Let's Hear it for the Old Gray/Red Sears Craftsman Tool Chests and Cabinets (60s/70s)

[JoCoSawdust]

Been wanting some of these classic Craftsman boxes for awhile. Found probably the ugliest ones you all have seen but they came with a work bench and are full of random tools. Over a hundred drill bits, tons of taps, other bits and pieces. Got them to throw in a Thorsen 1/2 socket set, cheapo B&D bench grinder, Husky tool display and other various random stuff. Picked all of it up for 150, seemed fair enough hope I didn't overpay.

The lower box is from 1969. Not sure what the date is on the intermediate chest as I have no been able to locate a date code. Anyone know where I might find this?

Going to pull all of the drawers out and get to cleaning and repainting likely tomorrow.

Congrats on your find and I think you did more than OK on the price. I'd have paid 150 for the 9d roller and mid chest alone. The mid chests don't show up that often. To my knowledge, nobody has ever found a date stamp on the mid chests. The earlier ones had gray dust covers, no clue when they changed to red. Be sure to post pics when they're all cleaned up!

 

[DFB]

Been wanting some of these classic Craftsman boxes for awhile. Found probably the ugliest ones you all have seen but they came with a work bench and are full of random tools. Over a hundred drill bits, tons of taps, other bits and pieces. Got them to throw in a Thorsen 1/2 socket set, cheapo B&D bench grinder, Husky tool display and other various random stuff. Picked all of it up for 150, seemed fair enough hope I didn't overpay.

The lower box is from 1969. Not sure what the date is on the intermediate chest as I have no been able to locate a date code. Anyone know where I might find this?

Going to pull all of the drawers out and get to cleaning and repainting likely tomorrow.

Nice find. Though you got your work cut out for ya sure

Craftsman always had a wide selection workbenches with drawers and/or doors at one time

 

[consti2tion]

Thanks guys! That makes me feel a little better about my purchase. I have seen several of the ones people have gotten for 100 bucks that are near mint! Pretty stoked about the restore, I enjoy bringing things back. It adds to the fun I think, although I definitely wouldn’t complain finding one in nice shape to begin with.

The work bench was was sealed the deal. He told me 100 for the box, then if I wanted the work bench too 150 for the pair.

I looked all over the intermediate chest for a date, I have some rust converter soaking on it now and I’ll try to go over it more to see if I can locate anything.

I will definitely take pictures of my progress and finished product.

I did a partial restore/repaint on a little Rally Box a few weeks back. Left the original drawer face paint, so not to disturb the decals.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Nice save on the rally box consti2tion. Don't get too frustrated looking for a date stamp on that mid box. There's several of us that have them in here and we've all pretty much come to the conclusion they weren't dated. I've got two and have been over both with a fine tooth comb to no avail. I've stripped one to bare metal for a re-paint and it still didn't give up its age.

 

[consti2tion]

Nice save on the rally box consti2tion. Don't get too frustrated looking for a date stamp on that mid box. There's several of us that have them in here and we've all pretty much come to the conclusion they weren't dated. I've got two and have been over both with a fine tooth comb to no avail. I've stripped one to bare metal for a re-paint and it still didn't give up its age.

Thank you! It’s a labor of love haha!

Oh wow that is crazy and reassuring that I don’t need to check my vision.

Hopefully mine will turn out at well as all of the ones that everyone has redone! Y’all have done some great work!

 

[consti2tion]

Tried to straighten the top of the mid chest out but didn’t want to do more damage than good.

The red I picked up is quite a bit more red than what was original obviously but i think I’m liking it. “Toolbox red”

 

[taumac]

Tried to straighten the top of the mid chest out but didn’t want to do more damage than good.

The red I picked up is quite a bit more red than what was original obviously but i think I’m liking it. “Toolbox red”

Is that a HF 72? If so how close is that red to the 72?

 

[consti2tion]

Yes it is a HF72, an amazing box. It’s a little deeper/brighter than the HF red. I’ll get a comparison picture in the morning before I go to work.

 

[DFB]

Tried to straighten the top of the mid chest out but didn’t want to do more damage than good.

The red I picked up is quite a bit more red than what was original obviously but i think I’m liking it. “Toolbox red”

Toolbox Red?

Haven't seen one before

Rustoluem Sunrise Red is a pretty good match for Craftsman tool boxes

That and the old Regal Red

 

[consti2tion]

The picture makes it look like a match, but in person the HF 72” is a little less red. I’ll see if I can get a picture that captures the difference when I get home from work.

 

[consti2tion]

Finished it up tonight. I didn’t do any filler or anything because it’s just going to be another box in the shop, if I find a super straight clean one I might do a full restore on it. I need another tool box like I need a hole in the head though.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Man you work faster than I do. Looks great!

 

[consti2tion]

Haha thank you, you probably put more detail into it than I do!

 

[outofbounds]

Saw a pic of this stack on a FB Craftsman page and everyone was drooling over it. Ive never seen one before. Was there a small date window for these "Super Duty" stacks?

