Ebay Score and new project - Rag Can

[NJ Diver]

Hello All,

I was looking for a winter project and had been thinking about adding a oily rag can to my shop for a little while now. I recently scored this rag can off Ebay for about $30 and figured it would make a good project.

I am very mechanically inclined and overall very handy but I am not very good with metal or paint, so this should act as a nice learning experience for me as well.

I have a couple of questions for the group.

1. What is the best way to go about fixing the hole in the top?
2. For a small project like this is it worth purchasing a cheap HF paint gun to paint this or will a spray can be sufficient? - I am leaning towards the paint gun.
3. It appears the lettering is painted on. Short of bringing this to someone to have them painted, I was thinking of having the lettering made for it and then just apply them, thoughts?
4. The Tag adhered on the top of the can, what is the best method to use to clean it up? It looks like it would scratch very easily if I use anything too abrasive.

I know there was a thread on here some time ago where guys had a friendly competition in restoring their rag cans. There was some amazing work done there, but I can't seem to locate that threat using the search feature. Does anyone have a link to that one?

Thanks in advance for the comments/suggestions.

 

[58Yeoman]

If it was mine, I'd try to get a good digital pic, put it in the puter and use an image program to clean it up, then see if I could find some self-stick clear printer media, and print it on there. After the can is painted, then just stick them on.

 

[Jagmandave]

A sign company can make you a new label in vinyl too, and it won't cost much. Rattle can paint is fine for this, it's more important that you clean, prep and prime the surface than whether the paint comes out of a spray gun or spray can. The chemicals left in the rags will often take the paint right off of the inside of the can, just be forewarned because only in an OSHA dream does everyone empty their rag can every night! You certainly won't because after all, you bought it to hold your dirty rags, right?

I wonder if it woudn't last longer if it was powder coated?

Not for nuttin, I bought a new red rag can for $30 from Harbor Freight, unless you just like the look of this one....well, I'm just sayin....it just holds dirty shop rags.......

 

[dirttracker18]

Here you go, it was called Battle of the Killer Cans

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79307&highlight=battle+cans

 

[Call me the Breeze]

Needs a Monster painted on it... Just sayin

 

[NJ Diver]

No Monsters.. I can't compete with you guys. Those waste cans were awesome.

 

[71flh]

I'd take it out to the garage and start tossing rags in it.

 

[cowboy73]

That tag appears to be brass. You could probably clean it up with some TarnX or Brasso. The hole could be welded shut, but a cheap and dirty way would be a couple of large fender washers and a bolt. Put a washer on each side of the lid and bolt them together.

 

[RVDan]

You could probably sell that can in its original condition for more than enough to buy a restored version, some people don't want their stuff shiny

 

[JC23]

I don't know about that nogoodnik, Breeze, but I painted the base color on the World Famous, Boss Rat Fink can with spray cans. That goes for primer and the red.

And yes, it totally needs a monster...

 

[Flathead Johnny]

you will take away from the cool patina and value if you restore it, you can make something look new in a day but the well worn look takes decades, looks so cool as is!

 

[supra90turbo]

I say leave it as is. It's all there and works, it has a nice patina to it.

looks like the one left in my garage for me when I moved in. score!

 

[NJ Diver]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm debating which way to go, but still leaning towards stripping the can and repainting it. Now that I think of it though, I might give it some type of theme and not repaint and letter it as is.

As for the hole in the top, I think I might give some bondo a try with some support from the bottom. If not, I have access to a welder and will most likely fill it in that way.

I'll probably spend time on it this Saturday, so I'll toss some ideas around till then.

 

[browntown]

HF used to sell a cheaply made clone of the round can supra posted, and when they were clearancing them out I bought one. Shamefully, I don't use it much, and most oily rags get thrown in the regular garbage. I think since mine was made in red china, and is already rusty and I think the hinge is bent, I'll let the kid have at it with a paint set and see what he comes up with.

 

[kruegdr]

So if you're supposed to empty it every night.... where to? What's the proper disposal like?

 

[CARS]

The oily rags are typically cloth, so they either get washed by you or sent out for laundry.

I use one for my solvent paper towels for wax and grease remover. Once the towels are dry they go in the trash that is removed every day.

 

[CARS]

As far as the hole on the top. For home use, I wouldn't worry about it.

But, if it does bug you, cut a patch for it and weld it in. Grind both sides, prime and paint. Typical sheetmetal repair.

or, find a body plug that fits the hole and snap it into place.

 

[Jagmandave]

At work, our insurance company required that the rags be removed from the building each night - to another can outside. So that's what we did.....

At home I leave mine in the rag can, sometimes for months, before I have enough to bother washing them.

To the OP, so how did it turn out?