how to clean/ restore toolbox paint to make it "pop" again?

[GSully23]

As some of you may know, I just picked up that kr100/kr100 combo box. Well after removing these dreaded stickers, I'm looking to try my best to bring the original paint back to life. All my other boxes I've kept extremely clean and we'll taken care of so I've really never had to do anything over the top to keep them that way. But this combo has been sitting for years and doesn't look as if it had been washed/waxed for a long time. So I'm wondering what techniques you guys would recommend and the products I should use to do it. Underneath all the stickers the box looks pristine, I'd like to try getting the rest of the box looking that way, or as close as I possibly can. So help me out guys, I've had nothing but great help from this forum and I'm sure you guys can point me in the right direction with this one!

 

[1930]

You only need to go to Wal-Mart and buy a product called Color back finish restorer manufactured under the Turtle Wax marque.

It will give you the results you are looking for no question about it.

Best 5 bucks you will have spent in a long time.

Wipe it on with a slightly damp rag, rub it good, the rag will turn red eventually, wipe it dry with a microfiber rag.

I guarantee you will be happy!

Green bottle.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I think a polish will help, but I would probably use some kind of steel wool or synthetic steel wool type of material to clean and remove any buildup and rust.

Pics would really help here.

 

[stonesfan68]

I'd clean the heck out of it using something like CRC Industrial Degreaser. It works really well and won't harm the paint. Then I'd rinse it off with dish wash soap (Dawn) and water. Then use a wax a grease remover (3M, Dupli-Color, Klean-Strip). After that you should be good to go with an automotive paste wax.

 

[GSully23]

Is it common for the paint to rub off onto the rag? I noticed this when using good off on my Matco service cart and thought maybe it was too aggressive of a cleaner, but I also have this stuff called "Sharp Shooter" I use at work to clean up all the grease and fingerprint marks left on boats after wrenching on them and it seemed to be doing this aswell, and it's usually pretty safe to use on everything

 

[matt01073]

Any time I have polished snap on boxes the rag always has red paint on it Ive never rubbed through , but i bet you can if not carefull

 

[zkling]

Yes, treat it like a car, but just realize there is no clear coat so you are cutting on the base coat from the start. I use turtle wax brand for the boxes. A good wash with dawn and hot water is a great start. Avoid simple green and the like as they will really dull the paint. Acetone, and even alcohol will dull the paint on those boxes.

 

[radrush]

Is it common for the paint to rub off onto the rag? I noticed this when using good off on my Matco service cart and thought maybe it was too aggressive of a cleaner

I'd never use any Goof Off product on a toolbox; unless you actually want to remove the paint.

To get stickers off of toolboxes I'd heat them up with a hairdryer and peel them off. Then I'd use WD-40 to get the glue off. If they won't peel off, soak them with WD-40 and then peel them off.

 

[kbs2244]

In the days before clear coating automotive paint, lik current house paint, was designed to "chalk."
The UV exposed surface would come off with a good washing to expose a new surface.
The tool box guys may still use that kind of paint.

A call to their customer service department may be a good idea.

 

[astroracer]

Older boxes are probably painted with a baked on enamel single stage paint. This will color a rag when you are polishing it because you are actually removing paint with the polishing process. Be careful as it will eventually polish thru the paint to bare metal.
Mark