Snap On Rolla Bench Saturday

[Oldtuleguy]

Wow sounds like it's getting the full treatment, can't wait to see it!

 

[christopher]

I'll show now, now, and then go back in time over some period and show the process to get here over a series of posts. I seem to be limited now in uploads of images. This is it then "Oops, something bad happened!" message. I'll try a pic a post then...

 

[christopher]

can't upload anything.

 

[christopher]

trying again, I'll make it a better pic
barfed again after a single image - and that was after logging out and back in. I sent an email to the invisible masters of the site - maybe they will fix it. Anyway, here's my new chrome, which I just got back.

 

[christopher]

ok, logged out and in again - let's see if I can upload another ...

 

[christopher]

clicking insert image gagged, but attach file seemed to work once

 

[yhprum]

Sigh, when I see these old boxes and how proud their owners must have been to have them, my next thought are my own mortality and who will end up with my stuff!

 

[christopher]

cool site, great enthusiasts, but the image attach feature seems a bit buggy. I _am_ using the Brave browser on Linux though - maybe that has something to do with it. I'll install firefox and retry.

 

[christopher]

Sigh, when I see these old boxes and how proud their owners must have been to have them, my next thought are my own mortality and who will end up with my stuff!

well, I'm in upstate New York, USA, so it would be a bit far for you (well whoever finds you) to ship your stuff here

 

[christopher]

400 wet sanded primer. SEM makes a fantastic primer in a rattle can. I've used two kinds on this, their self-etching, which dries really smooth and goes on like butter, and their high-build surfacing primer, which can be laid on with gusto, will not sag, and sands perfectly, with zero paper loading.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Great progress!

 

[christopher]

all the drawers, and the lower drawer set supports. This was taken last year. I had to stop working on it because it is almost always winter in Buffalo...

 

[christopher]

It's a long story this box... I stripped it all, the entire outside of the carcass, every drawer front, both sides of every tambour (that took forever), and my _plan_ was to get everything powder coated. Then I talked with the coater, and he said "nope, can't do large sheetmetal panels and surfaces as they'll warp". ****! Now what. I had to build a paint booth in my Garage (it folds up though, so I can use the garage in winter). That took a while to design and build. I had to cut the hole in the block wall and install the fan. For that I had to modify my circular saw so it could be a diamond wetsaw...
Just the infrastructure to do this project has been several projects!

 

[christopher]

Then it started getting cold. Like overnight it was just too cold to get primer on the carcass. I didn't know what to do. it started to rust. I coated the entire thing in 10w-30, but it kept on rusting. This spring, it was really bad. I had to soak each side in evaporust, in a shallow bath I made to soak it in, and then wire-wheel the **** out of it all, and get primer on each side as I completed one.

 

[christopher]

And I needed to dig out my old Binks 2001 that I have not used in forever, and had to rebuild that. Then I needed a compressor, and wanted to have a good drier for the air coming out, so I had to buy a compressor and build the drier too. Here I am posing with that.

 

[christopher]

and now it's getting cold again! Gah! I have got to get this painted asap.

 

[christopher]

I will say finding this site has certainly been inspiring. It's very rewarding to show these efforts to those who know and can appreciate it all. Is it worth it all? My wife will beg to differ, but I think it is. Sure, I likely could have bought a brand new Snap-on toolbox even at how much they cost, for less than I have invested here in time and money, but it's really not about that at all. This is a piece of American history. An icon of a toolbox, A testament to American ingenuity and her unstop-ability. It's actually an honor to try to make this box great again. It's an honor only a few will get in their lifetime. I will do my damnedest to do Snap-on and America proud with how this comes out.
Cheers, Brothers

 

[Oldtuleguy]

keep up the good work!

 

[msharley]

PHANTASTIK!

 

[christopher]

been a while, lots of stuff happening.
short of it: box is still not complete.
positive of it: everything got a coat of paint, and so far is coming out nice.
reality of it: everything needs another coat of paint, and then at least two clear coats before I'm done. And the reality there, since I am in Buffalo NY, is that doing any more on it cannot happen until May 2023 at the earliest.
What will follow are some more pictures showing current state.

 

[christopher]

drawer on the rotary table

 

[christopher]

what I'm painting it with

 

[christopher]

the tambour slats hanging on the painting rack

 

[christopher]

some painted drawers with the unpainted carcass

 

[christopher]

all the drawers with a good coat - they really need more though

 

[christopher]

the carcass on it's top, painted

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Lookin good!

 

[christopher]

everything is 'coated', but I'm going to pull everything out there into the garage again when it warms up and redo it all again, and this time will get the two part hardening clear coat on it all before I put it all together and start using it.

 

[christopher]

here are all the parts in an 'alter' form in my basement awaiting Spring

 

[christopher]

the chrome

 

[christopher]

one of the emblems

 

[christopher]

Lookin good!

Thanks! A lot done, but a lot left to do. I'm happy with it I would say, just not enough time in our seasons to finish it this year.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Very nice. I redid a similar box over the last couple of years. Mine is from the '80s and it was definitely a less detailed resto. It had paint all over the drawer chrome trim when I got it. I got tired of trying to get it all off. Looking for an '80s Snap On badge if anyone has one.

I redid the box on top in 2009.

 

[christopher]

That looks excellent! Nice work. What models are they?

 

[christopher]

A list - not sure of correct one:

snap on tool box emblem for sale | eBay

Get the best deals for snap on tool box emblem at eBay.com. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items!

www.ebay.com

A very cool one (IMHO) from the list:

USED Snap-On Tools red Tool Box Chest Emblem Badge Rare NICE | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for USED Snap-On Tools red Tool Box Chest Emblem Badge Rare NICE at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[christopher]

Very nice. I redid a similar box over the last couple of years. Mine is from the '80s and it was definitely a less detailed resto. It had paint all over the drawer chrome trim when I got it. I got tired of trying to get it all off. Looking for an '80s Snap On badge if anyone has one.

I redid the box on top in 2009.

this is also cool:

Vintage Snap-On Die Cast Metal Tool Box Emblem Badge Script Embossed Name Plate | eBay

<p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Vintage Snap-On Die Cast Metal Tool Box Emblem Badge Script Embossed Name Plate.</p> <br> <p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">5" x 1 3/4"</p> <br> <p dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Shipped out within 1 business...

www.ebay.com

 

[christopher]

Here are pics of the k60 on the rollabench

just realized you have _two_ K60s!? I've coveted that box and am also looking for one. It's the perfect top box for the rollabench imo. Saw one a while back in not the best shape and it went for ~$650 on ebay iirc

 

[Oldtuleguy]

I can't resist them when they come up for sale! Fortunately neither of my examples required restoration.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

That looks excellent! Nice work. What models are they?

Thank you. Top box is KR 537. Not sure what the roller is, KR 300 I think. Haven't found the stamping, I'll need to look again.

This is how I got it.

 

[christopher]

I can't resist them when they come up for sale! Fortunately neither of my examples required restoration.

yeah - they are the most beautiful top box ever made possibly. So much style. A work of Art really.