how to paint a snap on box

[rsanter]

I have a older snap on box I am wanting to repaint. its overall in decent shape, but not good enough conmetically to leave it as is.
I have fixed a few dents and am wondering the best approach to paint it.

the plan
clean up with simple green
wipe down with paint thinner
scuff with some sandpaper (and feather out any scratches)
.
.
.
.
so now the question...
do I shoot some primer on it or just spray the paint on?
I ask because if I get a scratch then the primer will show worse than if I were to just lay on the paint

I have some rustolium red that I bought for it.
is there a better paint to use?
is there a paint that has a closer color to the snap on red?

bob

 

[Merkava_4]

I have some rustolium red that I bought for it. is there a better paint to use? is there a paint that has a closer color to the snap on red?

bob

Did you get the "Rustoleum Sunrise Red?" If so, that's pretty close and is a nice shade. The one problem I noticed with that particular paint though is that it is VERY thin; there's no way to cover the object with one coat.

Alternatively, PPG Ditzler #73504 - Snap-on red - is the exact paint and you'd have to have your body shop paint supplier make it up for you.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I have some rustolium red that I bought for it.
is there a better paint to use?
is there a paint that has a closer color to the snap on red?

bob

I've used Sunrise Red for some of mine. It's not too far off, but I've never found a spray paint that was really close to Snap on red/orange.

I assume you're referring to the Taco Wagon you have? Why not get some paint mixed up special so you can use a paint gun on it? That thing is so big you're going to be going through a ton of spray cans if you go that route.

 

[rebrewer]

I'd skip the paint thinner step and use Prepsol instead. You can buy cans of matching paint (rattle cans) from Snap-on. If you have bare metal showing, etch first, then primer, otherwise, fire away!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I'd skip the paint thinner step and use Prepsol instead. You can buy cans of matching paint (rattle cans) from Snap-on. If you have bare metal showing, etch first, then primer, otherwise, fire away!

If he buys those cans of spray paint from Snap On, by the time he's done he'll have more in the paint than he does in the box!

 

[BSmith]

I was thinking about having my box powder coated. Probably cost as much as a new one though with all the sandblasting. I really like the durability of the powder though.

 

[BTG]

I was thinking about having my box powder coated. Probably cost as much as a new one though with all the sandblasting. I really like the durability of the powder though.

We had a customer bring us a vintage SO tool box to powder. Didn't think much of it... until it was time to blast it. What a pain with all the drawers. We ended up sending it out to be blasted (on our dime). Then with all the surfaces to powder it took a long time and used alot more powder than we ever expected. It was done in a Sunset Red Metallic dormant powder. It looked awesome when it was done, but it ended up costing us money. Needless to say the price to do one again will be higher!

 

[Rickster]

If you go the Rustolium route, then get the sprey can holder they make for thier cans. It was like $5 at Home Depot and it's a hand and finger saver if you're doing a large project like a toolbox.

 

[jack_squat]

I've found Krylon "Banner Red" to be a very close match for the older Snap-on red/orange shade. Good coverage too.

 

[rsanter]

I picked up the 'apple red' at home depot
I did not see the sunrise red, but may go looking for it now.
the apple red I got is a very close match to the MAC toolbox I have so that may be good enough as I do like that color.

I am sure I would not be willing to buy enough snap on paint to paint this thing. they want way too much for that stuff.

I would love to have it powdercoated, but I am sure that would be way more than I would be willing to pay.

yup, this is the 'taco wagon' I am working on. I would like to get it fixed up a bit so I can put the small lathe on it and get rid of the Cman workbench that the lathe is on now.

I am also looking at options for converting to BBslides as this box will be holding my machine tooling and that stuff gets really heavy really fast

bob

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I am also looking at options for converting to BBslides as this box will be holding my machine tooling and that stuff gets really heavy really fast

bob

If you do end up converting from friction to ball bearing slides, that would make a great how-to thread that I'm sure would draw a lot of interest.

 

[jshillin]

Go to your local PPG Store and get a quart of paint mixed, some reducer and hardener. It's less than $60. I did that to the KRA59 I'm trying to sell.

Here's a pic of it before/after.

 

[Bart Simpson]

If you want to do a decent job paint it like you would a car.
Just follow all those steps.
If the surface is not right all the imperfections will show up.
Definitely primer any areas of bare metal ,scratches, etc.

Your local library should have auto body/custom painting books to help you and maybe even videos as well.

 

[rsanter]

my first thought was to take it apart and have it powdrecoated.
just not sure I want to spend that much money on it.

to paint it like a car I would have way too much prep time and again too much money into it

just looking to do a quick decent job to make it look good, not like a 'show toolbox'

bob

 

[jshillin]

my first thought was to take it apart and have it powdrecoated.
just not sure I want to spend that much money on it.

to paint it like a car I would have way too much prep time and again too much money into it

just looking to do a quick decent job to make it look good, not like a 'show toolbox'

bob

It's worth the little bit of extra time, the pic I posted above was painted in the same manner. Sand/Prime/Sand/Paint.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

I liked randy's message
for heavens sakes - it's a tool box

 

[arkracing]

If you buy a quart of Sunrise Red Rusto. & a quart of Acetone for reducer - you can spray it out of a regular paint gun and get much better results/coverage than with a can. Just be careful not to run it.

FYI: I got mine paint at Wal-Mart

Not a great picture, but I did the one on the right with Rusto Sunrise in the spray gun (I DA'd the box with 80, washed it and shot it - you can't see the 80grit scratches and that was 3+ years ago. I just mixed it a little heavy):