The Pressteel company tool box thread

[Smokeshow69]

I had some time to work on the toolmobile this weekend and I was able to fix the broken spot welds and start the paint restoration process ! I started out by marking all the broken spot welds with bits of green masking tape ! As you can see this had a rough life earlier on but no worries, I am the Sara mclachlan of pressteel tool boxes [emoji51] . I told my wife that and she rolled her eyes [emoji1] I


As you can see it had broken spot welds on either side



I then figured out how close I could get it to plumb while still being close to how it left from the factory ! It did not leave the factory completely plomb... It sits level on the ground but if you measure the openings you can find some variance ! I got the lower corners close to 90 degrees and burned them in !


Thank goodness for the harbor freight welding table! It was a back saver !

I then got out the trusty welding vise grips and clamped everything before finishing the lower welds !


The left side has a slight variance as opposed to the left side but as you can see , that is how it was made! If you look at the paint line you can see how it was formed and painted

All my pressteel boxes have down turned corners which are formed by hand as they are all slightly different in each box ! I am wondering if this was done on purpose in order to drain fluids if something spilled on top ?

Here is a shot of the broken spot welds on the lower corners near the castors where I drilled them out with my napa spot weld cutter ! This thing is worth it's weight in gold ! It makes nice holes that you can actually weld in and build up some heat !

In this picture you can also see the factory welded bracket that is not fully in the corner! It was installed crooked but if you look at the intact welds and paint, you can see it is in it's original spot ! I debated moving it and installing it correctly but since I am trying to preserve the originality of the box ... I opted to leave it !


Right side corner which is installed correctly

Spot weld cutter which chucks up in a drill and the little brush I use in cleaning the spot weld

Left upper corner done!



I finished all the spot welds and then buzzed them down with a flap disc and an angle grinder! I will post some pictures of the finished welds and the paint polishing later! The box is now structurally sound and will not continue to break more welds from flexing !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[RagTopTA]

So, heres my ToolMobile! A nice fella here on GJ, messaged me to let me know about a Plomb box in his area. In Los Angeles Cali, It was posted to Let Go for $30! I, of course, wanted to get my hands on it. We made a deal and he had gone ahead and got the box. Had it shipped by Fastenal freight. Took about 2 weeks to get here but well worth the wait! The box seems in good shape. Some places look as though a repaint had happened at some point. I did a little clean up on it and found a Serial number on the left side of the top panel. I will be deciding what to do with it soon. I am so far thinking about having it and the top box re-done together and matching. therefore having a full Plomb stack to hold all my Plomb tools. I'll post more as I start messing with it. two of the drawers do have mess bottoms in theme. I am wondering if they were bought after the main box was purchased. Happy to finally have it! Thanks to Don for helping a Texas Plomb collector out! So now to try and figure out how old it is, why I don't see the stripes at top and bottom, and why there seems to be silver paint under the red..... oh, and its got a Serial number as shown in the picture.

 

[drivesitfar]

Rag: i've used Fastenal a lot for shipping vises across the USA, but i've only shipped one tool box. can you PM me and let me know what that charge was and since your seller probably had to build a crate how much did you maybe give him to prepare it since it doesn't sound like you paid him that much for the box?

VERY NICE FIND and congrats on figuring out how to get it to you.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I had some time to be able to update this thread of the progress I have made on the old girl ! I worked over the paint a bit to shine it up by removing the oxidation and bring back the paint color to it's original "Chinese red" ! I did not go as far as I would have on the paint if it had been a newer car because I wanted to not over-restore the paint since it has nicks and dings... All in all it did not come out to bad for its age and hard life !

After I had fully degreased the box and had completely dried it for a few days, I started out by using a meguires clay bar on the paint. Rubbing the paint down with a clay bar that has lubricant on it is the first step to paint care/ abuse correction. I used meguires instant detailer as the lubricant as that is what I use on my cars. I worked on one side of the box at a time when clay barring it.


I would spray one side of the box down, wipe an area of the paint down and keep rubbing the box until the clay bar surface was dirty as pictured below.

