Questions about cleaning a really old tool box

[NY Old Guy]

I have a Snap On tool box I recently bought that dates from 1955 and it's in good shape I just want to clean it. Is WD 40 good or will it remove the paint? Also as far as removing the drawers and greasing them I understand I slide a thin piece of metal into the sliders and the drawers should come out. Is there a trick to get the drawers to go back together? Thanks for any suggestions, I'm putting it back into light duty service for my hobby usage.

 

[toolmaker1]

Wd40 works well for cleaning. It is actually what Kennedy recomends for cleaning their brown wrinkle powdercoat. It won't remove paint but it is always best to test in a small corner of the back just to be sure

 

[lowbucktruck]

I have have good luck using an orange-based degreaser cleaning solution (gentle) to get grease, grime and surface rust off of really old tools and boxes, without damaging paint or finishes. Look for "LA Totally Awesome" orange cleaner/degreaser... I found it at the local dollar store in both pump spray bottles and in 1/2 gallon refill jugs. I just bought some more today (hey, its only a buck!).

After a sponge bath with that, then I use some PBR Blaster or WD-40 for the next stage of cleaning. But you would be surprised how much gunk comes off with just the generic orange cleaner.

 

[chadster1]

 

[NY Old Guy]

OK, here it is, should clean up nicely I'm hoping.

 

[whelenfan]

well the dog seems to like that box just the way it is!

 

[larry_g]

Is there a trick to get the drawers to go back together? .

There is no trick to getting it back together. Once apart they slide back together without tools.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[slip knot]

Good idea to post a guard dog on a cool old box like that.

 

[The Rider]

There is no trick to getting it back together. Once apart they slide back together without tools.

lg
no neat sig line

Yup - easy peasy:

 

[NY Old Guy]

Hey thanks for the tips in getting the draws out and back in. Yeah, one of my dogs was chilling out leaning against it so I figured OK he can go in the photos, he looks good leaning against it.

 

[Hank McMauser]

I have that exact box, but mine is missing the tray for the top compartment.Now I have a weekend sheetmetal project on my list.
Cool looking dog,He reminds me of a mack truck.

 

[hguerrero]

thats a great looking box...wish i had one too...

 

[premierplayer]

KR 56
Nice box
I also have one without the top tray.
Some automotive cleaner wax is a good final step before putting it into service.

 

[NY Old Guy]

Hey Henry, thanks for selling it to me!

 

[Daniel Kinder]

Hey Old Guy

I wouldn't use any WD40 or anything like it to clean paint. for the greasy/oily area's use some purple power diluted 50/50 with water and let saturate for a minute or two, then use a car wash solution mixed 1 ounce per gallon of water with a soft bristle brush and scrub lightly and then rinse and dry.

As for a little added cleaning and bringing the outside of the box's paint back to life, you could use some meguiars smooth surface clay kit and give it a quick claying and then apply a couple thin coats of the cleaner/wax that comes with the kit.

If interested in the proper claying technique or any other paint care for your box just let me know, more then happy to help you or any other members.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

I like the pugs. They have a nice disposition!

Adam

 

[Scooterfish]

Nice box. Unusual to find one that still has the tray.

 

[Hank McMauser]

May I ask where you found the date stamped? I never was able to see/find a date on mine.

 

[NY Old Guy]

Well it doesn't have any rust so I was afraid of using any type of cleaner that had water associated with it 'cause I thought it might bring about rust. That's why I thought WD 40 would be good, since it's a rust inhibitor. But if it's going to mess up the paint finish then I definitely don't want to do that. It's not like it's powder coat paint, and it's original old paint so might be kind of delicate, so maybe WD 40 would hurt it or dull it or even remove parts of the paint finish. Glad I posted here, getting good tips. Glad you guys like my pug in the picture, Fred. I have 3 pugs in total, they're lying around all over the place! So if I dry it with a hair dryer then there's no worries about rust if I use a water diluted cleaner?

On the side of it, if you look at it from the front, on the left side panel - on that panel on the lower left corner it says:

KR-56
4567
MADE IN U.S.A. 55

I believe the 55 signifies made in 1955

 

[Hank McMauser]

thank's I'll look closer at that location, mine has a little paint loss/rust in that area,that may be why I can't find date

 

[CD1]

Those orange cleaners will remove paint!

A few years ago when those orange cleaners first showed up for sale, we bought and used that in our kitchen. We used that to clean our range hood (Broan - painted white). After a year and a half or so using that, the paint on the range hood started to blister and peel away.

Good luck on your cleaning job on your toolbox.

