Restoring a KRA-56A

[00pewter]

Picked one up this morning at the pawn while looking for a box to put in the tahoe. It's actually in really good shape for its age and all drawers are pretty smooth considering the condition. Plans are to restore some life into her.

I kept coming up short on trying to find something to keep in the back of my tahoe to use as a road box. Every box I looked at was either to shallow, or didn't have enough drawers. I didn't want to spend a whole lot of money. I got this for $40 and even though Ill have to put some work in her, I think it's still a great deal.

Now if I can only get the slides off.....

 

[Hyster Gareth]

Nice score

 

[widerberg]

Awesome box. I have an MBC that's identical.

 

[00pewter]

This thing weighs a ton. Anyone know of a trick to release the slides?

 

[FJ 432]

Search this site for hacksaw blade. A slim piece of flexible metal is your ticket.

 

[00pewter]

Got one of the drawers out and found a couple invoices dating back to '68.

Always cool to find things like this.

 

[jacked_72]

Take some thin metal like is used in hvac vents. Make them into thin strips a little narrower than a hacksaw blade, but about the same length. You slide them (one on each side) on to the side of the slide in between the drawer and the slide. The trick is to keep them from coming out with the slide when you pull. You're trying to defeat a lock, which is just a raised part of the drawer. You need the metal to be thin enough to get the drawer and slide to act like it doesn't know the metal is there. Once you get two out, you'll have it figured out. Its pretty tricky.

Also wear gloves. I chewed up my fingernails pretty good with stuff smashing into them.

 

[00pewter]

The hacksaw tricked worked. Got 4 out of 6 out as we speak. To no longer than 5 minutes to get those.

 

[SweetD]

Very cool find. I'm also restoring a vintage SO box, in my case a KRA429B, which is a middle three drawer chest. My problem is that five of the six slides have broken retaining tabs, so the drawers are not retained. But the slides are retained to the rails in the box.

I'm trying to figure out how to get the slides off of the box rails. The slides are retained with spring steel clips that are riveted onto the slides. It's not going to be easy, even with the method described above.

Keep us updated - nice score!

Dave

 

[hay seed]

are the 56s considered a road box or just made heavy?

 

[00pewter]

I don't believe so, I just think that they are built pretty heavy duty.

The pocket screwdriver took one for the team to get the rails off of the box.

 

[SweetD]

Thanks for the pic - the screwdriver died an honorable death.



Dave

 

[00pewter]

Soaked the slides, logo, handle, and cylinder in Evapo-rust overnight and fluid filmed them this morning.

Evapo-rust really easy to deal with, just soak and forget.

Will have some pic of the sandblasting later today...

Trying to decide on colors.... Leaning toward extreme green but like the classic red..... Any ideas?

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I always wanted to do one up from that era in a Grabber blue.

 

[Packard V8]

Nice find. I've already got way too many boxes and I'd probably have paid $40 for that one just because.

FWIW, restoring a tool box may be one of those things some of us have to try once, just to see. Having BTDTNA, now, it's patina and WD40 or I can't use it. If one's time has any value at all, sandblasting, cleaning, priming, painting a tool box will make it cost more than a new one. Your time, your money, your decision.

jack vines

 

[00pewter]

As it sets, I have $98 into the box. That includes the Box, evapo-rust, and the paint/primer I purchased. I still think i'm ahead since purchasing an equivalent box would be way more money than I would want to spend.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

FWIW, restoring a tool box may be one of those things some of us have to try once, just to see. Having BTDTNA, now, it's patina and WD40 or I can't use it. If one's time has any value at all, sandblasting, cleaning, priming, painting a tool box will make it cost more than a new one. Your time, your money, your decision.

jack vines

And we know what that decision was, don't we?

 

[Packard V8]

My problem is that five of the six slides have broken retaining tabs, so the drawers are not retained.

Ground down hacksaw blade and pop rivets will be an acceptable substitute.

jack vines

 

[00pewter]

I finished the sandblasting today and got called into work. I'll have some pics tomorrow. I can't believe how great this is turning out. No pitting whatsoever!!! There are 2 little dents that I'm gonna try and work out, but are hardly noticeable.

 

[00pewter]

 

[SweetD]

Ground down hacksaw blade and pop rivets will be an acceptable substitute.

jack vines

Thanks Jack - this worked well for me, although I ended up using nuts, bolts, and star washers to fasten the hacksaw tabs (pop riveter wasn't up to the task with aluminum rivets).

OP's box is coming out nice!

 

[yjWrangler]

Flat black with red and white pin striping would look fantastic

 

[Tarpley]

Here is one that I redid a while back http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124361

 

[00pewter]

Got off a little late but I managed to get the first coat of red on.

 

[00pewter]

Here is one that I redid a while back http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124361

Your box is great! I wanted to paint it green too but settled on the infamous red! Great job on your resto!

 

[00pewter]

Got a couple more coats of paint on. It's starting to look great!

 

[fordbroncodave]

looks great! I will do that to my lil box some day too. but for now its getting road rash and out of the elements

 

[00pewter]

Here's some finished pics. I think it turned out pretty good. Although, not
Perfect, it's good enough. Got it loaded down a little today with some tools. Enjoy.




I'm going to order the really "tacky" liner that bull used in his lists build. This will do for now since I already had it laying around

 

[SweetD]

Looks really nice! What shade of red paint did you end up going with?

 

[Hyster Gareth]

Looks really good a very nice job you did there

 

[jeffmoss26]

I like it!

 

[00pewter]

I went with the rustoleum sunrise red.

 

[Tarpley]

Very nice.

 

[elguappo]

I just did something similar on a Matco bottom box I scored on CL, but went with teh Rusto safety red.
There is nothing like these old boxes.
Well done.

 

[00pewter]

Thanks guys... they are definitely well made... It took some muscle to put it in the back of the tahoe...This thing is HEAVY!