Is this worth saving/restoring?

[Bouchard93]

I seen this on my local craigslist ,and I can get for 40$. I normally would just pass this up, but since joining this forum and seeing all the great restoration on some boxes here. got me thinking ... I have never restored a box before but at the same time looking for a little project. what would the process of bring this box back be?

 

[EOC_Jason]

First I would see exactly how much rust there is... Is it just surface rust or has it rusted through in areas?

Second, I would see how the drawers operate. If the bearings are good or if they will need to be replaced.

Best choice would be to blast or wheel it down to bare metal, prime & paint it. Second best would be to scuff it up as much as possible and repaint.

A project is one thing, but a money pit is another...

 

[ZRX61]

You could get that blasted & powder-coated & still be $$$ ahead.

 

[Bouchard93]

thanks for the feedback , I email the seller (u know dumb craigslist seller with no number) hopefully will here back soon to go look. what would it cost it get blasted & coated?

 

[zkling]

Depends on your intentions. Are you trying to fix it up to resell, or fix it up in efforts for a good box of your own? Former, forget it. Second, OK yea it would be a project, but worth it in the end.

Either way $40 is about max in that condition. Even in brand new condition, on the used market that is a ~$150 box at best. Kennedy makes really nice boxes, but they have the lowest % of retail on resale of any box out there.

FYI, that is a friction slide box, not ball bearing as mentioned above.

 

[Bouchard93]

it would be a personal box for uncommon tools.

 

[zkling]

Yea, it's a good box, but you can tell it has definitely been out in the weather for some time.

For $40 you really can't go wrong for a cheap sturdy box, but realize that that is about all the box is worth in its current condition. Also the top drawer looks like it has been damaged and the bottom looks pretty rusted.

I have the 3 drawer version of that in like new condition and wish it had the 5 like that one does. The bottom is nice for super heavy items that you don't want to put in a drawer. It is a very sturdy box.

 

[Bouchard93]

well waiting for a reply think im going to look and if rust isnt that bad going to get it

 

[ZRX61]

thanks for the feedback , I email the seller (u know dumb craigslist seller with no number) hopefully will here back soon to go look. what would it cost it get blasted & coated?

I did a MAC box about that size & was quoted $200 single color & $240 for 2 colors. I took the handles & castors off first & removed the slides.
I ended up trading the guy some ammo I had so it only cost me $80 for materials in the end

 

[CNGsaves]

I'd beat the guy down on price, as it's pretty bad shape. That bottom shelf rust looks pretty severe.

Since you're going to tear it all down to components anyway, I'd go for kiddy pool electrolysis to get best surface for painting.

For $20 to $25, that would be more enticing to tackle the project.

 

[bobscogin]

All depends on your priorities. If you have nothing more to do, go for it. To me, restoring a tool box is a time waster. Your mileage may vary.

Bob

 

[skippy24]

I'm sorry did you have a question? I was admiroring the wrenches in your avatar.

Seriously I would try to get down to $30 or so.

 

[ZRX61]

All depends on your priorities. If you have nothing more to do, go for it. To me, restoring a tool box is a time waster. Your mileage may vary.

Bob

Sheet metal resto is sheet metal resto, better to learn on an old toolbox than your wifes Mercedes.

 

[ZRX61]

I'd cut those lugs off the front that someone welded on for a bar to lock it before I did anything else

 

[zcar751]

I seen this on my local craigslist ,and I can get for 40$. I normally would just pass this up, but since joining this forum and seeing all the great restoration on some boxes here. got me thinking ... I have never restored a box before but at the same time looking for a little project. what would the process of bring this box back be?

I would'nt spend much effort in that box maybe stop it down and sand / feather ruff spot then hit it with rust converter and a couple of coat of rustolium. If I remember correctly Kennedy was the line carried by Grainger which is why you would see them in a lot of plants.

 

[Bruce4310TX]

Scrap it

 

[Garage Dog]

The $40 you spend could get you a 1/2 tank of gas that lasts half the day, those who say it isn't worth the time to fix up are spending the same amount of time watching television and accomplishing nothing.

