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Craftsman tool chest restore

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Sauce73

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Jun 8, 2015
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Central Indiana
I'm starting a restoration on my grandfathers craftsman tool cabinet. I haven't located any date stamp, but I believe it to be in the 1971-1973 range.
I have some questions, concerning the aluminum drawer handles. Do they come off easily or should I just mask it off for painting? Also, any suggestions on cleaning up these handles?0229ab709b806bd94c70c70467eb27af.jpg
 
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Renchi

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Sauce73 said:
I have some questions, concerning the aluminum drawer handles. Do they come off easily or should I just mask it off for painting? Also, any suggestions on cleaning up these handles?
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The drawer handles do not come off easily (which is a good thing), but they do come off. On one of my vintage Craftsman boxes I had to re-center a few of them. Just go slowly and carefully. The aluminum is soft and deforms very easily.
 
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7th Kahuna

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I have very limited experience with those handles, but from what I have seen, they are crimped into place. On the older (1972 +/-) boxes, similar to yours, they were crimped top back side and very solid. Later (1978+/-) boxes were crimped on the bottom back and I have seen some that were loose. Then I had one of the 1990's 3-drawer tool boxes and they weren't crimped at all.

handle.jpg


I too have been wondering how to get them clean. I was considering taking the drawers out and wire brushing the handles with a fine wire wheel and then buffing and spraying with clear satin paint. It wouldn't be 'like new' but at least they would be clean. I'm curious what other have to say.
 
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taumac

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They trim does come off. I noticed on my 70s+ ones they where crimped 3 times while pre 70s where crimped 5 per trim. I usually take a soft block of wood and try to knock it loose if it doesn't move easily I tape them off. As far as cleaning I use steel wool or a stainless or brass brush and go them the grain. No power tools to clean trim.
 
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Jamiep

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The date code should be on the front bottom left corner (about inline with the caster). I had to use a brass wire brush to see the numbers mine says 361-110 i believe.
 
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taumac

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Jamiep said:
The date code should be on the front bottom left corner (about inline with the caster). I had to use a brass wire brush to see the numbers mine says 361-110 i believe.
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???? Says ???? Take picture of the and post it.
 
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Sauce73

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Any suggestions on how to remove this clip? There's a metal tab punched in it, but it seems to be pretty stiff metal, I'm having a hard time depressing it. Maybe I'm missing something???
 

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jakemac

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I think it works similar to a shelf bracket. You squeeze it together with a pair of pliers, enough to release the pin side from the small hole and pry it out. Then you can rotate the rest of the clip to pull it out from the slot on the front side. :dunno:
 
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taumac

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Go in there with thin flat screwdriver slightly open the slot the the clip slides in and pull out clip.
508591a4e20d6990b08e70ddc8d9accb.jpg
The clip has a notching it.
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Sauce73

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The Rustoleum hammered paint in a rattle can is a little tricky to use. You have to spray it on pretty heavy so it almost puddles up, and it's best to have your piece laying horizontal so it doesn't run. I'm still working on trying to get an even pattern.
 

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69supercj

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The rustoleum hammered paint I used wasn't worth a ****. Good luck with it.
 
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crab

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I've used it, worked pretty good. You need to keep it shook up. I used it on a bench grinder and I
 
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taumac

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69supercj said:
The rustoleum hammered paint I used wasn't worth a ****. Good luck with it.
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You are correct and I've actually used hammered silver which I thought was the correct color. The correct color for the Craftsman is rustoleum hammered forge antique pewter. I painted one of my boxes and put one that wasn't painted next to each other it is closest match I found.
 
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Garage Junky

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Lookin good! Great work - glad to see a nice old box restored to good as new condition.
 
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