Huot top chest color.

[bobcatdan]

I have a ten drawer Huot top chest I'm think about stripping, sand blasting and painting. I just want to know for sure, these boxes where silver or gray new? Mine looked like it may have been silver, but had been repainted. I have seen a couple boxes here, but just want to doulbe check. When I start working on it, I will post pictures, thanks.

 

[rlitman]

Mine is red, and I've seen blue on a thread here too.

 

[hcs1947]

Mine is red.

 

[flathead74]

Here is a Huot catalog page showing the red box and the blue with the silver drawers

 

[fetzer21]

I am also restoring an old Huot top chest that is blue & silver. Have you had any success finding paint for it?

 

[Outlawmws]

That ad says the drawers in the blue box are gray. (Takes double clicking, bumping the mag AND a magnifying glass...)

Interestingly, that drawer layout on the red one is identical to the '57 Craftsman top box I picked up at an estate sale, last Friday. The Huot Box overall is 1-1/4" wider, 1/4" less deep, and the same height. even the drawer pulls and carry handles are similar. The Craftsman doesn't have the pull down front cover however, and it is 4 lbs lighter than the Huot. probably mostly due to the extra cover, and small differences in size

 

[flathead74]

I've got a Model 100 sitting in my kitchen right now and would agree with fetzer21 that it is closer to silver than it is gray. Both colors are done in a hammertone finish.

 

[bobcatdan]

For me, I wasn't looking for an exact match, just what color it was new. I'm going to pick a red I like, if it's a shade darker or lighter then original, I'm not too worried.

 

[-Brent-]

I had a red one, which was a very orangish red. I've seen the blue one on the GJ, as well.

 

[flathead74]

The paint on Huot boxes didn't seem to hold up real well, but usually you can take out a drawer and find the true color. My red Huot boxes range from red to almost orange from fading. What ever the color or what you choose to call it..I think they're great boxes. Hope you post some pictures when you get yours painted.

 

[bobcatdan]

Mine has some bad cracking and some spot welds letting go. I have tried welding them up but could not get the sweet spot, either too cold or burned threw. Some more gringing and a trace of bonbo should do it.
Question for you guys, how the hell do you release the slides? There are no clips, tabs or anything eles I have ever seen. The only stops I see on on the box frame and the frame flexes before the tabs move.

 

[flathead74]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115415
This link will help. The drawers come out like on old Snap-on boxes.