Craftsman Toolbox Thread

[paulm12]

picked up a few weeks ago with a few other boxes (Kennedy's) at a garage sale. Looks re-felted, has a few rough spots, and the bottom drawer has been repainted. Will probably sell and keep the others I got.

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[flyingblind]

1970s Anesthesia cart I got for 15 dollars and turned into a base for my Sandblast Cabinet

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WP_20160417_00_44_43_Pro by Flyingblind

 

[bobcatdan]

1963 combo that was my Grandfather's. He worked out of that box everyday for over 50 years. All the drawers still work perfectly. It's my "bench" box. When I'm working on stuff on the bench, I can just easily turn to it for what I need.

 

[markbugno]

Just picked up this 2 drawer top chest at an auction for $11. Came with a couple good tools and a small J&L steel sign. Was gonna sell it, but then realized I could add it to my stack!

Bought the bigger top and bottom for $35 about 10 years ago... Before I ever had a clue about them ( Or many tools to fill them ). Love these red/gray models, would love to find more!

Mark


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[vonpahrkur]

Some cool cabinets, any idea what 1940's craftsman upper/lower tool boxes look like?

 

[bobcatdan]

Some cool cabinets, any idea what 1940's craftsman upper/lower tool boxes look like?

Basically like Flyingblide'so cabinet up above. There was a matching 3 drawer top box with a drop front. The 40's era bottom may have had a flip up panel to cover the drawers but I can't remember off the top of my head.

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

post war to sometime in the early-50's had a full cover that hides the drawers and storage compartment below. After that, the cover was only on the bottom storage compartment, keeping the drawers exposed, from what I've seen.

 

[Jim C.]

Here's mine. It belonged to my wife's grandfather, then her dad, and now me. I took the drawers out, cleaned and lubed the slides, vacuumed out 50 years worth of dust, gunk and stuff, straightened/flattened bends and dents, lined the drawers and top tray with a thin rubber sheet. Back in business. It's a nice old box. The manufacturer’s date in the box is 10/62.

Jim C.

 

[DWise]

I posted a 1975 Craftsman tool box brochure in the vintage tool box thread that maybe should be in this thread. I don't want to post it twice so if it should be moved, moderators please do so.

 

[f66]

Good Morning,
I have posted these pics under the red grey thread on this forum. I have several craftsman red grey boxes and one red gray tool cart.

 

[someofusgotfarmingtodo]

Good Morning,
I have posted these pics under the red grey thread on this forum. I have several craftsman red grey boxes and one red gray tool cart.

Nice collection of grey and red. Especially like the IH trailer

 

[torqueman2002]

Good Morning,
I have posted these pics under the red grey thread on this forum. I have several craftsman red grey boxes and one red gray tool cart.

Agreed, nice collection!

Especially the rare mid-box!

 

[Zeeman]

I'm jealous of the craftsman boxes. More pics of the ih please. I think mine is similar.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Flea market find about a month back.. gave $25 for it.. fairly unspoiled ....

View media item 61865
View media item 61866

 

[someofusgotfarmingtodo]

Flea market find about a month back.. gave $25 for it.. fairly unspoiled ....

View media item 61865
View media item 61866

Nice box find, can't beat the price

 

[tlowery04]

let me be the first to say YOU ****!

this.

 

[DFB]

I gave $20 for this heavy duty Craftsman box at the flea mkt earlier this summer. A little blast from the past for me as I remember it always being in the tool catalogs some years back. Doesn't look like it ever held any tools either as there was not a single mark inside.

 

[k4rl.k3rk]

The downside of threads like these is that people listing on Craigslist find them and then use them to determine their box is worth it's weight in gold. An old 60s/70s box for sale in the bay area, looks to be in great shape, but listed for way too much for my taste ($800).

 

[thehorse13]

You can have this one for 25 bucks. If I didn't drag home three stacks lately, I would already be on my way to grab this one.

http://chambersburg.craigslist.org/mat/5915427202.html

In case the listing vanishes, here are the pics.

 

[Zeeman]

Dang, I'd be all over that. I sure wish I was closer! Nice little cabinet.

 

[k4rl.k3rk]

Picked up two lowers last weekend for a reasonable (for my area) price, $70 a piece.

I need to clean them up but because they were primarily used as the base of work carts (one had a drill press mounted on top, the other a chop saw), they are just dusty, not grimey.

On the drill press, the build up of sawdust in some nooks kept moisture next to the exterior, which rusted some of the body of the lower box. Any recommendations on how to do a light clean up? I like the paint just fine and actually prefer a faded look given its age. I just don't want it to rust any more. Clean up the rust with simple green? Vinegar? Afterwards run over with wax? Clear coat? Or just spray a matching hammered gray on select parts?

 

[taumac]

Picked up two lowers last weekend for a reasonable (for my area) price, $70 a piece.

I need to clean them up but because they were primarily used as the base of work carts (one had a drill press mounted on top, the other a chop saw), they are just dusty, not grimey.

