40 Year old Craftsman Toolbox resto

[RedVise]

Good to see this thread again, it is the one that bought me to this site.
I have a 50's vintage Cornwell box that will be my winter project.
I will go with Red/Black paint scheme.


Brian L.

 

[Zaylor]

How did you finish the shiny metal drawer trim? Is it clear coated?

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

How did you finish the shiny metal drawer trim? Is it clear coated?

See post #18

 

[Zaylor]

Thank you

 

[marty_p]

I'm subscribed! You've definitely got a keeper!!!

 

[thruthefence]

I had to give a bump to this thread; I have the OP's same box, purchased by me as my first "real" toolbox in late 1970. It's been all over the country with me, but wasn't allowed into Saudi Arabia , because of the craftsman logo. I Removed it, & worked 13 months as an Aramco contract worker.

I was going to give it away, but I got nostalgic, & googled "rattlecan paint Craftsman" and this popped up. Inspired me to refurbish mine, & keep it awhile, but The OP has set the bar pretty high. (mines a bit nastier to start with)

Any source for the handles, which are long gone?

And if the OP see's this, where was the mfg stamp located on your box?

If it turns out decent, I'll post some more pics.

 

[Hacken]

that's nice

 

[WWIIjeep]

Any source for the handles, which are long gone?

Waterloo Industries was the original manufacturer of those boxes for Sears:

http://www.waterlooindustries.com/Customer-Support.jsp

Waterloo's customer service department is one of the best you'll ever find, but I don't know if the handle covers are still available.

And if the OP see's this, where was the mfg stamp located on your box?

Not the OP, but the date code is in the top till on the the floor of the left partition.

I've got the 3-drawer chest, 6-drawer chest, 5-drawer cabinet, and 9-drawer cabinet. I bought them new in the early '70s. The 3-drawer has taken a bit of a beating as a road box, but the other 3 units still look almost factory-fresh. I wish they still offered that style and original color combination.

 

[DRhodes]

That really looks nice. Great job.

 

[indestrolover]

Bad ***

 

[nine4gmc]

thats pretty killer!

also, I know this thread was started a couple years ago but local locksmiths charge $1.80-10.00 to make keys for any kind of cabinet lock.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I had to give a bump to this thread; I have the OP's same box, purchased by me as my first "real" toolbox in late 1970. It's been all over the country with me, but wasn't allowed into Saudi Arabia , because of the craftsman logo. I Removed it, & worked 13 months as an Aramco contract worker.

I was going to give it away, but I got nostalgic, & googled "rattlecan paint Craftsman" and this popped up. Inspired me to refurbish mine, & keep it awhile, but The OP has set the bar pretty high. (mines a bit nastier to start with)

Any source for the handles, which are long gone?

And if the OP see's this, where was the mfg stamp located on your box?

Hi there. Glad to see you found the site through my thread. I found the site the same way...was searching on toolboxes, found a really cool Cornwell, and voila!

For the handles, the only thing I can think is contacting Craftsman directly and see if they still source them somewhere. If they're too ratty, you can always go without. Hard to tell from the pics, but they look salvagable.

For the date stamp, mine is when you open the lid and look in the area on the far left side that goes from back to front.

Feel free to post the updates on your own box here.

 

[thruthefence]

Thanks, guys!

I placed the old girl in the bead blaster, and sure enough, "Made in USA" & " 9 70" right where y'all said it would be. And perfectly in the time frame my blurry memory spit out.

Waterloo got back to me TWICE on the same day I sent my query about the handles. Stand-up folks for sure, even sent me a print of the parts guy's "best guess", on the handles, but NO JOY.

I found a Craftsman spare parts link, but there are hundreds of boxes listed. Anyone have a clue as to the Sears Model # ? Worst case, I'll just cobble up something from Home Depot

 

[e-tek]

I'm chimin' in - BEAUTIFUL work sir!! Something to have and be proud of.

 

[nosrac]

how do you get the rust out of the piano hinge for the lid?

looks awesome!

 

[WWIIjeep]

Anyone have a clue as to the Sears Model # ?

Model #65252

List price $44.99 in the Sears 1970 Power and Hand Tools catalog

For substitute handles, Stanley used to offer a few styles of chest handles that would be appropriate, although you'll probably have to drill new holes. Check Stanley's website for "chest handles" or "case handles."

BTW, a year or so after your chest was made, Waterloo changed from the bail style chest handles to the recessed fixed handle style, so you're looking for parts Waterloo hasn't used for 40+ years, and not many companies keep 40+ year old parts in inventory anymore.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Are you keeping the custom drawer dividers?

 

[softailgarage]

I found a Craftsman spare parts link, but there are hundreds of boxes listed. Anyone have a clue as to the Sears Model # ? Worst case, I'll just cobble up something from Home Depot

where ?