 

[JoCoSawdust]

I was one of the ones drooling over there. According to the catalogs (which are not infallible) Super Dutys were 67-68 only. In 69 they were badged Craftsman Commercials. That guy made a great find.

 

[RubiconJK]

Finished it up tonight. I didn’t do any filler or anything because it’s just going to be another box in the shop, if I find a super straight clean one I might do a full restore on it. I need another tool box like I need a hole in the head though.

Nice job!

 

[1982fxr]

I was one of the ones drooling over there. According to the catalogs (which are not infallible) Super Dutys were 67-68 only. In 69 they were badged Craftsman Commercials. That guy made a great find.

We're those the first appearance of the red body/dark gray drawers?

I didn't know they were making the red bodies at the same time as the classic gray bodies...

 

[consti2tion]

Nice job!

Thank you! I’m already hunting for a top chest. I’m a glutton for punishment

 

[loudog212]

Saw a pic of this stack on a FB Craftsman page and everyone was drooling over it. Ive never seen one before. Was there a small date window for these "Super Duty" stacks?

Link to the FB page?

 

[loudog212]

only downside to these boxes is no deep drawer for sockets

 

[JoCoSawdust]

We're those the first appearance of the red body/dark gray drawers?

I didn't know they were making the red bodies at the same time as the classic gray bodies...

Looks to me like they were. The red/charcoal color scheme for the regular chests shows up about 76.

 

[Rileysan]

Link to the FB page?

Craftsman tool collector group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/314339225358433/?fref=nf

 

[Car hobby]

Finished it up tonight. I didn’t do any filler or anything because it’s just going to be another box in the shop, if I find a super straight clean one I might do a full restore on it. I need another tool box like I need a hole in the head though.

The boxes look great! I have a 9D bottom and a 10D top sitting on primer waiting for color. I hope to get them up soon.

 

[consti2tion]

The boxes look great! I have a 9D bottom and a 10D top sitting on primer waiting for color. I hope to get them up soon.

Thank you very much! Looking forward to seeing yours completed!

I found a 6 drawer top nearby that I’m trying to get ahold of. Needs to be repainted someone painted it solid red.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Looks to me like they were. The red/charcoal color scheme for the regular chests shows up about 76.

A very late 12/76. I think they switched not long after this was built .. the slides are painted black which is characteristic of the red and charcoal stacks with rectangular logo



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[JoCoSawdust]

A very late 12/76. I think they switched not long after this was built .. the slides are painted black which is characteristic of the red and charcoal stacks with rectangular logo



Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

I'd venture to say there's not many boxes like that out there Smokes. You ****.

 

[DFB]

Oh you guys got me going today on my 6 drawer top chest restoration, the box I picked up last summer. So looking for opinions once more what do think is the better choice in grey paint for some of these earlier?

Hammered Grey that first came recommend here or now the Hammered Bronze that a different restoration thread here TGJ says also is close match. Have to say though that color name really throws me.

I be going on a paint hunt this week maybe. Figure I brush it on in my basement garage being Winter now and no spray bombs outdoors


I had some Rustoluem Smoke Grey leftover from painting all my metal shelving. Its nice grey for garage stuff but way too light for these boxes.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Oh you guys got me going today on my 6 drawer top chest restoration, the box I picked up last summer. So looking for opinions once more what do think is the better choice in grey paint for some of these earlier?

Hammered Grey that first came recommend here or now the Hammered Bronze that a different restoration thread here TGJ says also is close match. Have to say though that color name really throws me.

I be going on a paint hunt this week maybe. Figure I brush it on in my basement garage being Winter now and no spray bombs outdoors


I had some Rustoluem Smoke Grey leftover from painting all my metal shelving. Its nice grey for garage stuff but way too light for these boxes.

I'd recommend getting a can of each paint you're considering, spray a piece of scrap sheet metal and pick what makes you happy. I use Hammered Gray and Sunshine red for these boxes but others do different things. I bought a half dozen or so different colors looking for a suitable 40's era blue. Kept the piece of scrap metal with the colors written on it for future reference. Let us see it when you're done!

 

[consti2tion]

Picked up this turd today, I’ve got my work cut out for me straightening the bottom of the cab flat and sanding down the horrible red paint, at least the did not paint the inside top of the box. I cannot for the life of me find the date code on it, I read in a much earlier post they are located in the top left inside of the cabinet but no luck.

Also got that old scrap-on I mean Snap-on kRA53 date code is 1961, it’s got some rust bubbles on the back and they removed the front cover from the lid at sometime in its life? but I figured I can clean it up and put it on top of the HF72.

It also came with some sort of bottom cab that is made of some substantial material, I’ll get a picture of that tomorrow and see if any of you guys can ID it for me. All in all for 35 bucks I’m happy.

Edit here is a picture from the OfferUp listing I got the boxes from. The bottom roller has some sort of metal frame attached to it. From what I can tell it might be a Snap-On KR-50-W. It’s not gray and red is all I know!

