My first toolbox refurb!!!

[SOCAL399]

Ok so I got a killer toolbox for free from my soon to be brother in law. His grandpa had it in his garage for years empty.

So after finding this forum and seeing some great tool box restorations I've been dying to repaint it. Lol. I love restoring something to my liking. Want to paint it to match my other craftsman toolboxes and my channel lock tool cart that I inherited when my dad unfortunately passed away last year. Which are black

So today I said what the hell and gave it a shot. So after sanding down the top and bottom chest for like 3 hours. And then the drawers for like another two hours. I went to Walmart and got some hammered black finish spray paint. And some primer.

So basically 12 hours later here's a little look at them still have to paint the inside of the box but I ran out of paint.

It's a little glossier than I wanted but over all I really like the hammered black finish. Oh and here's a pic of the mess I made lol

Now still have a lot to do. Any good ideas on what to clean the friction slides for the drawers with. Also what to live it with as well. Also if u guys have any tips or ideas for me please feel free to comment thanks guys
Oh and one more thing does anyone know around what year this box was made? Can't find any tag other than the made in USA! Oh yea!!!!!

 

[AV tinker er]

Keep up the good work!

 

[_vin_]

Nicely done.

Place the friction slides in some evaporust.

 

[spotco2]

Those were good boxes. I'm thinking mid-late 80's.

If it was empty, where did all that **** come from that's piled up in the floor?

 

[SOCAL399]

Those were good boxes. I'm thinking mid-late 80's.
If it was empty, where did all that **** come from that's piled up in the floor?

Mid 80s nice!!!!
Lol! Well I got the box a couple of months ago. So in that short amount of time I've thrown anything and everything into it. So after the refurb going to have to do some organizing!!!

Thanks again for the info

 

[bluebolt]

Mid 80s nice!!!!
Lol! Well I got the box a couple of months ago. So in that short amount of time I've thrown anything and everything into it. So after the refurb going to have to do some organizing!!!

Thanks again for the info

Yep late 70's to mid 80's I think.

On the top box look in the top compartment on the left side, there is usually a date there like 10-80 which would be October 1980.

On the bottom look on the front bottom right corner, should be a date there as well.

 

[SOCAL399]

Cool just saw the date the boxes were made. It says 0579!!! Yep may of 1979!!! How cool.

 

[SOCAL399]

Just got done with the top box. The slides weren't bad at all no rust so just took some steel wool and degreaser and went to town cleaning them. Wet sanded and and used some rubbing compound. Then followed it up with some good old meguiar's wax looks so good! Greased the tracks and installed the drawers. Also shines up all the aluminum on the drawers and handles with some eagle one never dull wadding polish looks so shiny. Man I love restorations. Wasn't sure if polishing the aluminum trip made a difference till I taped half of on of and only did half hard to tell in pic but in person it totally does make a difference looks really good. ( for now) lol

I polished the right side

 

[Packard V8]

Nice work.

It looked better than several of the boxes I'm using before you started on it.

jack vines

 

[SOCAL399]

alright got the top and bottom dome painting and put together! now just waiting on locks. called Waterloo and since i lost my other keys to my other craftsman and channel lock boxes. Waterloo is going to send my 5 new locks. all keyed the same. so i can use the same key for all. i thought that was so cool. any it was only like 35 bucks . so excited! now going to organize and clean all the tools while putting them back in. im a little ocd!

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Great job!

I personally love changing up colors to what I want. Glad you do to.

And I don't lock my boxes, but by God if I did, I would have them all keyed the same as well. Way Cool!

Take some better pictures when totally complete. Thanks!

 

[jeffmoss26]

Looks good!

 

[SOCAL399]

Finally got my new locks and keys for all my tool boxes and tool cart. Will post the final pics tomorrow

 

[softailgarage]

Okay, now pull the slides out again, degrease them (real good), re install them. Now, go to Home Depot and get a bottle of DuPont "Teflon Non-Stick Dry-Film Lubricant"and use that on the rails. Grease works, but it attracts all the dirt and ****, this stuff wont. Try it

 

[SOCAL399]

Okay, now pull the slides out again, degrease them (real good), re install them. Now, go to Home Depot and get a bottle of DuPont "Teflon Non-Stick Dry-Film Lubricant"and use that on the rails. Grease works, but it attracts all the dirt and ****, this stuff wont. Try it

Okay sounds good thanks for the info going to run over the Home Depot this morning and get some. Your box looks really good!!!!!! Any ideas what the top middle drawer on the top box is for I see u have the same box.

 

[Packard V8]

Any ideas what the top middle drawer on the top box is for

Its a knockoff of the Kennedy and other machinist boxes which have that drawer sized for the traditional Machinery's Handbook.

jack vines

 

[SOCAL399]

Just completed my tool box build! Very happy with the result!!!

All organized as well now!!!!

 

[str8axle55]

Looks very nice, good work.

 

[SOCAL399]

Looks very nice, good work.

Hey thanks! Couldn't ever have done it without the garage journal forum!!!!

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Nice job

 

[zkling]

That's cute everything matches

Nice job on the repaint, looks like a lot of work. Funny seeing two sets of craftsman boxes next to one another. How does the quality compare between the ~30 year difference?


You would hate to see my boxes, all different colors, brands, shapes; nothing matches, not even the different shades of red.

 

[SOCAL399]

That's cute everything matches

Nice job on the repaint, looks like a lot of work. Funny seeing two sets of craftsman boxes next to one another. How does the quality compare between the ~30 year difference?


You would hate to see my boxes, all different colors, brands, shapes; nothing matches, not even the different shades of red.

It's kinda cool having two sets of craftsman tool chest. I would have instantly thought that my newer box that was made in the 90s wouldn't have been as tough as the one made in 1979. But that's not the case at all. They are basically the exact same. Except the drawer layout and the emblems. But I do like the layout of the 1979 box better!

It was alot of work! But I really enjoyed it. Ive done alot of restoring and rebuilding from my 14ft 1969 Valco aluminum fishing boat to my salvaged 2005 f150 I bought that was totaled! Forum sites are the best way to get tips and ticks and info in helping u accomplish any project. the members are always willing to help and share! its also a Good way to keep busy after a work day or on the weekends. I'm trying to loose weight so It kept my mind off being board and eating junk food!! Lol!!!

 

[jeffmoss26]

Awesome. Very nice shop, too.

 

[SOCAL399]

Awesome. Very nice shop, too.

Thanks I appreciate it! It's coming along! Finally have space and an area for working On my rc cars I race! As well as other future projects!

 

[softailgarage]

Hey, the boxes turned out real sharp. You can really tell the difference in the quality of the two boxes huh. So, whats your next project?