Nice job on the restore! I'm currently working on a 10 drawer "72/"73 and a 3 drawer "49. What type/shade paint for the red did you use? The drawer trim took hours of getting off, I was able to polish with a dremel, However I'm missing 2 clips off the rails, any ideas for finding those(yes, sears parts have them, but after shipping it's like $15.00 for 2)

 

[WWIIjeep]

I'm missing 2 clips off the rails, any ideas for finding those(yes, sears parts have them, but after shipping it's like $15.00 for 2)

Cut out the middle man (Sears) and contact Waterloo directly:

http://www.waterlooindustries.com/Customer-Support.jsp

Waterloo was the actual maker of those boxes for Sears (Sears doesn't make anything; they're just a retailer).

Waterloo's shipping charges are far more reasonable. Last time I ordered drawer clips from them, the shipping charge was $2.00. It's been a few years, but not so many that their shipping charges would have been raised by much.

 

[softailgarage]

Cut out the middle man (Sears) and contact Waterloo directly:

http://www.waterlooindustries.com/Customer-Support.jsp

Waterloo was the actual maker of those boxes for Sears (Sears doesn't make anything; they're just a retailer).

Waterloo's shipping charges are far more reasonable. Last time I ordered drawer clips from them, the shipping charge was $2.00. It's been a few years, but not so many that their shipping charges would have been raised by much.

Thanks for the link. I did look at their site, couldn't find the clips, looks like I have to go through customer support

 

[B17E1943]

Clips are p/n M3163.

 

[thruthefence]

Yeah, I thought I was being pretty clever when I cobbled those up! They are being tossed, tho!

I found some rattlecan Rusteoleum "sunrise red" to be close enough for this bodge.

 

[thruthefence]

While not a concours winner, my rattlecan resurrection of the '70 three drawer Craftsman box is complete. Dollied out the worst of the dings, sandblasted, primed & shot with Krylon Gray, and Rustoleum Sunrise red. The tote tray had the "bar" removed years ago, replaced by two straps so more tools could be piled on for flightline work. I found a couple of generic handles "undrilled', and match drilled them to the box. Close, but no cigar. Anyone have a pair of the old style handles, I'm a buyer.

Please excuse the mess!, And thanks to all for the inspiration!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

That turned out very well!

 

[jeremyc653]

Any one can identify this ?

 

[RedVise]

Lookin4, I am pulling this one up again, as the Black / Red color scheme is eye catching.
I just finished up an Intermediate box as a warm up for a vintage Cornwell top box
with the same colors. Aztec brand USA, solid box with sliders, and a little age.


Brian L.

 

[300300]

My every day boxes bought new

Don,t know why they are on their side ?

 

[furbyj1]

some pretty good tool box restorations here. Still amazed that they were painted with rattle can.

 

[RedVise]

Lookin4, I am pulling this one up again, as the Black / Red color scheme is eye catching.
I just finished up an Intermediate box as a warm up for a vintage Cornwell top box
with the same colors. Aztec brand USA, solid box with sliders, and a little age.


Brian L.

Dang, I hated to see this thread pop up, I have made NO progress on the Cornwell box...

Brian

 

[zkling]

Re: My every day boxes bought new

Don,t know why they are on their side ?

That's a nice collective stack. Did you just get it or put it together over the years?

 

[t4runner]

Nice job, looks great.

 

[MilesG]

Pick up this box today for $30 bucks????/ Did I do well ?????

 

[MilesG]

More pictures .

 

[dodge610]

$30.00 for both pieces you did very well. Great score now just restore it back to new and you got a keeper.

 

[MilesG]

I think it is a 1965 . I don't know if I want to keep it or sell it . I think it is in need of a good restore job . I like the size and the draws . It could be my main tool box so finding tools would be easy ....

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Excellent deal!

Please try Rustoleum Hammered Silver for the case, that's pretty close to the original color with Rustoleum Sunrise Red for the drawers

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

That looks great...

 

[MilesG]

The thing I worried about is loosing the numbers on the tool box if I sand it . Maybe sandblasting ......Paint stripper ???

 

[dodge610]

The thing I worried about is loosing the numbers on the tool box if I sand it . Maybe sandblasting ......Paint stripper ???

I would say strip it and lightly sand it couple coats of sadable primer. Sand with 1000 grit 2 or3 coats of color you should be good to go.

 

[bluebolt]

MilesG, good score! I think the top box is earlier than the bottom. It has the chest type 1960's handles instead of the inset ones the later 1970's ones had. The bottom is probably 1970's since the pull handle is the inset type, the 1960's ones had and esteran aluminum handle.