old craftsman toolbox restoration

[fengle12]

hi everyone, first time poster. i got an old craftsman rollaway with top box that im restoring, and basically just want to show you guys my progress and maybe get a little feedback. im going really low budget with this restore but despite the old age of the box it was in pretty good shape and almost no rust at all, just some bent metal housing were the friction slides sit in and some small shallow rust spots that sanded right out

ill post some pictures soon so you guys can check it out

 

[fengle12]

here are the before pictures

 

[fengle12]

here is after i painted the top box cabinet, and the 1st drawer. i cleaned up all the slides and reshaped the metal housing inside for the slides before prepping and painting, all the slides go in nice and straight again and hold the drawers nicely. so far im about 12 hours into the project. let me know what you guys think

 

[passatryde]

here is after i painted the top box cabinet, and the 1st drawer. i cleaned up all the slides and reshaped the metal housing inside for the slides before prepping and painting, all the slides go in nice and straight again and hold the drawers nicely. so far im about 12 hours into the project. let me know what you guys think

Looking good!! are those Xmas lights in your neighbors yard?

 

[fengle12]

Lol. Yeah those are Christmas lights. A little early but doesn't bother me none. Aha

 

[Jay_mc1]

It's looking really good, keep up the great work!

 

[fengle12]

It's looking really good, keep up the great work!

Thanks! i was hoping to have the top box done before thanksgiving, but its taking much longer then expected, my dad wanted to see the finished product since it used to be his toolbox back in the day. and ill have to wait till i get back from florida to finish it.

still im excited to see how it will come out when its all done

 

[ihatelaramie]

That's looking pretty nice. I have an older Proto top box I've been thinking of redoing, but I wasn't too sure I wanted to go through the trouble, but these pics are making me rethink things. Nice job

 

[fengle12]

That's looking pretty nice. I have an older Proto top box I've been thinking of redoing, but I wasn't too sure I wanted to go through the trouble, but these pics are making me rethink things. Nice job

its not as much trouble as i thought it would be, the most tedious thing to do was cleaning all the slides, took me a whole day to get tham all clean and prestine, i soaked them in solvent then went to town with a wire brush and scotchbrite pad. those things were pretty dirty.

its a night and day difference though when sitting next to the unstarted rollaway cabinet.

did another drawer today before work, only 5 to go and that portion will be done, still debating on wheather or not to paint the trimming that slides on the front of the drawers or just clean em up and keep them bare metal

 

[ihatelaramie]

What are you using for paint, if you don't mind my asking?

 

[fengle12]

What are you using for paint, if you don't mind my asking?

im just using good old fashioned rustoleum high gloss enamel rattle cans. but its coming out much better then expected

i would use a gun but i dont have one at the house and there impossible to "borrow" from work :/

 

[RC KID]

I have taken a few tool boxes apart and had them media blasted and powder coated. It didn't cost to much and was actually very easy to accomplish. It was also quicker and cleaner than paint remover, sanding, scrubbing and cleaning, the basic prep work for a repaint.

 

[fengle12]

I have taken a few tool boxes apart and had them media blasted and powder coated. It didn't cost to much and was actually very easy to accomplish. It was also quicker and cleaner than paint remover, sanding, scrubbing and cleaning, the basic prep work for a repaint.

i thought about at least bringing the drawers to work to media blast them here since they would fit in blaster we have in the shop, are corrosion control guys have a full on building for it that i could do the cabinets in, but i dont think they would be cool with me bringing in my toolbox to blast during work hours.

but at the same time its also fun to tear into it and sand away and whatnot, its what i do for a living too, so why not bust out my skills at home instead of only at work. eventually ill have the tools accumulated to do more professional work at home, but for now im just doing what i can with what ive got, plus i dont have any tool storage to put my stuff in, aside from a small cheapo plastic stanely toolbox. so i think of this box as my starter kit so to say

ive only had my house a year now, so my tool collection is small but growing steadily

 

[d.mcfarland]

That paint looks smooth. Great work on it!

 

[fengle12]

That paint looks smooth. Great work on it!

Thanks! i leave for florida this weekend and ill be there for a month for work, when i get back ill post more pictures of my progress, should have the top box finished in 1 more weekend. then i can start tackling the rollaway