 

[Smokeshow69]

I'd venture to say there's not many boxes like that out there Smokes. You ****.

Great complement from the great jocosawdust [emoji23] on a serious note, it is the only transitional logo, 12 drawer , red and grey that I know of but I would love to be proven wrong!


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[taumac]

The picture makes it look like a match, but in person the HF 72” is a little less red. I’ll see if I can get a picture that captures the difference when I get home from work.

Thanks for the pic. I’ve tried Rustouleum cherry red and Krylon gloss banner red and the Krylon is closer match. Depending on how the light hits it it would either look like a match or off. Also depends on what box I used to match. I got 4 HF44s (2 new 2 older) and paint fads over time. I saw you using something different and wondering how it matches up. I got my stack next to my 44 and looking to match.

 

[jeffmoss26]

looks great!

 

[consti2tion]

Thanks for the pic. I’ve tried Rustouleum cherry red and Krylon gloss banner red and the Krylon is closer match. Depending on how the light hits it it would either look like a match or off. Also depends on what box I used to match. I got 4 HF44s (2 new 2 older) and paint fads over time. I saw you using something different and wondering how it matches up. I got my stack next to my 44 and looking to match.

It’s crazy how many different shades of red there are. Nearly impossible to match it with another box. Yours look great though!

 

[taumac]

It’s crazy how many different shades of red there are. Nearly impossible to match it with another box. Yours look great though!

Thanks, I must admit I havnt even painted it yet. LOL. I’m going to paint one of these days. I working I’m other half of garage now.

 

[Matt_Paul]

Thanks for the pic. I’ve tried Rustouleum cherry red and Krylon gloss banner red and the Krylon is closer match. Depending on how the light hits it it would either look like a match or off. Also depends on what box I used to match. I got 4 HF44s (2 new 2 older) and paint fads over time. I saw you using something different and wondering how it matches up. I got my stack next to my 44 and looking to match.

Nice looking setup. I prefer well kept older boxes to the new expensive bling of the new tool truck boxes.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[consti2tion]

Thanks, I must admit I havnt even painted it yet. LOL. I’m going to paint one of these days. I working I’m other half of garage now.

Oh hell! I say leave it be!

 

[Whca]

I used Hammered Grey and Sunshine Red on my box restoration, and it looked great. Are these colors available in brush on?

 

[DFB]

I used Hammered Grey and Sunshine Red on my box restoration, and it looked great. Are these colors available in brush on?

I've have purchased Rustoleum Sunshine Red (and Regal Red too) in Quarts several times in the past. I have painted some garage cabinets to match my Red and Black Craftsman tool boxes. It's pretty much been a standard in my local hardware store
https://www.doitbest.com/shop/paint...st-control-enamel-sunrise-red-1-qt?SKU=782772


The Hammered Gray I went looking for a quart today, locally I couldn't find any

And have just been internet searching a source. Found some on Amazon under the Rustoleum brand.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LNWDLU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I'm still looking for a source on the Hammerite brand in Gray like in this link It's only supposed to be like $19.99 a QT

https://www.ebay.com/itm/233436939057

All my local hardware store had today on my hunt was their store brand in a smooth gloss gray that seemed like a much closer color match the Rustoleum only called Smoke Gray

https://www.doitbest.com/shop/paint...ased-gloss-enamel-medium-gray-1-qt?SKU=771937

 

[taumac]

Nice looking setup. I prefer well kept older boxes to the new expensive bling of the new tool truck boxes.

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I once totally agreed with that statement. When I owned the WOC I also had 2 HF44. Using them side by side it’s was plain to see the differences in usability and functionality of newer boxes. This is the other half of my toolbox set up.



I did say maybe once again I’ll have a vintage stack and when I found a deal I couldn’t pass up I bought it home. It just happen to be the stack I loved the most too. 10D top with a 5D tall with bulk storage. It felt good to be back in the craftsman family again. This one has some rust on it so it won’t be full on restoration but will get some hammer and dolly work and fresh coat of paint.

 

[taumac]

I've have purchased Rustoleum Sunshine Red (and Regal Red too) in Quarts several times in the past. I have painted some garage cabinets to match my Red and Black Craftsman tool boxes. It's pretty much been a standard in my local hardware store
https://www.doitbest.com/shop/paint...st-control-enamel-sunrise-red-1-qt?SKU=782772


The Hammered Gray I went looking for a quart today, locally I couldn't find any

And have just been internet searching a source. Found some on Amazon under the Rustoleum brand.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LNWDLU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I'm still looking for a source on the Hammerite brand in Gray like in this link It's only supposed to be like $19.99 a QT

https://www.ebay.com/itm/233436939057

All my local hardware store had today on my hunt was their store brand in a smooth gloss gray that seemed like a much closer color match the Rustoleum only called Smoke Gray

https://www.doitbest.com/shop/paint...ased-gloss-enamel-medium-gray-1-qt?SKU=771937

I’ve seen that hammerite I believe brush on a few vises on YouTube with excellent results.