Once the clay bar surface was dirty, I would roll the clay up in my hand , kneed the clay up into a flat surface and then repeat the process around the whole box. When using a clay bar, you know you are done with an area when you can rub your hand on the surface of the paint and it feels smoothie like wet glass . If you feel little bumps or your clay bar keeps picking up black junk like the stuff above, you just repeat that section until it is smooth. You must clay bar paint before you polish it other wise you grind surface contaminants into the paint and scratch it. One the section is done, wipe it down with a nice microfiber towel to dry any remaining instant detailer.

The clay bar got some of the paint drip marks off but not many so I had to resort to more intense methods... Here is a picture of the side of the box with grey paint drips and also very oxidized paint.
I began by pouring some lacquer thinner onto the tip of a rag and rubbing them but no dice. Then I sprayed brake cleaner onto the rag and rubbed the drips and they began to come off ! I had to follow each drip by hand as brake cleaner is very aggressive and you can't just spray the box and expect to have any original paint left . I did manage to get about 90% of the drips off. I got all the grey off and there is only a little bit of red on it but I can't get any more off without taking off original paint so I stopped! Below is a picture of no grey paint drips! ( the black came off after the picture !)


Once the box was clay barred and the drips removed, I began the paint polishing / abuse correction. I used this meguires 1 step compound that cuts oxidization and polishes out light scratches all in one! It is not a super aggressive cutting compound but that is exactly why I chose it! It can be purchased at any car parts store but I got this at Walmart .

Here you can see the harbor freight 7" buffer I used with a meguires foam polishing disc. This picture also shows the back of it after it was polished! You can see the reflections much better now!

To polish the paint I would squirt a light. X shape of compound onto the foam disc and then turn the polisher back over. Without turning the polisher on, I would use it spread the compound around on the area I was polishing before I turned the buffer on. This helps to minimize splatter! This is a picture in the middle of polishing a side of the toolmobile . To the left of the rag is oxidized / non buffed paint and to the right of the rag is polished paint that is now presentable!

Here is a closeup of the red drips that remain, the oxidized paint and the surrounding polished paint


Once it was polished, I started to make the wood top like I made for my other red roller. I again used old wood from my roof as it has a weathered look that matches the box ! I removed all nail and lightly sanded it to get rid of slivers

I then made cut outs in the corners for the piston rack hardware


After the shape was satisfactory I stained it a dark color to match my other box and my floors ! I don't have pictures of the stained wood yet but should be able to get some this weekend . To complete the box I need to still buff the drawer faces and lock at and piston rack. I will also touch up the paint over the spot welds I fixed . Then I will wax the whole box and post final pictures!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Rileysan]

Amazing work, Smoke! I really enjoy seeing the progress you've made on that box and I'm looking forward to the next one!

Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk

 

[RagTopTA]

that thing is looking good! How do the drawers come out?

 

[Smokeshow69]

that thing is looking good! How do the drawers come out?

You have to pull the bottom drawer out all the way until the 2 rollers touch. Then tilt the drawer assembly down and it will come out. You don't have to take the cover out before drawer removal... To reinstall the drawers you have to reverse the order and do the bottom drawer last !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[FJ 432]

Smokeshow,

Thanks for the detailed write up on the cleaning/claybar and the products you used. I can appreciate the time you have invested in the write up.

Trying the clay bar this weekend.

 

[RagTopTA]

You have to pull the bottom drawer out all the way until the 2 rollers touch. Then tilt the drawer assembly down and it will come out. You don't have to take the cover out before drawer removal... To reinstall the drawers you have to reverse the order and do the bottom drawer last !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks Smoke ill do that when I get to messing with mine !!

 

[Smokeshow69]

I went to Twertsy's web site and found a few plomb catalogue pages with tool mobile ads in them!



I attached them but can't figure out how to make them bigger? They are from the 1942 catalogue!( they may show on a pc as a file attachment but now I am looking at them on my phone and the are showing just fine)

 

[d42jeep]

Let me see it these screenshots work
-Don

 

[Smokeshow69]

Amazing work, Smoke! I really enjoy seeing the progress you've made on that box and I'm looking forward to the next one!

Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk

Thanks ! Yes the blue one should be even nicer [emoji1]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[drivesitfar]

Smoke: thanks for all the pictures and the lessons about Clay bar and paint polishing. i agree ACETONE can be pretty tough on even original paint that is usually pretty tough.

