Painters-- what would you recommend for a toolbox repaint?

[larryq]

Repainting a hand toolbox and wondered what the painters here would recommend for a durable finish? Tractor enamel w/hardener, single stage urethane or urethane BC/CC?

I’ve painted with Rustoleum rattlecans and quarts through hvlp and was looking to go a little more upmarket this time. If I go the urethane route it’d be through Summit or Eastwood most likely, or Southern Polyurethane for the CC. Might use Auto Air for the BC.

 

[JC23]

Pinstriping, flames, Rat Fink and other assorted monsters. What else?

 

[larryq]

Pinstriping, flames, Rat Fink and other assorted monsters. What else?

A little out of my skill set unfortunately. I was going the single color route, with emphasis on durability. But I like your thinking.

 

[Davefr]

What's your budget??

I really like PPG Concept 2 part Acrylic Urethane on top of PPG's epoxy primer/sealer.

Your probably talking a couple "benjamins" when all is said and done.

Van Sickle Tractor Enamel is pretty good and will be much cheaper assuming you like the std. colors.

 

[larryq]

Yes, PPG is great but the price is a bit out of range unfortunately. Van Sickle I don't believe has low VOC paints yet so I can't get them in CA. For tractor enamel I'd have to get TSC's 'Majic' brand or similar. I'd always wanted to try Valspar Tractor Restoration brand but again, no-go in CA.

 

[Outlawmws]

If its a small box, had you considered powder coat? With a cast off electric oven from a remod, it's doable at home.

 

[larryq]

If its a small box, had you considered powder coat? With a cast off electric oven from a remod, it's doable at home.

I thought about it but I've never powdercoated before and I don't have a secondhand oven handy. Maybe next time.

 

[May Pop]

There is a huge difference between tractor supply enamel and Automotive paint.
Automotive will give a much more durable and better looking job in the long run. But will cost alot more at the begining and last longer.
Ron

 

[RCRGarage]

You can purchase regular VOC in CA, just need to have an account and specialize in restoration, or have the paint purchased for restoration only, same thing for reducer... don't settle for the low VOC reducer! If your paint store does not allow these purchases, they are not forced to sell, but I'd find another shop... one that is more versed in the current law.

 

[MikeNZ]

Use a commercial grade paint, not standard automotive paint, it's more hard wearing.
Talk to your local paint supplier for recommended brands and systems etc

 

[BWS]

We've sort of settled in here on S/W's industrial enamel and an ISO hardener.Equipment(here) lives a hard life,but its not all about chips or impact resistance.Its mainly oils,greases and a very don't give a chit attitude.IOWs,pce of equip gets painted....that is more than likely the last time it'll ever be truly clean.So,cheap enamel is whats on the menu.

Wouldn't turn down auto urethane.....but,the price,if bought over the counter would stop me in a heartbeat.Not because it isn't better,though you can argue that when considering the different criteria....cars vs equip.If we need more "shine" on a lathe or DP,wipe a little Mobile 1 on it.......the *bikes?Their paint gets special treatment.


*Bikes!Don't care too much about cars......

 

[Hanen42]

If you have an O'Reilly's near by, stop in or call and find out your nearest paint mixing store. Or if you give me a zip I can find out. At my store we mix paint in DuPont's Nason line. It's a cheaper version. I've never sprayed any of our fast dry acrylic enamel ss tractor paint but a lot of our ag accounts buy tons of it. We can also do regular enamel ss or urethane ss as well as basecoat/cc and many others in between. Some stores only do certain types depending what we're assigned; ex. My store in Bluffton, IN does Nason. The store in Paoli, IN does only DuPont, and some stores do PPG. Just stop in and ask. Btw, all of our PBE stores stock all the activators, reducers, primers, clears, and every PBE thing you would need. Hopefully that helps ya out.

 

[larryq]

If you have an O'Reilly's near by, stop in or call and find out your nearest paint mixing store. Or if you give me a zip I can find out. At my store we mix paint in DuPont's Nason line. It's a cheaper version. I've never sprayed any of our fast dry acrylic enamel ss tractor paint but a lot of our ag accounts buy tons of it. We can also do regular enamel ss or urethane ss as well as basecoat/cc and many others in between. Some stores only do certain types depending what we're assigned; ex. My store in Bluffton, IN does Nason. The store in Paoli, IN does only DuPont, and some stores do PPG. Just stop in and ask. Btw, all of our PBE stores stock all the activators, reducers, primers, clears, and every PBE thing you would need. Hopefully that helps ya out.

Thanks for the reply, I do have an O'Reillys near me (zip 94116) but all I see in there are prepackaged quarts of Duplicolor. Does O'Reilly sell Nason or PPG as well?

 

[Southern]

OP: Hey can you recommend a way to paint my toolbox?

