Mac box restoration

[Gfleck067]

We'll a few months ago I purchased my Mac tools mb1200 mb1210 and a mb1560 tool box off craigslist for. 600$ I took it apart and buffed it out but it just wasn't up to what I wanted to tool
Box to be. So I stripped everything down and began the process of sandblasting and powder coating. I dropped it off to the local powder coater who happens to be a friend of mine and a fellow race car builder. Who owns the big block smart car. He powder coated it saftey orange. For a total cost of 700$ And I painted the handles flat black. I replaced 10 slides on the mb1560 side box and 8 sets of slides on the mb1200 for free from warranty from Mac and all the locks and the gas struts for the top. With the cost of the box and everything I am under 1500$ in a great starter box for work.

Here is the before and after. Let me know what you think

 

[Alexbn921]

Nice work. I bet that took a long time to get clean.

 

[jethro29]

sweet box! great job!

 

[gsingh]

Damn that is nice.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[bonneyman]

Very nice!
What would a comparable new box be, price wise?

 

[2oolhound]

Whew! What a project but very rewarding in the end. Well done!

 

[RedneckWelder]

That's pretty bitchin. What's the deal with the top looking curved like that?

 

[toddacimer]

I like it, but the full width drawer at the bottom is kinda odd

 

[Packard V8]

Cool build. The cost is what it is. If you're happy, that's all that counts. Guaranteed the truck box for the same money wouldn't be as strong or as large.

The wide drawer is for long tools. Once having one, I wouldn't want to be without it. At the bottom is not nearly as convenient as at the top.

jack vines

 

[gatewaysysop]

Freaking sweet. Love the new color and nice job restoring it!

 

[Gfleck067]

Actually the long drawer on the bottom of the box is for a creeper

The top looks kinda curved either it is the picture or it might have gotten warped from blasting either way it works for me

A comparable box from Mac or matco would run about 7-10k I would imagine with a side box that is just my guess though I could be wrong

 

[zkling]

That looks fantastic, one heck of a setup and the powder coat is over the top. What type of slides do the drawers have? Is there anything behind the doors? Older mac boxes are so hard to find info on.

The curved top is a illusion I believe. Seen it many times before.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

That is sick looking!! I'm jealous!
-Sam

 

[wornoutoldman]

Kudos! That set-up is a thing of beauty. Being built like a tank is a bonus too.

 

[Gfleck067]

The slides on the main upper and lower boxes are friction slides and the side box is ball bearing which are all still warrentied by Mac And behind the doors on the top box is where I am gonna keep welding hood and gloves and my carry bag for on the track calls ( I am a crane mechanic at a rail yard where I fix the cranes) and the bottom box has 2 slide out shelves which has all my cases and fall harness there for now. But the only problem I have is that it is mostly empty. Need to buy stuff to fill it

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Very nice box, but I'm not too crazy about the long drawer at the bottom

 

[zkling]

Very nice box, but I'm not too crazy about the long drawer at the bottom

One thing I find rather interesting is how tool storage ideas and designs have changed over the years. Wrenches, sockets and screwdrivers really haven't changed much comparatively. Back in the day a top box was common, now a days seems like the lower box only, mobile work bench setup is much preferred, what's next?

 

[FJ 432]

Gfleck,

Not sure how I missed this but you did a great job. I can appreciate all the hard work doing something that large. I'm partial to orange as well. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Gfleck067]

Thanks for all the positive feedback I think it will look awesome at work in my container where it will never see the light of day again :/

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

That's a great job. I really like the way it came out.

What about the handle on the top door? Are you on the lookout for one?

I kind of like the long drawer on the bottom, though I'm sure it wouldn't be too convenient for sockets, wrenches and ratchets.

 

[Gfleck067]

I have it a friend was gonna powder coat them but his oven wasn't big enough

 

[davbrink]

I'm working on one now. I need new slides.