Speedracer 64
Well-known member
I just bought this yesterday. Would really like to restore this to the factory look but not really sure where to start. Can anybody give me some suggestions or point me in the right direction? Here is a pic of it.
Restoring Craftsman box?
- Thread starter Speedracer 64
- Start date
Super Sport
Well-known member
Just to play devil's advocate, those boxes aren't rare and you can even walk into Sears tomorrow and buy basically the same box. They aren't expensive to acquire and many out there are in good condition.
From the looks of it, you're going to have to put a lot more time and money into it than you could buy one for. Of course, if you know this and are ok with it, then go for it!
From the looks of it, you're going to have to put a lot more time and money into it than you could buy one for. Of course, if you know this and are ok with it, then go for it!
justanengineer
Well-known member
On a box that small, a simple "sand n paint" isnt overly time consuming, so that would be my method after any necessary body work. If youre careful with hand sanding and carefully mask it for paint, you can probably save the tag on the front, otherwise Cman probably still carries replacements if you give them a call. Beyond that, Id lightly sand the latches shiny with 600 grit and mask them right before spraying the gray, then remove the masking and shoot clear over the bare metal for protection.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
A full up restoration of one in that condition is actually tough logistically. The rust on the hasps is one issue, and availability of rivets to reattach then to replace or re-plate is another...
If you simply want the paint ti be nice again adn can live with a certail level of "Patina{ on things like the hasps, thats a differnt story...
that paint is near identical to Rustolium Hammered grey. so sanding it out, removing any small dings, piiming and painting is straightforward. the only real trick to hammered is getting it on thick so I like to paint that one surface at a time, level...
It's simple to refresh the paint, the hasps are the sticking point. I'd work those over with Nevr-Dull and see where you are BEFORE painting or even paint prep, and if they are good enough, mask them off and go for it...
If you simply want the paint ti be nice again adn can live with a certail level of "Patina{ on things like the hasps, thats a differnt story...
that paint is near identical to Rustolium Hammered grey. so sanding it out, removing any small dings, piiming and painting is straightforward. the only real trick to hammered is getting it on thick so I like to paint that one surface at a time, level...
It's simple to refresh the paint, the hasps are the sticking point. I'd work those over with Nevr-Dull and see where you are BEFORE painting or even paint prep, and if they are good enough, mask them off and go for it...
Outlaw's right. Rustoleum hammered gray or silver will be a good enough match on the paint. The real work is getting those hasps shined up-- not as easy as someone looking at a glance might think. Masking will be a pain too, getting the tape just right over them, and keeping them out of the paint.
I'd consider cutting off the rivets and reattaching the hasps with bolts and nuts, or you could try your luck at hardwareelf.com for replacements (see the latches section.)
That said, at least from the pic it appears to be cosmetic rust only, so hasps aside she should clean up nicely.
I'd consider cutting off the rivets and reattaching the hasps with bolts and nuts, or you could try your luck at hardwareelf.com for replacements (see the latches section.)
That said, at least from the pic it appears to be cosmetic rust only, so hasps aside she should clean up nicely.
I'd leave the hasps there and just go over them with a Dremel wire cup wheel. Keep them wet with WD-40 the whole time.
For the rest of the box I'd go over it with maroon Scotch-Brite pad.
Wipe it down with lacquer thinner and shoot it with Rustoleum primer grey.
For the rest of the box I'd go over it with maroon Scotch-Brite pad.
Wipe it down with lacquer thinner and shoot it with Rustoleum primer grey.
I restored a smaller metal socket holder a few months ago, and I took the latches off and soaked them in some CLR, as they were pretty rusty, then cleaned them with a SOS pad, and finally used a wire wheel on my Dremel tool to shine them up, it turned out pretty nice. Just a suggestion.
OP
Speedracer 64
Well-known member
Thanks for all the input. I saw this the other day for what I thought was a pretty good price. Wanted to clean it up and look new. Then fill it up with tools to take to racetrack in the back of my truck. Now I can't decide if I want to go ahead and fix it or try to find a nicer one.