Painting your tool box?

[225]

I really wanna buy the Harbor Freight 44" tool box. But I would like to paint it another color.

I'm sure the box is powder coated. And with a light sanding, primer and paint would stick to it pretty good.

However my question is, what kind of paint do I use? Automotive paint? I'm sure using rattle can would mess it up.

Looking to go with a orange color.

Ideas?

Thanks!

 

[MovingAlong]

I really wanna buy the Harbor Freight 44" tool box. But I would like to paint it another color.

I'm sure the box is powder coated. And with a light sanding, primer and paint would stick to it pretty good. !

That was the first thing I did to mine too!

Was inspired by this board to "paint to match". Have a few smaller/hand toolboxes painted too, and another couple of cabinets.. (not shown)

I used "Valspar 4431-08 Equipment Yellow Tractor and Implement Paint - 1 Gallon" ordered off Amazon, don't remember what I used to thin it slightly. Probably shot it a little dry though and it doesn't have quite the gloss I'd hoped for, but I really love the way it came out anyways. No primer used, just sanded it with 220 on a palm sander, wiped it with acetone and shot it using the $10 HF HVLP gun.

Quart would have been plenty for just the HF box, I've still got leftover paint after doing everything I wanted.

BTW, that little Craftsman box next to it was no beauty when I got it, paint didn't hurt it...

 

[Tim37]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XlXN8e3txe . Has to be true it was on tv and the internet

 

[chipper]

I painted my old 4 drawer cart orange using rattle can but then topped it with chroma clear...everything worked great then i sold it a year later

 

[arz71]

Prep the surface good, then put on a good coat and clear coat it.

 

[Hoologan]

I rattle canned my vintage Craftsman Box about 12 years ago and it still looks fantastic. Even where I clip my tape measures to the top edge barely shows any indication of wear. I use quality Rustoleum paint.

 

[astroracer]

Use ScotchBrite to ruff up the paint. I do a lot of automotive painting so I have all of the stuff. I would wipe it down, after scuffing, with a good wax and grease remover like Pre-Cleano or Prep-Sol. Spraying with an automotive type gun will generally give you a much more consistant finish then rattle cans but they will work also if that is what you want to do.
The key is getting a good, clean surface to spray over.
Mark

 

[225]

What is the best (cheapest, but good) paint that I can use?

I have a HF HVLP gun.

 

[ChrisPace]

Centari or any other two-part catalyzed acrylic enamel from Dupont or Mason. Super durable, no clearcoat needed and extremely shiny. You must wear a mask when you spray these paints. Not terrible expensive.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[nine4gmc]

Rustoleum by the gallon is probably the cheapest route but colors are limited. You do NOT want to rattle can a box this size.

 

[astroracer]

I use Ace Industrial paint for a lot of my stuff. Thin it with some mineral spirits and it sprays fairly well. I have heard of guys using enamel hardener in these paints with good results. Haven't tried it yet so can't really say.
Unhardened, the paint takes a few days to dry but ti does dry hard and shiney.
Mark

 

[BTMSUP]

Try an automotive supply store near you or a Sherwin Williams auto/industrial store. I spray Sherwin at work on high dollar medium and heavy duty trucks and it works great and is cheap. For my own stuff I use HOK or sikkens. But that will be almost 3 x the price. OP- where are you located?

 

[225]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm located in New Orleans.

 

[225]

There's one about 15 minutes away from me. I'll call them tomorrow. I'm looking for a certain color. And I have the hex code for it.

 

[lilcraigford]

How do the piano (or other) hinged areas hold up to a scuff n' shoot? I've been kicking around the idea of color matching my smaller boxes, but am always inclined to fully disassembly things beforehand (in which case I'd probably go powder coat).

 

[arz71]

Can one use break cleaner to remove any grease, will it affect paint sticking?

 

[FJ 432]

How do the piano (or other) hinged areas hold up to a scuff n' shoot? I've been kicking around the idea of color matching my smaller boxes, but am always inclined to fully disassembly things beforehand (in which case I'd probably go powder coat).

Don't f@@k with piano hinges. They come out a bit stiff but they work themselves out.