I've had some luck using Simple Green and sometimes on paint stains like that i'd put a few paper towels on the box or project and keep them damp with SG for a few days. SG doesn't seem to eat into original paint if it was applied correctly.

good luck and i like the wood top you made too!!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Smoke: thanks for all the pictures and the lessons about Clay bar and paint polishing. i agree ACETONE can be pretty tough on even original paint that is usually pretty tough.



I've had some luck using Simple Green and sometimes on paint stains like that i'd put a few paper towels on the box or project and keep them damp with SG for a few days. SG doesn't seem to eat into original paint if it was applied correctly.



good luck and i like the wood top you made too!!

Thanks for the kind words ! I can't wait to finish this one so I can start on your old box ! I can't really polish wrinkle paint but I will be cleaning it and fixing the damaged / missing slides ! I will have my work cut out for me but it will be worth it [emoji16]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Smokeshow69]

So I was able to spend more time on the toolmobile this past weekend and turned my attentions to the drawer faces and fixing the inward dented handles on the drawers. 2 out of the 3 drawer dimple handles needed some love! I buffed all the drawer faces after I clay barred them. They did not come out as nicely as the box itself but still a big improvement! Pictured is how I made the drawers hold still while I buffed them ! My Bessey clamps where not deep clamps so I improvised by putting quart size paint cans in the drawers and fastening them to my hf welding table. It was not pretty but it worked !


What does one use to straighten a bent handle on their plomb toolmobile? Why a proto Los Angeles adjustable wrench of course !


Before shot of the offending dent

After shot of fixed handle! I just eyeballed it and pulled up and out on the wrench a little each time while checking it to make sure I did not pull out too far


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Smokeshow69]

So I was able to spend more time on the toolmobile this past weekend and turned my attentions to the drawer faces and fixing the inward dented handles on the drawers. 2 out of the 3 drawer dimple handles needed some love! I buffed all the drawer faces after I clay barred them. They did not come out as nicely as the box itself but still a big improvement! Pictured is how I made the drawers hold still while I buffed them ! My Bessey clamps where not deep clamps so I improvised by putting quart size paint cans in the drawers and fastening them to my hf welding table. It was not pretty but it worked !


What does one use to straighten a bent handle on their plomb toolmobile? Why a proto Los Angeles adjustable wrench of course !


Before shot of the offending dent

After shot of fixed handle! I just eyeballed it and pulled up and out on the wrench a little each time while checking it to make sure I did not pull out too far


I also had time to think about hardware for the piston rack that this toolmobile came with ! It was an option that a lot of them did not come with so I wanted to make sure to put it back on the toolmobile! I initially bought some 1/4 size hardware from Home Depot but really hated the idea of new hardware that was on an older aged tool box. It would have stuck out miserably and it would have not worked for my tread lightly/ look like it was always there theme! I thought about it and decided to check my nos fasteners stash to see if I had something that would work!

I literally paid $5 for what you see here plus more at a g sale a few years ago! It is new old stock screws and bolts in their original boxes! I checked and found some 3/16 sheet metal screws and square nuts that will work perfectly and they also are aged/ not new looking! I believe the difference is in the details on a project like this and since this box is my unicorn I want to do right by it !


People thought I was nuts for buying old hardware at the time but I have used the screws and bolts half a dozen times on vintage or vintage appearing projects so far and there is still tons left!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Stay tuned for this weekend when I clean and lube the casters and final wax it and touch up my spot welds with paint ! I hope to also get it in the house on Sunday as well !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[drivesitfar]

Smoke: great pics and write up on the Plvmb box restoration. you won't get a sideways look from me if you are picking up old boxes of screws and hardware unless i was trying to buy them myself.

that is maybe the main reason i'm GETTING ORGANIZED cause i've got boxes and buckets full of old cool stuff and i'd like to be able to find it when i'm working on an old cabinet or project.

keep up the great work and even if you can't fill up the toolbox or little rack above it now give it time and you'll find the right stuff that will make you smile and us all jealous.

WELL DONE!!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Smoke: great pics and write up on the Plvmb box restoration. you won't get a sideways look from me if you are picking up old boxes of screws and hardware unless i was trying to buy them myself.



that is maybe the main reason i'm GETTING ORGANIZED cause i've got boxes and buckets full of old cool stuff and i'd like to be able to find it when i'm working on an old cabinet or project.



keep up the great work and even if you can't fill up the toolbox or little rack above it now give it time and you'll find the right stuff that will make you smile and us all jealous.



