow.
twertsy thanks for checking in.
bobemmerich It is a lot of work! But mostly because I usually make it so. This is a pretty sentimental project for me so I am going farther than most sane people should.
Don't think that I'm taking careful time with it. I'm just old and slow!
don long
Well-known member
Hey y'sguy
Get some primer on those boxes if you have rust showing up all ready the rust inhibitor isn't working.
Even primer from a rattle can is better than letting the metal rust up.
and it sands off very easy when you get ready to give the boxes the good stuff.
Nice work on the trim. That will make your boxes pop with the new paint and trim
Great job and nice D.A. sander too.
Talk about $$$$ I went to the paint store and picked up 3 qts of yellow paint and the bill was over $300.00
Don
Get some primer on those boxes if you have rust showing up all ready the rust inhibitor isn't working.
Even primer from a rattle can is better than letting the metal rust up.
and it sands off very easy when you get ready to give the boxes the good stuff.
Nice work on the trim. That will make your boxes pop with the new paint and trim
Great job and nice D.A. sander too.
Talk about $$$$ I went to the paint store and picked up 3 qts of yellow paint and the bill was over $300.00
Don
No pics to post , but I did get a sanding and spot prime on the areas that skipped the rust inhibitor. They look safer now.
Going to have to paint these myself now as the painter I had has now become to busy.Oh well, I can do this this. I just need to stock up on some supplies and equipment and get after it.
I have another house project in the way and that takes priority so hopefully I will get my priorities straight and get back on these soon.
Thanks for bearing with me guys, I appreciate you looking in on me even though I continue to get interrupted and pulled away from this project.
Going to have to paint these myself now as the painter I had has now become to busy.Oh well, I can do this this. I just need to stock up on some supplies and equipment and get after it.
I have another house project in the way and that takes priority so hopefully I will get my priorities straight and get back on these soon.
Thanks for bearing with me guys, I appreciate you looking in on me even though I continue to get interrupted and pulled away from this project.
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Oldtuleguy
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Your progress is great! Sometimes it takes me months to fix an old box.
Farmer J.
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No need to rush the project, looking forward to progress whenever it comes along. Many years ago when I was a much younger man a friend always seemed to be doing something whenever I called on him. He gave me his opinion on this:
"I always have a project 'on the go', sometimes it takes ages and I have to go off and do other things, but it's always good to have a project and it just has to take as long as it takes. It may seem that I haven't worked on it in ages, but it's still in my mind, and I enjoy it, and thinking of it it helps to keep me alive for longer!"
Once when he was recovering from a stroke he dragged himself outside and started cleaning a stack of old building bricks. He got told off, but continued to gently clean bricks. Just a few the first day, then more, and after a week he had cleaned hundreds and soon done the whole stack. He never did more than he could manage but lived another 20 years after cleaning those bricks, by which time I joked with him that they had grown moss again on the wall he had built with them!
So, no rush, and we're keeping an eye on the guy restoring his old tool boxes..
Oldtuleguy & Farmer J.,
Thanks for the check in and encouragement. Yep, these projects do tend to get out of hand. I purchased a new HF spray gun, a mid range model and was able to get some high grade epoxy primer and hardener. I drove over to the shop this morning to begin priming and found the spray booth knee deep in a current paying gig. Okay so a wasted trip. In the past I would be kinda pissed or maybe even let it ruin my day. Now it's "okay, some other time". That's why one needs a bunch of projects going so you can switch to the next! Haha, although I don't have enough right now BUT it affords me to write this post!
Again, Thanks guys, it will happen eventually AND you will see pics again.
BTW, It was also about 100 degrees easily in the shop-so it made it easier to leave.
Thanks for the check in and encouragement. Yep, these projects do tend to get out of hand. I purchased a new HF spray gun, a mid range model and was able to get some high grade epoxy primer and hardener. I drove over to the shop this morning to begin priming and found the spray booth knee deep in a current paying gig. Okay so a wasted trip. In the past I would be kinda pissed or maybe even let it ruin my day. Now it's "okay, some other time". That's why one needs a bunch of projects going so you can switch to the next! Haha, although I don't have enough right now BUT it affords me to write this post!
Again, Thanks guys, it will happen eventually AND you will see pics again.
BTW, It was also about 100 degrees easily in the shop-so it made it easier to leave.
Had a chance this morning to get to the shop and shoot the hi-build epoxy primer. Only had a short amount of time available there so had to leave before I could do any sanding, hopefully tomorrow. The primer shot pretty dry as I am a novice with this brand / type and my new spray gun. I would have preferred it to be more of a wet finish but I guess I'll see what happens. 
Lookin4'67Galaxieconv
Well-known member
Looks good enough.
Got a chanch to get back on these yesterday and this morning. Had some hangups with priming and sealing properly but I think it's worked out. To be sure these may not be of Don Long's high quality but I am still very happy with the results! Lots of nooks and crannies to get to for cleaning and prep. Acrylic enamel with two coats of clear. Looks like my pics are not too clear so you'll just have to trust me to do better when I get to reassembling this setup.
I'll let these all cure overnite and probably bring them back home tom. or next week. Then begin reassembly.
While I was waiting between coats I started putting this acrylic Table Saw Sled together., but that's for another thread I guess.
I need bring over my steel miter guide to use as a measurement for the rails on these before I can complete it.
Thanks for looking in on me! More to come sooner this time, I promise
Acrylic enamel with two coats of clear. Looks like my pics are not too clear so you'll just have to trust me to do better when I get to reassembling this setup. View media item 95303
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I'll let these all cure overnite and probably bring them back home tom. or next week. Then begin reassembly.
While I was waiting between coats I started putting this acrylic Table Saw Sled together., but that's for another thread I guess.
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I need bring over my steel miter guide to use as a measurement for the rails on these before I can complete it.
Thanks for looking in on me! More to come sooner this time, I promise
Looking good.
Thanks, Bret! I have to say I think they are cool too. Can't take credit for ithe idea though. These guys make and use them all the time. Of course it helps to have gobs of acrylic scrap laying around to be able to use. I still need to finish the guides on this one though. Goes together in seconds. Solvent weld with MEK.
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Thanks 930dreamer,
I brought all the painted stuff back yesterday and assembled the small box WITH my new emblem I had made. Looks good I think, still need to install new liners and paint the tool tray-More on that bit later.
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Might start on the Roller tomorrow, but as evidenced by the wall thermometer it's too hot for me to work in there without air con. Fans aren't cuttin it. I'm a wimp.
Oldtuleguy
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Very nice!
JoCoSawdust
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Fantastic job bringing that thing back to life!
Private Lugnutz
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I'm sending you all the toolboxes in my 'To Be Restored' Queue.