Snap on tool box restoration

[daddycadi]

Hi. New to group. I'm in the middle of restoring a mid 80s snap on box. I've tracked down most of what I need but I'm 1 piece of drawer trim short! Anyone point me in the right direction?

Snap on has discontinued most old parts. It's the crimp on aluminum channel. I'm sure there's a ton of it out there..... somewhere

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[chrismenke]

Most likely, you can find a longer part and trim it to size. While things may have been discontinued for some boxes, larger sizes for more popular boxes may still be available.

Model number?

 

[daddycadi]

It's a kr555b. Not sure how long they used that trim but that's a good idea

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[JohnDeere1]

I restored a kra53 but lrft as much as i could original paint i found a rudtoleum red from a tractor supply or orcheln or whatever and it matches perfect I also aged the paint job a little so it wasn't so shiney. I used one of those spongy sanding blocks and rubbing compound and wax and now looks original paint but better than it started it was a bear to do. I just dont like how spray paint makes a box look my way looks better.

 

[jn50308401]

caddidadi- I have done some Snap on boxes, 2 KR 557's , 1 KR537, a snappy side cabinet and I'm doing a Taco wagon right now. The KR557's are pretty close to the KR555's so I'm guessing the trim is similar. Mine was beat to death. I cut my losses, and bought some aluminum channel from Home Depot, cut it to length, polished it and stuck it on the box with 3M automotive 2 sided adhesive. It does the job, has a soft shine that doesn't draw attention and helps protect the edges.

Ebay sometimes has old parts but many of the folks selling them want more than I paid for the tool box.. I use my boxes in my home garage, so my heart is not with a concours restoration.

Tool boxes are great projects to learn body work on and are very rewarding when they're done. enjoy yours!

 

[daddycadi]

Yes exactly! I played with filler, dent smoothing and sprayed it with single stage urethane. It will be my personal box as well. Looks like a trip to Lowe's is in order. Ha. Thanks

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[crewchief888]

have you checked the trim for a KR655? (newer model) or kr550 (old)/650 (new)?
the A or B on the end of the model number designates model versions

i think the drawer trim is the same all the way up until they discontinued that size of box... but i cant remember the last time i saw it listed in the catalog, maybe mid 90's or so...

 

[daddycadi]

That's good info. I'll give it a good search

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[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

caddidadi- I have done some Snap on boxes, 2 KR 557's , 1 KR537, a snappy side cabinet and I'm doing a Taco wagon right now. The KR557's are pretty close to the KR555's so I'm guessing the trim is similar. Mine was beat to death. I cut my losses, and bought some aluminum channel from Home Depot, cut it to length, polished it and stuck it on the box with 3M automotive 2 sided adhesive. It does the job, has a soft shine that doesn't draw attention and helps protect the edges.

Ebay sometimes has old parts but many of the folks selling them want more than I paid for the tool box.. I use my boxes in my home garage, so my heart is not with a concours restoration.

Tool boxes are great projects to learn body work on and are very rewarding when they're done. enjoy yours!

I'd love to see some pics of your restored boxes.

 

[jn50308401]

Yes exactly! I played with filler, dent smoothing and sprayed it with single stage urethane. It will be my personal box as well. Looks like a trip to Lowe's is in order. Ha. Thanks

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I painted my taco wagon tonight.. phewww.. on to fixing runs, dirt, and polishing.. you know the easy stuff

 

[jn50308401]

I'd love to see some pics of your restored boxes.

Lookin'.. You were my inspiration!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Lookin'.. You were my inspiration!

Thank you, that's humbling to hear. I've done a 537, 531, 274 side box and some others I can't remember now.
My current project is a rolla bench.

Also got a KR 59A from 1969 waiting it's turn.

 

[daddycadi]

Looks great

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[jn50308401]

Thank you, that's humbling to hear. I've done a 537, 531, 274 side box and some others I can't remember now.
My current project is a rolla bench.

Also got a KR 59A from 1969 waiting it's turn.

You do great work and after doing some of these boxes you have some serious patience!

sweet!! Everytime I say, nope I"m done with this crazy stuff, I find another tool box!!

 

[daddycadi]

Here's how mine turned out. I had a classic car vibe going into it. The tar heels colors were not intentional, although it is my team. Haha

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[jn50308401]

wow! Sharp color and you've got some great gloss on that paint!

 

[chrismenke]

So that drawer pull trim looks like it should still be available. Find a drawer that is the same width or wider than your existing drawer by looking at specs of newer boxes, order it from SO, trim to length if necessary.

 

[daddycadi]

Thanks. I actually had to wet sand and buff some orange peel down. Weather here has been hot as he'll. I like the end result pretty good tho. It's not to nice to use. Haha
I've called snap on and there not much help. They say discontinued. I Need to research if the trim still mounts the same way and do as you mentioned. Thanks


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[Michael_in_DE]

Make sure you post lots of pics when you get 'er done!

 

[jn50308401]

Thanks. I actually had to wet sand and buff some orange peel down. Weather here has been hot as he'll. I like the end result pretty good tho. It's not to nice to use. Haha
I've called snap on and there not much help. They say discontinued. I Need to research if the trim still mounts the same way and do as you mentioned. Thanks


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Sorry about the parts not being available. just keep looking, stuff shows up when you least expect it(like another tool box..)

Wet-sanding is the worst!! I went from 400 to 3000 and polished with my HF buffer and Mequiars M105. looks decent, not show car perfect but I'm happy.


The old boxes are not like the ball bearing drawers, they take some finesse to make nice. I lubed my drawer runners with Gulf wax from the canning aisle at the grocery store. I rubbed it into all the nooks and crannies on the drawer, cabinet and the runners. They're not ball bearing smooth, but they are nice after some work.

 

[daddycadi]

I bet yours is gleaming. Haha. I stopped at 1000 and buffed with a heavy cut to tame the gloss. I greased a couple slides before I realized it was a mistake. I used a thin oil on the rest with a little better result. I'll be waxing them later when I regain some patience

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[jn50308401]

I bet yours is gleaming. Haha. I stopped at 1000 and buffed with a heavy cut to tame the gloss. I greased a couple slides before I realized it was a mistake. I used a thin oil on the rest with a little better result. I'll be waxing them later when I regain some patience

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It's got a decent gloss there are some sanding marks and pits that would not fly at Pebble Beach but it's a tool box! I'd cry if it damaged perfect paint. Plus my custom touch up paint is a trip to Home Depot away

Oil and grease will make a mess of the slides for sure. I tried graphite, super lube, bearing grease and it all turned into a slimy mess that attracted dirt like crazy. Wax worked and I use my 537/557 box as main tool storage and the drawers slide nice