First Post - First Tool Box Restore

[larryq]

Thanks for the tip! I'm going to be sanding and priming tonight to get it ready for paint. I'll have pics up tonight or tomorrow. Anyone know of a good alternative to single stage urethane box paint? I got quoted 130 for the quart including hardener and activator. Is there a different type of paint that has similar qualities for any cheaper?

Check out Summit Racing's single stage urethane. Can get a quart for as low as $25 in some colors, budget another $22 for hardener and you're all set. I've gone the rustoleum route as well as SSU and there's no comparison, the Summit urethane is much tougher.

No bash against Rustoleum but it takes longer to cure and simply isn't as strong.

 

[kac0825]

Check out Summit Racing's single stage urethane. Can get a quart for as low as $25 in some colors, budget another $22 for hardener and you're all set. I've gone the rustoleum route as well as SSU and there's no comparison, the Summit urethane is much tougher.

No bash against Rustoleum but it takes longer to cure and simply isn't as strong.

Are you familiar with their colors? I'd like to get close to snap on red, or the mac white. If it really is that big of a difference in quality and color, I'll pay the 140 to get the PPG, but if its minor; I'd save the money.

 

[ZRX61]

Cover the stripper with aluminum foil so it can't dry out & leave it alone for 20-30 minutes

 

[kac0825]

Turns out a new buddy of mine may have a sandblaster. so hopefully sometime this week I'd get a chance to use that and get these drawers cleaned up. The Zolatone is nasty stuff. Gums up a paint stripper wheel, sandpaper, and stripper takes 3 coats to get it somewhat off. Hoping the blaster will do better.

The outside of the box however is all sanded down and bondo'd up. All dents are out (the ones I couldn't get with the hammer) and ready for primer. Anyone have any recommendations on spray primer? Not rattle can primer. From what I've read, you use a 2 part primer?

 

[ZRX61]

Epoxy primer.

 

[kac0825]

Then do you paint the base over that? Or do you shoot another primer? I guess in my case single stage doesn't need a clear?
Like I've said, completely new to this so I'm trying to process everything I've read and researched.


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[kac0825]

Found a Cornwell upper and lower for 100 bucks. I'm going to pick it up tomorrow if its still for sale. Thoughts?


<img src="http://images.craigslist.org/00j0j_75DTNt0eOm1_600x450.jpg" alt="">

 

[zkling]

Found a Cornwell upper and lower for 100 bucks. I'm going to pick it up tomorrow if its still for sale. Thoughts?

The bottom is a craftsman waterloo box. Actually they both technically are waterloo boxes. Not much storage with only 9 drawers, but if you need them $100 ain't bad.

 

[kac0825]

Decided against another box, I want to finish mine first. We're getting some pretty cold weather moving in tomorrow, (Granted I live in Florida so 30F is cold here!) so i'm hoping I can get the primer sanded down tonight and possibly paint if we keep the garage heated.

I decided to rattle can it and just sand between coats. I'm using sandable/filler primer and the going with Rustoleum High Gloss white. From what I understand you want to put down your layers of primer, hit it with some 320 grit, then coat with the base. Do a few layers of the white, wet sand it to get out any orange peel, then clear coat.

I'll post some pictures by tomorrow and hopefully I'll have the shell and trim done.

 

[kac0825]

She is all primed up

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[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Found a Cornwell upper and lower for 100 bucks. I'm going to pick it up tomorrow if its still for sale. Thoughts?


<img src="http://images.craigslist.org/00j0j_75DTNt0eOm1_600x450.jpg" alt="">

That's an okay deal at best, but, as zkling said, that's a Craftsman roller.

 

[kac0825]

I ended up not picking it up. There are much better on CL, thanks for y'all's help on identifying it though.


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[Spudland_Dave]

Then do you paint the base over that? Or do you shoot another primer? I guess in my case single stage doesn't need a clear?
Like I've said, completely new to this so I'm trying to process everything I've read and researched.


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Check the P-Sheet (Product Data/Tech Sheet), will tell you everything you need to know in easy to understand terms. On the PPG Shopline I use, yes..Epoxy primer down, then I have a 24 hour window to spray the topcoat over the Expoxy primer without having to sand it. Ready to spray Topcoat over the Epoxy primer in 30 mins I recall. So literally takes an hour-2 hours tops to go from bare steel to finished product.

Correct...Single Stage has Gloss Built in

As for cost, none of the Single Stage I've bought was as expensive as you quoted...Biggest cost is "Getting setup" when I switched from Nason to Shopline there was some sticker shock, but now when I need to paint something its usually just a matter of getting the paint I need.

 

[ckadams00]

Congrats and welcome. Leave it alone if it is functional and spend your money on other things. Trust me.

 

[kac0825]

Check the P-Sheet (Product Data/Tech Sheet), will tell you everything you need to know in easy to understand terms. On the PPG Shopline I use, yes..Epoxy primer down, then I have a 24 hour window to spray the topcoat over the Expoxy primer without having to sand it. Ready to spray Topcoat over the Epoxy primer in 30 mins I recall. So literally takes an hour-2 hours tops to go from bare steel to finished product.

Correct...Single Stage has Gloss Built in

As for cost, none of the Single Stage I've bought was as expensive as you quoted...Biggest cost is "Getting setup" when I switched from Nason to Shopline there was some sticker shock, but now when I need to paint something its usually just a matter of getting the paint I need.

The local paint store (creatively named Auto Paint Supply) said I'm looking at like 120-140 for activator, hardener, and paint. It cost that much cause it's a feel color. It's what made me decide to cheap out and use rustoleum.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I can respect your decision to cheap out...BTDT myself, but for a toolbox and for the amount of work you've got into it, kinda sad to see it go with Rattle Can. I'm sure it will look great, it just wont last like a real paint would.
At minimum, go with a stock color from Tractor Supply and throw some hardener in it. Before I went will the single stage, I sprayed my share of JD Green & IH Red Enamel with hardener...dirt cheap alternative. Next step up would be the Nason "Tractor & Equipment Acrylic Enamel"...no activators needed, just reducer and has great durability for the price.

Assuming you were still going white:
$15.00 for a quart of IH White: http://www.amazon.com/Valspar-4432-15-International-Harvester-Implement/dp/B000LNWUJ0
$15.00 for a pint of Hardener: http://www.amazon.com/Valspar-4625-Enamel-Hardener-oz/dp/B000LNY1MY/ref=pd_bxgy_auto_img_y

 

[kac0825]

Here's how it came out. I still have to wet sand the black and straighten out my lines. It was definitely a learning experience. I know now several things I'd have done differently, which is exactly why I did it.

I like how it looks. I do have a question again though. For those of you that have boxes with metal dividers in the drawers, how do you organize between them? I feel like they're inconvenient for long pliers,wrenches, ect?

As far as the drawer liner I cringed at seeing how much seats wanted. Ended up going to walmart and picking up shelf liner. It's no slip, and thicker then the drawer liner they sell. 10 bucks for a 8' roll. Needed 2 of them for the whole box.

All in all, I'm happy with how it came out temporarily. I may end up redoing it one day though.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Looks good.