 

[Mastermind]

Clean it before with wax and grease remover, and several times after sanding/scuffing. A quart of single stage enamel such as valspar should be more than enough.

 

[lilcraigford]

Don't f@@k with piano hinges. They come out a bit stiff but they work themselves out.

I did a GJ search and saw the post with your yellow Craftsman 'box (beautiful by the way!) Is your warning aimed at piano hinges on "well used" (the type that need a restoration) toolboxes or piano hinges in general?

 

[zarbat007]

First option:
I would paint it with automotive grade single stage urethane paint.

Single stage is basically clearcoat with color pigments in it, really easy to use and has a deep gloss even compared to basecoat/clearcoat of same color. You will need to use a paint gun however.

Option 2: spray cans
Buy the basecoat color of your choice, and buy the 2K clear in a can:
http://www.sgcardetail.com/prodImages/large_3680062 2K RAPID CUT-IN SPOT CLEAR.jpg

This is not the typical air-dry 1K clearcoat. This is basically auto-grade clearcoat in a can and you have a certain time to use it all before tossing it away. This will have much better chemical resistance and shine.

Make sure to spray in a well ventilated area with a decent respirator (not paper mask). Clearscoats have isocyanide in them, nasty stuff.

 

[225]

The paint code I need is RAL2008

 

[stikman56]

What is the best (cheapest, but good) paint that I can use?

I have a HF HVLP gun.

Acme acrylic enamel is cheap and good, it's durable, if you can find it. It's made by Sherwin Williams. I sprayed this car with it.

 

[ChrisPace]

I guess we should point out for the original poster that all of these different brand recommendations are all automotive enamels with a hardener added regardless of the brand mentioned, Sherwin Williams, Dupont Centari, Mason ETC. Both the base coat and the clear must have the hardener added. Clear is not necessary in this system but could be used. The hardener is the health issue. isocyanides in the hardener will require you to wear a quality mask and have good ventilation.

Going cheap? Add the hardener to a quart of alkyd tractor enamel from many various brands. It increases shine, chemical resistance and durability. TSC, Rustoleum, Krylon all make OK alkyd enamels. the hardener makes them better. Acrylic enamel is still a better choice.

Just some recommendations from a body and paint guy.

 

[225]

Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003OFSZIC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And this?:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LNY1MY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[crerus75]

To add to this, isocyanates are absorbed through just about any exposed tissue, particularly moist tissue (like your respiratory tract and eyeballs). Your skin will absorb it also. Guys that spray it all the time usually wear full space-suits with supplied-air hoods. You can pick up a Tyvek body suit for less than $10 on Amazon. At the very least, wear goggles and a respirator with cartridges approved for organics.

3M has a half-mask respirator for less than $20 (the 6000 series). I THINK the 60921 filters (about $20 a pair on Amazon) filter out isocyanates, but there is some disagreement on this. Some say to ONLY shoot isos in a full downdraft spray booth while wearing a supplied-air hood. Others say that a half-mask with activated-charcoal filters is enough.

3M's official position is that, while filters may capture isocyanate vapors, you cannot tell when they are saturated and thus ineffective.

You might be tempted to shoot the hardener without a mask "just this once." It's up to you, but some people suffer from acute (near-instant) reactions to isocyanates and other organics. If I were spraying paint with hardener, you can be damned sure I'd drop $50 on some safety equipment.

 

[225]

I work offshore and I have a full face respirator. That's why I haven't picked up paint or the box yet.

 

[225]

SO box?

When I get off work in a couple of weeks, I'll give a break down on the paint costs. I already have a hvlp gun.

I need to paint my trucks hood and tailgate anyway. Living in the wonderful city I live in, I woke up and someone stole my hood and tailgate. So I had to buy a used one, the the colors don't match.

 

[GonzoAcres]

SO box?

When I get off work in a couple of weeks, I'll give a break down on the paint costs. I already have a hvlp gun.

I need to paint my trucks hood and tailgate anyway. Living in the wonderful city I live in, I woke up and someone stole my hood and tailgate. So I had to buy a used one, the the colors don't match.

Someone stole your HOOD!? WTF is wrong with people, jesus....