The choice is yours, but you could do worse and have nothing to show for it.

 

[Bouchard93]

Well, like usual when I ask a question on any forum. I get more confused, and do not know what to do maybe try find a better box to start out on?

 

[zkling]

What ever happened to your KR557/KR274 bottom side box combo? Did you finally sell it?

That is a good box for cheap. It doesn't look that bad. Again for $40. IMHO Kennedy has the best friction slides in the business, much better than vintage craftsman, waterloo, mac, matco, and dare I even say Snap On. The slides look to be in good condition. It really doestn' look that bad. HEck you would be hard pressed to buy casters as good as those for $40 new. Go get it.

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

I think my powdercoating guy would sandblast and coat it for around $100.
He charges $60 for a wheel and $300 for a full car frame, you're somewhere in between.

 

[CudaChick1968]

I've seen and restored worse. I'd ****** it up ... five or six hours' labor and you'll have a sweet Kennedy.

 

[sberry]

I got a couple of old boxes I have packed with specialty and custom stuff, duplicates etc. I am sure you could buy one in fair shape for 100 but 40 is cheap if you need the space and scuff and shoot a can of red on it.
As a resto project,,, not that sentimental. Its worth a part of a day if the option was to buy new and I was poor and it would work???

I aint that fussy but a couple pieces of these beaters are too worn out to really use, are great for use as a junk drawer. All I can see is the front, should spray bomb it.

 

[sberry]

Its kind of out of the way so you dont notice the finish. I am in my own shop so the boxes are just a place to throw stuff I don't use most of the time and don't want in my way to wade thru on the carts.

 

[DekeT]

Restoration might not come out as well as you would like but it is a good learning process. I say go for it if that bottom shelf is not rusted through.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think I'd buy it, and do the resto during the winter. Cut off the hasps and weld in some new sheet metal if the bottom is rusty. Sand it down, roll in some Herculiner in the drawer bottoms and paint it to match the rest your boxes. Then fab up some drawer dividers and turn it into nut and bolt storage.

 

[805gregg]

Just buy it for a good price and use it, it's not an old Packard, it's just a tool box

 

[CNGsaves]

OP . . . in CL ad just saw a primo brand-new condition Kennedy tool box just like your rusted one. The CL seller wanted $300 and said it was $500 new.

Give the guy $30 to $40 and invest elbow grease to make yourself a nice box!

 

[41ratrod]

go for it I've seen worse stuff restored .
It'll give you something to do and and get you out of the house.

 

[bigbubba]

I think my powdercoating guy would sandblast and coat it for around $100.
He charges $60 for a wheel and $300 for a full car frame, you're somewhere in between.

Where are you at? Guy here quoted me over $500 to blast and paint a frame!

 

[Dale Leeds]

I'd go for it. It would be a nice project with good results.

 

[CudaChick1968]

Where are you at? Guy here quoted me over $500 to blast and paint a frame!

bigbubba, I just sent you a friend request. I'm not too far from you.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Not much of a box. Has standard slides, no ball bearing slides there. It could be soda blasted and powder coated. Lotta work for not much box.

Charles

 

[Bouchard93]

What ever happened to your KR557/KR274 bottom side box combo? Did you finally sell it?

That is a good box for cheap. It doesn't look that bad. Again for $40. IMHO Kennedy has the best friction slides in the business, much better than vintage craftsman, waterloo, mac, matco, and dare I even say Snap On. The slides look to be in good condition. It really doestn' look that bad. HEck you would be hard pressed to buy casters as good as those for $40 new. Go get it.

I actually trade that combo & 1000 cash to the truck below its a 1998 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 z71 with a bad motor (5.7 350 vortec) but its overall in really good shape and plan to get a motor for it soon.

Im going to look at the kennedy box today got him down to 30$ so looks like I will have a little project.

 

[Old Steamer]

Give the guy $30 to $40 and invest elbow grease to make yourself a nice box!

If you are like most of us, you've thrown away $40 on a lot less and have nothing to show for it. Make him an offer and have some fun with the box.