Recent content by Panicman

Sure- I used M4 solid aluminum rivets very much like pictured below. I did trim most of the rivets down by 1/8" or so with some side cutters, and filed flat. I used a rivet set tool that is designed for old VW hubcap clips, and just a ball peen hammer on the back sides. I positioned the box...

Amazon. I found a reinforced handle designed for a large amplifier. It does feel stout. I removed its loops and used the originals to mount it. If I have to replace it, I'm going with the handles RTM posted.

I wish I found these! Thank you for posting!

I decided to finish this dude, and save the handle restoration for a lazy day in the future. I used solid aluminum rivets, and refitted all of the hardware to the box. I then loaded it with all the little watch tools. For now, it seems like an ideal kit. I did splurge and order a new front...

Finally, polished each part with Mothers, and refitted that tension spring.

Zinc plating is pretty basic. Having an adjustable power supply really helps. I struck these pieces 4 times, brushing them between each strike.

During the acid stripping, the internal spring tensioner broke in one of the side latches. I measured the broken parts and found that residential window screen tension springs match the width and thickness of these latch springs. I ordered a box, and cut one to the correct length.

Time for that hardware. I am going with polished zinc, which should hold up fine indoors for a long time, and I'll try to keep it waxed. First, a dunk in acid to remove all the rust and old coating, then a scrub with a brass brush.

In the evening, the paint had all dried, so I began re lining them all with black felt.

there was no reaction between the old paint and the new. I decided to just scrub the drawer fronts, mask the plastic pulls, and then hit them with the brown and clear. The internal parts of the drawers all are rust free and still have a nice original finish, so I cut slots in a cardboard tote...

I did an 80 grit sand on the whole box, followed by a flap wheel to remove any rust, then 400 grit all over. I scrubbed the outside of the box with Dawn suds, rinsed, and then masked so that my paint would only get to the outsides of the box. I'd decided to spray the box with Rustoleum Hammered...

I decided that with all the holes drilled in it, the big cut out notch in the top compartment, and the advancing rust, I couldn't just preserve it, and it wasn't worth the energy of a full blown restoration. I'd leave the interior alone, and use all of the original hardware, but take a few...

I had one broken plastic drawer pull. These pulls are mounted using rivet/expansion backs, and I wanted to avoid removing it. I instead used a Plastex repair kit, and just repaired it in place.

I spent some time scraping out all of the felt, then used a dremel to grind the rivet backs off.

I was looking for a tool chest with compartments for my growing interest in watchmaking. My search led me to Kennedy machinist boxes, which looked ideal, but the nice ones are pretty $$. I ran across this one on eBay for $40, and ordered it. It's rough: handle nearly destroyed, missing front...