Snapon KR557b Restoration Project

[1961MGA]

I picked this up for $315, going to be restoring it soon. It came with the side locker also. I have dismantled the whole box, just about ready to send it for blast and powder coat...

Not sure why my first picture keeps showing up upside down...

 

[thegroundpounder99]

Nice score for $315.


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[1961MGA]

I got some new casters and rollers, so this should work great around the shop.

Only issue I have is the rubber ends on the handle, they don't seem to exist. I looked at OEM handles and did not even see them supplied with them.

 

[zkling]

Yeah, the stock square handle rubber ends are NLA. I machined some aluminum caps for one of mine to at least somewhat match the rest of the trim work.

 

[thegroundpounder99]

I got some new casters and rollers, so this should work great around the shop.

Only issue I have is the rubber ends on the handle, they don't seem to exist. I looked at OEM handles and did not even see them supplied with them.

No they're pretty elusive. I got a 1976 KR562 I'm restoring and I can't find them either. All the NOS handles don't include them either when I've found them online.

 

[1961MGA]

Mine came with the rubber ends but they are torn and dried up...

I'll figure something out I guess

I will post some pictures when I am done. Everyone at work has a red box so I am thinking of midnight blue or yellow...

 

[1961MGA]

Anyone have an idea of what they think this box would be worth fully restored?

I am not looking to sell it but some of the quotes I am getting for stripping and coating are scary...

 

[90zcar]

You aren't going to able to make such a profit on it that it's going to be worth the time spent on it. either do it for your own self pride or use it the way it is.


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[1961MGA]

Like, I said, not interested in selling. I was curious if it is worth putting like 500$ in paint/stripping...

 

[jn50308401]

I have 2 557's and restored both. It's kind of like a car. Do you want to use them? If so, a thorough clean up maybe the best bet. If they were wrecked and greasy, then paint. It's a lot of work, and the small nooks and crannies will drive you nuts!

They look pretty solid, so cleaning and new slides may be all you need. For 100% trailer queen perfection, you'll want to go the blasting/metal work/paint.

On the price.. these things are about what you're willing to pay, the size and friction slides hold the price down.

Good luck on your project and enjoy!

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[1961MGA]

I got the box done and I am using it at work. I have to say, what a solid unit! A lot of the other mechanics use JET brand and they are all broken after about 3 years. I am sure I will have this for years to come.

 

[anodyne33]

sweet

 

[rsanter]

That came out nice
The negative is that those boxes are not worth that much money to sell them.
They are solid box that will last a very long time so you will get all,your value out of using it for years to come

Bob

 

[anndel]

Nice score

 

[1961MGA]

That came out nice
The negative is that those boxes are not worth that much money to sell them.
They are solid box that will last a very long time so you will get all,your value out of using it for years to come

Bob

Ya, that is why I went cheap and only spend 300$ on powder coat and blasting. I figured it is better than having one of the cheap boxes that breaks every year. For roughly 700$ I guess I did alright.

 

[maxcarp709]

Whats with the bottom drawer?In both pics it is black.The finished box looks great,I just can`t figure out why you would leave the bottom drawer black.I have owned the same box for over 20yrs,and am very pleased with the value for the $$ spent.I was thinking about selling it and moving all my tools into a couple of Craftsman stacks I have.Now that I am reorganizing my tool collection,I am having second thoughts about getting rid of the KRA 557b and the MAC MB5100 that sits on top of it.For the little money I could get for selling it,I could not replace it with anything new that even comes close.

 

[CutterFarms]

It does look pretty nice in that color green.

 

[zkling]

That looks very nice, but a reality check is that for $700 you could have got much more box, even an industrial cabinet.

Old tool boxes are kinda like old cars, not real practical for daily use, but with care and light use they will be just fine.

Here's the pic right side up..

 

[1961MGA]

The bottom is black because there was a snapon sign that was bolted to the bottom shelf. You can see it in the original picture. I am not sure what I am going to put on it yet though.

Thats 700$ canadian though, not US...... I needed a push cart for work not a large box. I know I could have gotten something bigger for that price, but at work it will be used pretty heavily as most of the boxes floors collapse after about 3 years there.

 

[maxcarp709]

Thanks for clearing that up!If it had an original Snap On logo on it I can understand why you would want to keep it.
If it was $700 Canadian you spent,then I think you got an even better deal than if you were in the US.Folks here in the US who have never been to Canada don`t realize that goods are more expensive there,and that deals on used goods are not as plentiful as here in the US.I was in Toronto 10 yrs ago for what was supposed to be "Job Training" and wound up freezing my *** off,at night in the middle of December,working on a project at the airport.It was a great experience and the folks up there were great.
I hope your box holds up in the harsh conditions you are describing to us.I think 10yrs from now the box will still be going strong.

 

[1961MGA]

The floor don't even rot out, the wheels actually get bent in and the floors get misshapen where only 3 wheels are touching the floor...

 

[zkling]

That can and will happen to a snap on box as well, especially one from that time frame. Best bet is to build a sub frame with sprung casters for the box to sit in.

 

[maxcarp709]

Wow!What kind of shop do you work in?Heavy equipment?a steel mill?It sounds like the boxes are being overloaded with tools and work pieces and being pushed around.

 

[maxcarp709]

That can and will happen to a snap on box as well, especially one from that time frame. Best bet is to build a sub frame with sprung casters for the box to sit in.

Thats what I was thinking,something like this


This is not my rig.I copied it from another thread here.

 

[1961MGA]

If I find that the bottom is starting to collapse I will do something like that. I work in a food plant and all the floors are graded and have drains so over time the cheaper boxes start to fold in at the floor.