Kennedy Tool Box Question

[JeffreyJames]

My father passed away last march and my brother and I have been splitting up his possessions and I have ended up with a stacked Kennedy tool box (two parts). There are a total of four sets that he had. The one that I took which was the one he used most has some paint issues. The paint is lifting in some areas and surface rust is appearing.

My question are: A.) Do I try to get them powder coated which the quote was for $500 B.) Do I leave them alone and treat them like a Well weathered hot rod? C.) Do I Paint them myself and if so should I keep the original brown color?

I want to keep these forever and I am not sure what road to go. For some reason I keep thinking that if I changed the color I am losing some of the history that the box holds. So if I do paint them where can I get a large amount of that wrinkle brown paint that kennedy is known for? Thanks

 

[wilbilt]

I vote for B.)

The paint issues are probably due to the environment they were in. You should be able to halt the damage, assuming they are now in a non-caustic, controlled environment.

Refinishing them would destroy any sentimental value they have, IMHO.

 

[Franz©]

Brew up some strong tea, and soak it into the rusted area for a while. Use a rag pad to hold the tea, and let it saturate in.

When it drys the rust will be converted to a color almost the same as the Kennedy shytbrindle brown.

Kennedys also have a nasty habit of the bottom rusting out from accumulated condensation. From the ones I've seen Kennedy aparently didn't paint the inside.

If you ever absolutely have to paint one, put a first coat of wrinkle paint on and then overcoat that with enamel.

 

[mulepackin]

One standard I've used in the past to help me decide what to do with an item I've inherited from someone is to ask myself what the person who gave it to me would have done with the item under similar circumstances.

 

[Kevin54]

Kennedy sells the wrinkle paint in rattle cans. I have their website at home so I will post it later as I am at work. I also believe Grainger carries the paint. $500 for powdercoat is pretty steep. Worse case... sand it down and paint it the color of your choice.

Kevin

 

[mhoffm911]

I think my dad would appreciate it if I spiffed up one of his old tool boxes when he is gone. If you know any auto body guys, they may paint it for you for a very reasonable fee if you do a lot of the prep work.

Kennedy's website:

http://www.kennedymfg.com/

 

[grillmasterp]

Since you plan on keeping the tool box- (future resale is not an issue)
Follow steps to preserve the life of the tool box-
#1) stop rust

repainting to original or other color is up to you.
Repainting the tool box will bring new life to the box and doesn't change the fact that you inherited it from your father. But since you are even concerned about it- Stick with the orig color

I repainted my current Kennedy box and was very pleased with the results- (It was originally red)
I bought a qt of Rustoleum Hammered black & rustoleum safety red (both on clearance)
Painted the drawers red and the rest of the box hammered black using a 4 " foam roller.
Of course this box had no sentimental history to begin with.

 

[JeffreyJames]

Thanks fellas. I am pretty sure I am going to stay clear from the $500 powder coating option for now. I may paint the inside with a Line X type coating or POR15 and leave the outside the original brown beacuse it's in pretty good shape. Just some spots on the inside are the issue at hand. Thanks for the advise, I know the ol' man would be happy with it any way I choose.

 

[Bob Marlin]

The best thing I ever did with my old kennedys was to have the whole thing "line-xed".