Paint Overspray Removal KRL Snap-On Box

[DonkDonk]

After an exhaustive futile search for a matching top chest for my dark blue KRL761 I came across a really good deal on a black KRL761/KRL791 setup that I could not pass on. The top & bottom have different trim, but I think the hideous teal on the bottom is just anodized so it should not be hard to get that off. The boxes have grey overspray on them and at the time of purchase I was blinded by the light so I was not thinking clearly. I have taken overspray off of tons of stuff since I paint in the garage/shop all the time without a paint booth, so I thought no big deal... what I should have been thinking was "gee, I am pulling this out of a aircraft hanger... hmmm... probably not going to be enamel or lacquer paint and just wipe right off with thinner.

Last night I tried to wipe some off, nope. If I spend 3 minutes back and forth on a 1" x 2" spot I can get it pretty good, but that would take 6 months. I know the older Snap On boxes the paint will wipe off even with just degreaser, but these new ones are powder coated so I was wondering if anyone had experience with this? I tried a little oven cleaner in a hidden area and it seemed to work, but I know this stuff can be super aggressive too. What about paint stripper? I wouldn't think you could lift powdercoat, but I just want to make sure. I think rubbing compound will work, or maybe even wet sanding then compound. Anyone done this?

Only have one pic of it now, but will get more today.

 

[ZRX61]

Clay bar

 

[DonkDonk]

Clay bar

Yeah I thought about that, but I wasn't sure if it would take off the epoxy/urethane paint that is on it.

 

[Zeke]

You, of course, need to determine what kind of paint the ovesrpray is. If epoxy, you might get it soft with a hair dryer.

 

[Daves69]

X3 on the claybar

 

[bugdust]

Try a Magic Eraser first. Your wife has one under the kitchen sink. Then try the clay bar (works great if the box has been waxed). Oven cleaner works, too.

 

[bb1970]

Just wheel it out. I think that would so much faster than a clay bar.

 

[gte718p]

X4 on clay bar or remember that it's a tool box not a classic corvette. And use the heck out of it with a little overspray

 

[padronanniversary]

oven cleaner. I use it all the time on mine to get overspray off

 

[Joe B.]

x5 on clay bar. If you don't want to do the work, just hire an auto detail guy to do it for you. The cost will be small compared to the cost of the box.

 

[slghmmr88]

X to whatever on clay bar and quik detailer for lube. There are different grades if you use clay magic bars. I got some two part urethane off a motorcycle windshield and did not scratch it. (I had called the meguires hotline and got the idea from them)

 

[reznunt]

First thing that came to mind was clay bar but I guess a bunch of people beat me to it.

 

[phoenix5x]

What about #00 or #000 steel wool, I have used that on many different types of paint over spray on a lot if different finishes and it comes right off without damaging the finishe below.

 

[cranejon]

Try a local hardware store for graffiti removing spray. Usually pretty effective if it is only overspray. Cost is minimal.

 

[ZRX61]

X to whatever on clay bar and quik detailer for lube. There are different grades if you use clay magic bars. I got some two part urethane off a motorcycle windshield and did not scratch it. (I had called the meguires hotline and got the idea from them)

I use the Mothers kit, you get twice as much clay

 

[mad57]

Theres a tool called a crud thug its a big rubber wheel made to remove pin stripe or decals, i have removed all types of primer spray and spray paint from cars that i bought from auction and they just sprayed over the decals it removed all of it spray paint and decals but did not harm the org paint at all, actually looks like i buffed it with wax. pricey tool but trust me you will use it over and over in your garage time. it also comes with wire wheel attachment for removing rust.

http://www.snapon.com/international/21pdffiles/pt280thug.pdf

 

[DonkDonk]

Well here is what the boxes look like now, huge improvement.

Just cleaning it up, removing the terrible decals, and taking off that foul turquoise trim made all the difference in the world. Thankfully the anodizing is easy to remove off of the trim, but now what to do with all the trim?

After removing the anodizing the trim is dull. I actually kind of like it all black without the trim so I was considering getting all of the trim anodized black? But I think they look good with all polished trim too... or even chrome . I also thought about just using scotch-brite on them to give them a brushed look.

What do you guys think?

 

[DonkDonk]

Just wheel it out. I think that would so much faster than a clay bar.

I tried this first since I had a new wheel, but it did nothing, literally did not take any off at all, just burned off the wheel.

X4 on clay bar or remember that it's a tool box not a classic corvette. And use the heck out of it with a little overspray

I agree this is a tool box, but I think a little pride in ownership in one of the top of the line tool boxes is okay. If you bought a few year old sports car that had some dents in it would you remove them? They don't affect the purpose of the car which is to get you from point A to point B. Of course you would fix them... or at least I would.

oven cleaner. I use it all the time on mine to get overspray off

Oven cleaner works to remove the lighter overspray, but even with scrubbing it takes a couple applications and even then it does not remove all of it.

Try a local hardware store for graffiti removing spray. Usually pretty effective if it is only overspray. Cost is minimal.

This did nothing.

Thanks for all the help guys, in the end what worked best for me was to let oven cleaner sit on it for 5-10 min, then scrub with a bug removing sponge, then follow that up with a lot of work with a clay bar. If I just tried to use clay bar without removing most of it with oven cleaner it was just too much work.

 

[REAL HOT SCHITT]

Hi, use a damp towel and make use of a car paint cutting compound and then wax to finnish off, this way u will only take off what u want.
Don t know if cutting comound is used in the u.s or not?....

 

[nate379]

I think you spent more time cleaning up that toolbox than I have spent cleaning up every car I have owned combined (and that is ALOT of cars!)

My box has decals on it the same as your, I removed the big one that was under the top lid. After doing that one, I'm just going going to buy new plain drawers if I ever get a wild hair and decide I don't want those decals!
A friend was working in the garage the other night and noticed the that the decals still have the clear plastic protection over them with a sticker that says something about removing it. Shows how much I pay attention to it, the box is over 10 years old.

 

[DonkDonk]

I think you spent more time cleaning up that toolbox than I have spent cleaning up every car I have owned combined (and that is ALOT of cars!)

My box has decals on it the same as your, I removed the big one that was under the top lid. After doing that one, I'm just going going to buy new plain drawers if I ever get a wild hair and decide I don't want those decals!
A friend was working in the garage the other night and noticed the that the decals still have the clear plastic protection over them with a sticker that says something about removing it. Shows how much I pay attention to it, the box is over 10 years old.

The decals on the drawers were super easy to remove... a few minutes with a heat gun and they come right off, 20 minutes tops on the decals. The big one under the top lid is a different story though. On mine it is clear coated in, you can't remove it without sanding off the clear first. I actually kinda like the one under the lid, so it is staying.

I only have about 8 hours in "restoring" the box so far and I will take 20 hours & less than 1/5 the cost of a new one any day.

 

[Catamount]

I'd love to know what you ended up doing with that aluminum trim... I'm in a similar boat, the previous owner of my KRL spray canned the trim black

 

[DonkDonk]

I'd love to know what you ended up doing with that aluminum trim... I'm in a similar boat, the previous owner of my KRL spray canned the trim black

You are in good shape, that will be no problem at all to fix. It is really easy to remove the trim and really easy to remove spray paint, easy off oven cleaner (regular kind, not fume free) works great on rattle can paint.

Mine was much more of a PIA because the bottom box had the anodizing on the trim and once removed the aluminum was dull and didn't match the top box trim...