New Toolbox

[wrencheshurt]

I got a new toolbox yesterday, it is a snap on KRA396U. The box belonged to my dad, he got it from an ex-business partner who had been swindled by another partner and sold the box to my dad full of truck brand tools for $650. My dad is sick and tired of wrenching and just calls me to fix whatever he needs, he got tired of my mom nagging constantly at him about the garage being full of tools. She thinks garages are for laundry and for storing massive amounts of junk she gets from yard sales.

Here it is all set-up in my garage. if you cant tell it got an intense cleaning and lubing of slides.

Yes i know the box is extremely rough, it is absolutely hammered, but i finally got a big home box and it was free. No i will not be restoring it any time soon, if ever. I am not a tool polisher nothing, i own is of "queen" status i am a pro-diesel mechanic during the week and i like to work on anything on the weekends, i buy high quality tools because they can take the abuse i put them under. Plus i am expecting a baby girl in 3 weeks and I'm stuck in a dying trade, so the money is just not there to have a museum piece box at home.

 

[kizer]

Nothing says you have to restore it, but honestly a coat of paint would keep it from rusting.

Nice looking box thou. I'd like to have one like it myself.

 

[Bull]

I have a few (smaller) vintage boxes that people have told me to restore, but like you, I sort of like the well-worn look. That setup you have looks killer, and the family connection adds to it.

Huge congrats on the pending birth of your baby girl. Most awesome thing that will ever happen to you.

 

[Art From De Leon]

What was the purpose of the small riveted plate on the back?

 

[poprockcrusher]

paint is overrated

 

[justinmc]

I take it that back panel flops down to open some storage shelves or trays? Looks like an early version of the "taco carts" I see come up for sale from time to time. I guess they were designed to be used by airline mechanics and guys who work on all sides of their boxes.

Either way.. for free thats a cool old box. I might spray it just to keep it from rusting but the "hammered" look as you put it is a nice patina that I'd try to keep. Maybe some clear or something to keep it from rusting through.

 

[wrenchr]

Is it possible to see what is inside the boxes? I like the worn look as well!!

 

[wrenchr]

If you know where there is a hobby shop go there and look for testors dull cote rattle paint and cover those bare spots with that and it will keep the dull worn patina.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

That is an excellent toolbox combo. I think it looks pretty damn good the way it is!

Is there a manufacture date on the back of that roller? I'm curious to know how old it is.

 

[wrencheshurt]

Thanks for the good comments guys, i was really worried since i really do like my stuff old and worn and this primarily a "serious enthusiast" site. I do agree that a nice clear coat would keep it from rusting but i live in the California high desert there's no humidity here and it rarely rains so i don't think its gonna rust too fast, plus is was so nasty greasy I would have to power wash and degrease about 3 more times to get anything to stick.
Yes it is a version of the taco cart the back panel flops down and its got a nice setup of compartments to hold small stuff, the smaller panel with screws i think is for passing electrical cords through.
I would like to be able to access those compartments but space is limited and i have to push it up against the wall. I don't have enough stuff at home to show off just yet, the majority of my tools are at work, this box gets my work rejects and stuff from the swap meet.
The date on back says 1974

 

[ears]

What was the purpose of the small riveted plate on the back?

Some of them had electrical outlets built in. Sort of a rolling workbench with lights, vise etc. for factory guys who roll all over. I have a similar box, probably the same shell made by MBC. In about the same condition, greasier though. I like mine a lot I think it looks good as is.

 

[Bull]

Thanks for the good comments guys, i was really worried since i really do like my stuff old and worn and this primarily a "serious enthusiast" site.

Yeah, well there are plenty of guys on here who like patina and who don't particularly care for shiny shiny all the time!

 

[billymade]

Looks identical to mine! http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41967&highlight=snapon&showall=1

 

[J.A.F.E.]

I see no reason to paint it. Were it mine I would not. It was used and it shows - nothing wrong with that at all. It's clean, it works and it's a nice box.

 

[Racecarl]

Not to hijack this thread, but I just had to chuckle at a co-worker's misfortune the other day.

A couple weeks ago the Mac man pulls up in front of the shop and unloads a huge, brand-new tool box just before noon. The shop door was open so he wheels the box in to the tech's stall that bought the box. The tech's wife, wanting to suprise her husband, had arrived not 30 seconds before to take hubby out to lunch. Imagine her shock when she sees this huge Mac box rolling through the shop and stopping at her husband's stall. After she picks her jaw off the floor, her facial expression then becomes rather angry and tense. My fellow shop rats and I thought that perhaps lunch was not as pleasant as was first intended.

To my buddy's credit, he had full intentions of telling his wife about the new box. However, the timing of this event was not ideal, as my friend had NOT completed all the home remodeling/yard projects wifey wanted done. He wanted to wait until he got all his chores done, but his normal bad luck intervened.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

A couple weeks ago the Mac man pulls up in front of the shop and unloads a huge, brand-new tool box just before noon. The shop door was open so he wheels the box in to the tech's stall that bought the box. The tech's wife, wanting to suprise her husband, had arrived not 30 seconds before to take hubby out to lunch. Imagine her shock when she sees this huge Mac box rolling through the shop and stopping at her husband's stall. After she picks her jaw off the floor, her facial expression then becomes rather angry and tense. My fellow shop rats and I thought that perhaps lunch was not as pleasant as was first intended.

That's when it's real fun to be a bystander taking it all in!

 

[Mickey O]

Cool box. What I did on my vintage boxes was sand/clean and spray paint just the bad/rusty areas, I figured that's how it might have been done years ago, done to preserve no beautify.

 

[glenmore]

I saw a box just like that down in Anaheim this weekend. Refinishing one of these things is a staggering job, nowhere near worth the effort. A fellow member showed his restoration but he was set up for it. I bought an old top box thinking I would do the same. Too big a job for me.