old Waterloo roller from CL

[dumper]

I picked up this old Waterloo roller a couple of days ago from CL. A few of you guys correctly IDd the box as an early 70s model- it is stamped, "Made in USA 12/71." It is built like a brick **** house! Slides still work great, no dents, just some issues you can see in the middle of the chest- it appears someone broke the lock on it at some time and made a bit of a mess. I cleaned it up, best I could considering the overall state of the box. I don't want ot paint the whole box, but would like to touch up the skid mark up the middle. Any easy way to do that?

 

[FordExplorer]

I picked up this old Waterloo roller a couple of days ago from CL. A few of you guys correctly IDd the box as an early 70s model- it is stamped, "Made in USA 12/71." It is built like a brick **** house! Slides still work great, no dents, just some issues you can see in the middle of the chest- it appears someone broke the lock on it at some time and made a bit of a mess. I cleaned it up, best I could considering the overall state of the box. I don't want ot paint the whole box, but would like to touch up the skid mark up the middle. Any easy way to do that?

I am currently working on a similar restoration project. The marking down the middle is going to be hard to touch up without having a line b/w the old and new paint showing. You will want to take a drawer to a paint shop and have them mix you up a couple rattle cans of paint that will match exactly. Waterloo will probably sell you some touch up paint, however your paint is faded by now and you will want something that matches the current color. Then all you need to do is sand the spots so there is a smooth transition b/w the metal and paint, and tape off either side of where the affected area is. After you have the pulls off, you just need to paint it. You will need to do a few coats, and then when it is dry try to use rubbing compound to even the transition b/w the old and new.

I hope it goes good for you. Keep us posted!

 

[Flatintoone]

IF you can get a reasonable match for the color, maybe you could just paint the drawer fronts and the forward-facing surfaces (masking where the side sheetmetal ends)?

Nice box.

 

[larryq]

My dad's friend has one of those boxes and you're right, I can't believe how sturdy they are-- great pickup.

Going to be tough to mask and paint just the skid mark, but what autobody guys do is scuff around the spot, paint the skid, then blend the color out to the end of the body panel (or the drawer, in your case) using a mixture of the color and transparent base. *Not* clearcoat, but clear base. Any of the well known paint systems have it. I've used AutoAir colors, but House of Kolor or PPG will have something too, as will the other known brands. AutoAir is waterbased paint so easier to clean up and much less toxic, though you have to clearcoat after you're done.

Another option is to pickup some red from the Valspar restoration series line of tractor enamels. Very good reputation for toughness and shine. That, or Tractor Supply's 'Majic' brand. I live in California where Majic is all I can get due to VOC laws, not sure about Oregon.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'd probably get the paint matched, then paint the drawer fronts complete, and leave the "matching" process for the top/bottom rails...

 

[nine4gmc]

love that style!! I would leave it alone until I could do a full resto.

 

[dumper]

ok, so I listened to all of you guys...for a while! I couldn't stand it any more, so I did a quick hack/slop job, and I think it actually looks better than when I bought it, so that indicates progress. I put drawer liners in, and some stuff. At least I can try it out without having to look at those skid marks (at least the ones on the tool box). Hahahaha.

 

[930dreamer]

Nothing wrong with that.

 

[dodge610]

Looks good enough to use and be darn proud of. buff it out and go with it.