 

[Daniel Kinder]

That's how I clean all the used tool boxes we get in. I do use compressed air to blow out all the water from the seams/corners and such and let air out for alittle while, then I used meguiars detailers brand last touch spray detailer to spray the out side. Just spray a mist over area to be cleaned then use micro-fiber towels to wipe off. Leaves a slick shiny paint and has a smell of coconuts, but any detail spray works well.

On something that needs alittle extra the clay and a cleaner/wax works wonders!

Here's a box I did for a buddy 4 years or so ago, sorry no before pics but process was clay-#80 speed glaze a cleaner/polish-and 2 thin coats of nxt tech wax also by meguiars

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj74/shelleykinder/nxt20bobstoolbox006.jpg

 

[NY Old Guy]

OK, well I don't have a high pressure air blower but I'll just use some damp rags with a light cleaner like simple green or something like that followed by a detailer wax like S500. Then I guess I'll use a blow dryer to dry all the water out.

Any recommendations for cork drawer liners or rubber drawer liners, where do you get that stuff? The insides of the drawers are pristine, really nice painted surface nice and shiny with zero rust or scratches. The inside of the top compartment has a few areas where the paint is gone but no rust, so it's be good for me to put cork drawer liner in there too I think for preserving it.

 

[MalibuLX3]

Check out your local home depot or similar for some vinyl floor runner. I got some in black and cut it for my drawers and I couldn't be happier. Much cheaper that most drawer liners and better quality than the typical kitchen drawer liner type material.

 

[Boiler]

WD-40 plus a microfiber towel is how I clean my "new" boxes. I'd start on the back or the bottom and see how it does. I had an old snap on box that when I cleaned it, my rags turned red, but I think there was lots of overspray on it. Either way it was so scratched I really didn't care. I've done nicer boxes since and they seem to do fine.

TEST!

 

[mkdive]

Nice box & very cool pug!

 

[Thumper]

If you want cork as drawer liner you can pick small sheets of cork gasket material at an auto parts store....Fel-Pro makes it but be forwarned it can get kinda pricey.

 

[Daniel Kinder]

Hey Boiler the red you was getting on your rags was the oxidation of the paint (single stage) this is normal for neglected single stage paint. Thats why a good thin coat of a cleaner/wax is important!

Also stop using that WD40 on your new boxes. get you a spray detailer like ultimate detailer-quik detailer or the like. You wouldn't go out and spay WD40 on your car would you?

Just trying to help.

 

[Daniel Kinder]

OK, well I don't have a high pressure air blower but I'll just use some damp rags with a light cleaner like simple green or something like that followed by a detailer wax like S500. Then I guess I'll use a blow dryer to dry all the water out.

Any recommendations for cork drawer liners or rubber drawer liners, where do you get that stuff? The insides of the drawers are pristine, really nice painted surface nice and shiny with zero rust or scratches. The inside of the top compartment has a few areas where the paint is gone but no rust, so it's be good for me to put cork drawer liner in there too I think for preserving it.

Ya snap-on has some fantastic draw liners, the best material I've seen!

PM me your address and I will send you a sample if you like.

 

[crewchief888]

i'd use a hot water pressure wash to clean it up.

self serve car wash

the hot water will clean much better and cold, and will pretty much air dry.


just my $0.02

 

[eyeboltman]

I used cleaner for painting and it take the paint off the
cman box all so spirts took of paint but a lot less this all so took paint of tool box stikers have used winder cleaner and auto wax .Just be carefull. nice guard dog !!!! that box is OLD.

 

[Packard V8]

Your box is better than average condition. I got one forty years old which had never been cleaned. He was a heavy equipment tech and under the 1/2" sockets was a half-inch of hard grease/dirt. That one took some scrubbing.

The good news is those older Snap-on boxes are pretty much indestructible. This one had been heavily loaded and in daily use for all those years and the drawers and slides still work as they should.

jack vines

 

[airdale]

Pretty cool that you got your buddy to start wiping down the front as you took pictures!
I thought cork sounded like it would look great too, but then not too long ago I saw a thread about tool box liners and someone said cork caused rust? Can't confirm nor deny that myself.

 

[Hank McMauser]

I'd say the cork causing rust probably determined by your average humidity levels, Where I live in the high desert even in the wintertime water dries up pretty quickly, as it's so dry so here it wouldn't be an issue. However in other parts of the country like the deep south where the summertime air could have water rung out of it like a wet towel,this may be an issue.

 

[Tim Cowan]

You must already have it mighty clean to be sitting it in on Mama's rug. Looks great and should be a keeper for your lifetime.