WELL DONE!!

Drives : these all came from your backyard [emoji1] got them when I was visiting family !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Smokeshow69]

I wanted to update the thread ! I was able to finish the toolmobile and it is now living the easy life in the house [emoji1]

To pick up where I left off - I touched up the areas where I welded the top and bottom with model paint ! I chose model paint because they are small quantities of colors so I can mix different shades on the curved bottom of a glass jar until I get a color that is a close to the original ! This thing was hard to match to because there are so many different shades of red on this box but I got pretty close !

These are the colors used in making the magic !


Shot of the touch up spot welds on the drawer run ! The paint touch up matches much closer than in the pictures because I sanded the touched up areas to closer match the faded original !

Again this is much better in person as I knocked the high gloss off it !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[drivesitfar]

Smoke: and your bride won't let you take any pictures of toolboxes inside your home?

 

[Smokeshow69]

Smoke: and your bride won't let you take any pictures of toolboxes inside your home?

Check my post again in about an hour [emoji51] I am currently updating it and there are house pictures [emoji51]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Smokeshow69]

Next I took apart the castors and cleaned , lubed and derided the castors and freed up the lock mechanisms on the front mechanisms ! What would you use to take apart castors on a plomb toolmobile ? Why plomb tools of course !


To quote the American picker guys , I left the castors "sweaty" as I wanted to preserve the original finish that was left ! I reinstalled them when done and then I put a coat of surface wax on the box and drawers! Then I moved it into the house [emoji23]


As you can see the paint has wear over the years but at least it is somewhat shiny and is not rusty !


You can see the wood top I made for the box and also the piston rack!











Currently holding a Lego police station and coloring supplies [emoji23]



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Smokeshow69]

Drives: the next box on the agenda is your old top box ! That one will be less work than this one was !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[drivesitfar]

Smoke: well done. i'll make some popcorn (easy on the butter for Riley and I) and we're here to enjoy the show as you put up more stuff from Plvmb heaven.

cheers and nice work!!

 

[Smokeshow69]

Smoke: well done. i'll make some popcorn (easy on the butter for Riley and I) and we're here to enjoy the show as you put up more stuff from Plvmb heaven.



cheers and nice work!!

Thanks for the kind words sir !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[bmwrd0]

The piston rack looks perfect for bar tools...

 

[RagTopTA]

awesome job Smoke. Mines sitting in my extra room for the time being waiting for me to get some extra time. I see where mine has the same holes for a piston rack as yours. and none of your drawers bottoms are perforated.

 

[Smokeshow69]

awesome job Smoke. Mines sitting in my extra room for the time being waiting for me to get some extra time. I see where mine has the same holes for a piston rack as yours. and none of your drawers bottoms are perforated.

Yes correct on the no drawer perforations! I need to spend some time researching catalogues to see when those perforations where in place and also find out about the plomb logo stampings on the sides. Mine is simply painted but I know some where stamped ! My p&c toolmobile does not have stampings or perforations either. I am just trying to pin down production changes based on the catalogues.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[RagTopTA]

Yes correct on the no drawer perforations! I need to spend some time researching catalogues to see when those perforations where in place and also find out about the plomb logo stampings on the sides. Mine is simply painted but I know some where stamped ! My p&c toolmobile does not have stampings or perforations either. I am just trying to pin down production changes based on the catalogues.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

when I was looking at several catalogs researching a bit I noticed you could get the base model with only the top drawer as a roll around workbench as they called it. then the other drawers could be ordered when ever they were needed. The extra drawers were shown with perf bottoms like the two bottom drawers in mine. The one I have has the Logo stamped in the lower drawer front face, then both sides. Im still wondering about the serial number on the top of mine. unlikely an individual would have done that, maybe if it were company owned.... I dunno... wonder if anyone else has a serial on their model.

 

[Rileysan]

Smoke, you might be interested to know I had a dream last night in which a kid told me where to find the date codes on your Toolmobiles (yes, I really had a dream about Toolmobiles). He also revealed to me that Pressteel didn't make those for Plomb/P&C.