GJ: Pinstripes
OP: Nope, cant.

GJ: Then go with PPG
OP: Nope, can't.

GJ: Alright, tractor enamel then.
OP: Nope, can't.

GJ: ...uh, then powdercoat?
OP: Too expensive.

GJ: Sigh. You can do it at home.
OP: Nope, can't.

GJ: Run by O'reilly then, they've got what you need.
OP: Nope, the most immediately close Oreilly near me only has Duplicolor.


OP, what exactly is it you want? If you want to paint this toolbox with something better than rustoleum, have you considered you're going to have to expend a few more miles/hours/dollars than rustoleum to get that accomplished? If you're not willing to drive farther than the closest autoparts store, use any appliances or tools other than what you have at your immediate disposal, do the red tape your state requires to use certain chemicals, or spend more money than what rattlecans at HD cost, you're not going to get anything more than just a spraypaint job.

Aside from that, there's been like 8 awesome suggestions in this thread that you've summarily shot down. If you're not going to make a little effort for anything more than spraypaint, why waste the board's time trying to help you?

Just my $0.02.

To contribute, your local powdercoater can do the whole box for something like six bucks a square foot. That's what I would do. It's cheap, it lasts forever, you can choose your color, and what extra you spend in dollars you will save in time not having to do any of it yourself.

Alternatively, the way you're approaching this topic, I think you should spray it with valspar and put 3 or 4 coats of Krylon Clear on it to protect it. That's your cheapest/simplest/most immediate/least effort in the world involved solution, and just about the only solution that hasn't been suggested yet.

 

[larryq]

Just my $0.02.

Not sure what prompted this? I mentioned I've never done powdercoating before and don't have access to an oven for it. I never said it was too expensive. Outlaw, you didn't read my reply to powdercoating that way I hope?

I listed tractor enamel as a distinct possibility in my OP, along with BC/CC and single stage. As for Duplicolor/O'Reilly, I relayed what I've seen in the aisles and asked about special orders with them-- there wasn't a 'nope' in there anywhere.

If my replies came across as grumpily swatting down suggestions I apologize, but I don't believe that's what I've been doing, nor was it the intent?

 

[Outlawmws]

Not sure what prompted this? I mentioned I've never done powdercoating before and don't have access to an oven for it. I never said it was too expensive. Outlaw, you didn't read my reply to powdercoating that way I hope?

I listed tractor enamel as a distinct possibility in my OP, along with BC/CC and single stage. As for Duplicolor/O'Reilly, I relayed what I've seen in the aisles and asked about special orders with them-- there wasn't a 'nope' in there anywhere.

If my replies came across as grumpily swatting down suggestions I apologize, but I don't believe that's what I've been doing, nor was it the intent?

Nope, but it has been a bit of a struggle to find usable solution's , but that is partly because CA has draconian laws killing all the "good stuff" too. People that don't live here don't realize how bad it's gotten.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I bought a urethane paint from NAPA, it was part of the Martin Senour brand. I use some Herculiner on the inside of the drawers. Some where I have thread about repainting it.

 

[SantaAna12]

Larryq's confusion about Oreilly's is understandable. The mixing that Hanen42 refers to, to my understanding, is only in a few select Oreilly's stores. Your average store will only have rattle cans.

 

[Hanen42]

Yes that's true. Very few stores actually have a mixing booth. Our store mixes paint and is one of a couple within a few hundred miles. But if you talk to your local store they can communicate with the paint mixing store and most likely you can see your paint in 3 days at very most. If you live close then most likely same or next day.

 

[kc-steve]

I think where most people go wrong on the cheaper rattlecan paints is that they don't allow enough time for the paint to cure before putting into service. So then it gets chipped easier. For Rustoleum and most others, give it at least 30 days before throwing tools in. Just my experience.

Normally I would go with a professional automotive paint, but you said you have a tight budget. Those only take 24-hours to cure.

Steve

 

[ZRX61]

Nope, but it has been a bit of a struggle to find usable solution's , but that is partly because CA has draconian laws killing all the "good stuff" too. People that don't live here don't realize how bad it's gotten.

Depends what you work on, I can still get the original version of Imron in LA county..

 

[larryq]

Depends what you work on, I can still get the original version of Imron in LA county..

Imron? Wow. Isn't that what they use to paint locomotives and space shuttles?

 

[CudaChick1968]

... To contribute, your local powdercoater can do the whole box for something like six bucks a square foot. That's what I would do. It's cheap, it lasts forever, you can choose your color, and what extra you spend in dollars you will save in time not having to do any of it yourself.

Yes, that's true. If you decide to go that route though, check their references and customer feedback and make sure you're hiring someone who's a good fit for the work. Some specialize in industrial equipment (i.e., they want to coat everything gloss black) and others do custom work for laypersons.