On the drill press, the build up of sawdust in some nooks kept moisture next to the exterior, which rusted some of the body of the lower box. Any recommendations on how to do a light clean up? I like the paint just fine and actually prefer a faded look given its age. I just don't want it to rust any more. Clean up the rust with simple green? Vinegar? Afterwards run over with wax? Clear coat? Or just spray a matching hammered gray on select parts?

Those are some sweet bottom rollers you found there. It's great that you found a pair of them.I would try vinegar just to get rid of the rust and then wax should work. That antique pewter paint that I've been using is a really good match but it might look spotty if you do touchups on the original paint. If you choose to repaint them I would use either a rust converter's or a primer that can go over rusted metal. That hammered forage goes on pretty easy and dries relatively quick if you decide to repaint.

 

[drivesitfar]

K4: bee careful using vinegar cause while it eats the rust if you don't eliminate it and dry it off completely it will keep eating your steel or cast iron. i use WD 40, simple green and sometimes just a wet rag.

like i mentioned on the garage sale thread where you posted it i like BLO, but others here like other stuff too so use what YOU LIKE.

if you want to do a full blown restoration i bet there are several members on here that could give you some advise since those boxes are pretty popular.

cheers

 

[Zeeman]

Nice rollers! I have two, but they are not alike. I noticed that the Craftsman emblems are not in the same location. What are the dates of manufacture on those guys? Thanks for posting.

 

[k4rl.k3rk]

Nice rollers! I have two, but they are not alike. I noticed that the Craftsman emblems are not in the same location. What are the dates of manufacture on those guys? Thanks for posting.

I looked on the exterior, underneath, and inside near the top drawer and bottom drawer but couldn't find a stamp like some of the other boxes have. Maybe it's in the interior middle? Waiting for a non-rainy day to break down the boxes and clean them.

 

[Zeeman]

Usually on the bottom right of the frame in the front, just below the bottom drawer.

 

[taumac]

Usually on the bottom right of the frame in the front, just below the bottom drawer.

Yep, need to look there. Just above the right caster alittle to left.

 

[WickedMainer]

the 40s now painted red top is in tough shape. I bought it for tools in it and parts.
Anyone know anything about the two drawer or tombstone as far as age? The two drawer is in pretty good shape but I don't see much hope in finding the missing drawer pull. Tombstone is pretty dented. I find free craftsmans like This a lot. I will probably start grabbing logos and latches off them. Have a couple of the machinest chests as well which are also pretty common around here. Good condition boxes are virtually non existant. Only come up at estate sales. I passed on an excellent condition set the same vintageas flip front top('40s?) for 50. Regret it now but at the time I had no more space in truck and trailer.

 

[B17E1943]

Some cool cabinets, any idea what 1940's craftsman upper/lower tool boxes look like?

From the 1949 catalog:



And mine:

 

[k4rl.k3rk]

Yep, need to look there. Just above the right caster alittle to left.

Roller with logo on right: 1969
Roller with logo on left: 1976

 

[Jgaz]

My mom bought me this box for Christmas in about 1970?.
I put in the collection of stickers from my days of hanging around a cycle shop and racing enduros.



I like the idea someone posted previously about clear coating it as is

 

[Jgaz]

Another view of my box



Some of my favorite oldies.

(I couldn't get two pics in the same post??)

 

[Rileysan]

Picked up two lowers last weekend for a reasonable (for my area) price, $70 a piece.

I need to clean them up but because they were primarily used as the base of work carts (one had a drill press mounted on top, the other a chop saw), they are just dusty, not grimey.

On the drill press, the build up of sawdust in some nooks kept moisture next to the exterior, which rusted some of the body of the lower box. Any recommendations on how to do a light clean up? I like the paint just fine and actually prefer a faded look given its age. I just don't want it to rust any more. Clean up the rust with simple green? Vinegar? Afterwards run over with wax? Clear coat? Or just spray a matching hammered gray on select parts?

Great price on those two rollers! I would have snapped them up in a heartbeat. Grats!

Brian

 

[Mooreag47]

Up until I looked here I have only seen one other box like this. Picked up two of them for 40 and gave one to a friend as a gift

 

[don long]

I recovered this set of boxes while cleaning out an OLD workshop that had been closed up since the early 70s. It is full of old tools!!

I started cleaning it up to see if it had possibilities

I used Mr Cleans magic ereaser and it came up nicely
Now it sits in my vintage woodshop waiting for me to get the place organized

 

[jeffmoss26]

Don, another shop you haven't showed us?

 

[don long]

Yes Jeff
It is set up in the old red barn in the next yard over.
I started a thread last year but haven't worked on it much . Just been collecting old tools for it.
Tonite I am reading all the wood mags I've collected figuring out how I want to build my outfeed table and include a router and jointer storage.

Check out my vintage Craftsman wood shop http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=311742

 

[Rileysan]

I have already posted this pic in another thread, but couldn't resist posting here.

Both of these are in use at my place of employment. I used to get weird looks but now everyone is used to them.

Brian

 

[Zeeman]

Nice sets. Mine are from the early 70's, and I'm afraid to check out the older versions like yours for fear that I might get addicted to them too!

 

[WickedMainer]

FYI I have seen this posted for a bit somewhat close to me

http://maine.craigslist.org/tls/5870512096.html