Unfortunately, I woke before he revealed the maker and I forgot where to find date codes.

Sorry about the completely worthless post!

Brian

Sent from my LGL41C using Tapatalk

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Here is a pressteel roller I found today. Not sure of age. Has a nice tray in one drawer. I can see where the pressteel sticker was, but long gone.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Here is a pressteel roller I found today. Not sure of age. Has a nice tray in one drawer. I can see where the pressteel sticker was, but long gone.

I have that same exact one minus the missing front cover [emoji51]

The stickers are in surprisingly good shape !


What is the box sitting on top of yours ? It looks like a plomb ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Unknown, possibly custom made or modified.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I have that same exact one minus the missing front cover [emoji51]

The stickers are in surprisingly good shape !


What is the box sitting on top of yours ? It looks like a plomb ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Speaking of this old box, I was moving this old roller to be stored in my basement because I live in an old house and my garage is not huge. I put it on my dolly and started to wheel it to the stairs to the basement. My wife stopped me and said she wanted it in the house for storage . I have asked her about this box before but she has never been receptive to it before because it is green. She wants it for our laundry room for additional storage which I am totally good with [emoji51] I started in on it today by degreasing it, buzzing down the heavy surface rust on the lower portion and also getting a few of the large dents out of it! Here are some before pictures





This is the generic corporate 2 drawer model not made for any company in particular and includes the model#75 on the sticker on the top drawer


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[drivesitfar]

Smoke: nice looking box and really nice to hear that your bride might allow it inside her (your) home as an accessory or piece of furniture.

I'm still wondering if you are going to spiff up that old Plvmb top box you were so kind to move from my shop. I know you have the skills and hoping you have some time cause the bones of that box seemed pretty good.

since you and Riley have the monopoly on those I'd like to say that I can use one of them in case you find one up here you don't want to drive up and retrieve or local to you cause i need another excuse to drive to the Oregon Coast to watch the waves for a while.

cheers

 

[Smokeshow69]

Smoke: nice looking box and really nice to hear that your bride might allow it inside her (your) home as an accessory or piece of furniture.



I'm still wondering if you are going to spiff up that old Plvmb top box you were so kind to move from my shop. I know you have the skills and hoping you have some time cause the bones of that box seemed pretty good.



since you and Riley have the monopoly on those I'd like to say that I can use one of them in case you find one up here you don't want to drive up and retrieve or local to you cause i need another excuse to drive to the Oregon Coast to watch the waves for a while.



cheers

Drives- I will be getting to that box! I am building up some courage/ fabricating skills as I need to make 2 slides for the box. It has very good bones and is a highlight of my plvmb collection for sure. I will keep an eye out for you for one of these boxes. I have 4 and rileysan had a part in 3 of them so he is definitely good to know [emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[drivesitfar]

Smoke: really no hurry on my account and i'm sure you'll fix up that old Plvmb box when you are ready.

I need to GET ORGANIZED or at least more Organized before I buy any more toolboxes, but I really haven't seen an old Plvmb or Pressteel box to buy since i sold you mine.

good luck with spiffing up the one for your wife's dining room or whereever she wants it inside your home. i'm still not allowed to bring in anything, but at least she (my bride) smiles more now when we go on road trips to buy some of this old stuff i like.

cheers

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Mine has now made its way into my tv room. Gf is not crazy about it but is putting up with it

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

when I was looking at several catalogs researching a bit I noticed you could get the base model with only the top drawer as a roll around workbench as they called it. then the other drawers could be ordered when ever they were needed. The extra drawers were shown with perf bottoms like the two bottom drawers in mine. The one I have has the Logo stamped in the lower drawer front face, then both sides. Im still wondering about the serial number on the top of mine. unlikely an individual would have done that, maybe if it were company owned.... I dunno... wonder if anyone else has a serial on their model.

I just checked the top of my new to me box for a S/N RagTop and sure enough it is stamped right where yours was on top near where the left piston rack leg bolts on. Mine is just a plain stamp without saying it's the serial # like yours has and probably done by hand as they double hit the 8 in S/N 4780. A pic. Ed.

 

[twertsy]

I F'ing HATE this thread!! You guys ****...……...