Restoration service

[joe1977]

I've been unsuccessful finding anybody who can do a paid restoration job and I am asking for some ideas.

I have 3 toolboxes of sentimental value that are in rough shape. I'd like to have them professionally restored by someone who has experience, including striping, rust protection, priming, painting and restoring the hardware. There is a Kennedy, Billings and Craftstman. They may need new hardware, maybe not. The Kennedy needs new felt and a new key (or entire lock).

I don't have experience in toolbox restoration and I might be open to just a professional cleaning if what I'm proposing would lose all of the character, but I think these may be a little beyond that. I don't really have the tools or space to undertake this project myself.

I can ship them. Can anyone point me in the right direction to someone or a company who has the experience and can do a good job? I'd like to give these back to the family as gift.

Ran into an error attaching images. Here is a link to some photos: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1P9z4t7IesaawYhsejfU4WFGTB1zGzpP3&usp=drive_fs

Thank you!

 

[rancherbill]

.....I'd like to have them professionally restored by someone who has experience, including striping, rust protection, priming, painting and restoring the hardware....

I don't have experience in toolbox restoration and I might be open to just a professional cleaning if what I'm proposing would lose all of the character, but I think these may be a little beyond that......

The first paragraph will make them look NEW.

The second paragraph muddies the project when you say 'character'.

My supposition is that they are from a family member. I take the second option.

 

[Jay__Dub]

Why not just learn and do it yourself? It's a labor of love with these things, especially if they've been used by a family member. Lots of youtube vids around on this sort of thing. Take a crack at it, you'll be glad you did.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I would not do anything to the first one, the Kennedy as it's in pretty good shape.

The second and third need sanded, acetone or something to clean/depowder, and painting. Either learning via Youtube, giving it to the family members so they can do that and learn, or maybe something like a Votech type class at a school (start small to learn metal prep for autobody, etc). It would be cost prohibitive to send them to someone in my view.

 

[bonneyman]

Redoing the boxes yourself is the cost effective option. All you'll have is the cost of materials and your labor. The work will take some effort but it's not PhD level.

 

[mike93lx]

This site always impresses me with its ability to both tell people to spend lots of money on stuff and to not spend money on stuff.

"you need this new tool"

"you should do this work yourself to save money"

Especially when someone says they can't do the work themselves, or they can't afford the new tool

 

[Jay__Dub]

I made the assumption that if he has the toolboxes at home, or at another familial location, he has the room to clean them up. A, "professional cleaning", is a task worth learning. Not being able to find someone else to do something is always a good way to learn to do it yourself. Edited to add.

 

[tooljunkie4]

I've been unsuccessful finding anybody who can do a paid restoration job and I am asking for some ideas.

I have 3 toolboxes of sentimental value that are in rough shape. I'd like to have them professionally restored by someone who has experience, including striping, rust protection, priming, painting and restoring the hardware. There is a Kennedy, Billings and Craftstman. They may need new hardware, maybe not. The Kennedy needs new felt and a new key (or entire lock).

I don't have experience in toolbox restoration and I might be open to just a professional cleaning if what I'm proposing would lose all of the character, but I think these may be a little beyond that. I don't really have the tools or space to undertake this project myself.

I can ship them. Can anyone point me in the right direction to someone or a company who has the experience and can do a good job? I'd like to give these back to the family as gift.

Ran into an error attaching images. Here is a link to some photos: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1P9z4t7IesaawYhsejfU4WFGTB1zGzpP3&usp=drive_fs

Thank you!

Seems pretty straight-forward.

I had a handful of similar projects a few years ago, and created a thread asking for the same. While I didn't find anyone to complete the restorations, I did learn a few things.

Plenty of people who have the tools or at least some of the experience you are trying to hire actually HAVE both - but cannot wrap their heads around the logic behind the idea of paying someone else to do this thing that they enjoy and maybe take a bit of pride in being able to do. It does not compute.

And then there are other folks who will ignore the parameters of the stated project, cast aspersions, present false choices, and poke at you for a self-serving laugh.

Stay focused on what you are looking for. Absorb other ideas, but don't get distracted. Maybe post your geographical location if you think it will help the skilled craftsman you're after find this work.

 

[RMERR]

You need something like Rick's Restorations in Las Vegas who did that TV show American Restorations. Unfortunately he doesn't do restorations anymore. A quick search of "vintage restorations" did show a company that looks like they could do your toolboxes. You could reach out to them with photos of your boxes and see what they say. I'm sure it'll be pricey, but if you're game could be the answer.

Vintage Restorations - Contact Us

Vintage Restorations performs museum quality restorations to Antique and Classic Coin-Operated Machines. We buy and sell Antique/Classic Vending Machines.

vintage-restorations.net

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This site always impresses me with its ability to both tell people to spend lots of money on stuff and to not spend money on stuff.

"you need this new tool"

"you should do this work yourself to save money"

Snerk. True, and funny. But I'm equally surprised there hasn't been a slew of Opportunists taking on the job, prompting a third common refrain but not in jest in this instance...

"you should send those to me!"

I think these may be a little beyond that.

My software won't let me download the pics, but I can probably guess the condition based on that assessment.

I have often talked about the 'Tweeners being the hardest to decide. If the box is full of cancerous rust, it's a no brainer - restore (i.e., strip, blast, grind/sand, and re-finish). And if they're in great shape, it's also a no brainer - preserve (i.e., de-rust, clean, touch-up as required). The boxes in the middle are tough. There are some compromise approaches, though.

Aesthetically, I'm not a restoration guy. Something about a box that looks brand spankin' new bothers me, especially when it's going to hold tools that don't match the mint-y condition. I prefer to retain the character. Sometimes a box is just too far gone, though. But I dislike perfect restorations so much, if I have to do a full re-finish, I will actually "age" and "distress" it - including the reproduction decals, to return it to a well-used but well-maintained look. Akin to rat rods in that respect. I have even coined a word for the process: prestorvation. Which I talk about on this thread exploring just that very topic.

Toolbox Refinishing - The "Barn Find" Look

The subject of refinishing WWII era toolboxes has come up a few times recently. By request, and instead of barraging either of those threads with photos, I am putting this on a separate thread. Maybe others can add their own procedures and materials. I'm always open for new ideas. For starters...

www.garagejournal.com

I'm not a big Kennedy fan. I'm kind of curious to see the Billings, though. And I am wondering what era the Craftsman is.

 

[RTM]

I'm kind of curious to see the Billings, though. And I am wondering what era the Craftsman is.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thanks, Kirk. 'Ppreciate that.

 

[Plombob]

Contact Zeetrio on the board. He restores old machinery. He did my drill press and it's beautiful. PM me if he isn't on the board any longer. I haven't seen him here for a while.