Vintage Craftsman tool boxes should I restore?

[Silpaint]

Hi all, I would like your thoughts whether I should restore my Craftsman tool boxes, or leave them alone. They are from 1949 and are rusty, but how far does patina go until its not patina just a rusty old box. Thanks, Michael

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I would restore them. Too much rust and not enough original paint to keep as-is.

 

[four.cycle]

there's patina, and then there's "post patina".
time for a fix.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

IF you want to keep them, definitely restore.

Anymore, I don't think old boxes like that are worth keeping for much of anything, unless you just really like the style, then heck yea, keep em. ( I just did an old Proto to hold my leather working tools)

But a new/newer BB box is 1000x nicer and smoother and all that.

I started out restoring old boxes. Awesome. Then upgraded to newer Snap on / Matco stuff. Awesome. Then upgraded to Lista / Vidmar stuff. No contest.

 

[tombell572]

They are great old boxes but I think their current condition is not good enough leave as unrestored original. I would restore them and finish in correct Craftsman color for the time.

Tom B.

 

[crguy]

I like to keep things original up to a point, and that point is when they're rusty. I would definitely restore those boxes - might not even have bought them because of the rust. It's going to take a lot of work to restore those.
I collect old woodworking tools, and face that choice on many of them. With surface rust on cast iron, it can be carefully removed and still leave a nice "patina".

 

[madison069]

Welcome!

As for the toolbox I would restore it.

I own the same age toolbox as yours and redid it a few years ago, No regrets.

 

[madison069]

The Toolbox

 

[pcmeiners]

"there's patina, and then there's "post patina"."
Then there is "Curbside Patina"

 

[zkling]

Depends, I'd restore and plan to keep them forever. BUT restore them properly.

 

[holleyrj]

YES !

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[Silpaint]

Thanks guys for all your input, I do appreciate it, and it looks like I should restore them. I thought since they were 67 years old it would be expected to look, (well 67 years old.) and I wasn't sure how many of these still existed, much less in there original finish (what's remaining) and with there original parts, including the top carry tray, wheels, locks and emblems. Also I think the pictures make them look worse than they actually are though, the areas with real rust is on the bottom half of the sides and rear, and the top of the front panel door. All the metal is still solid and has no dents and the remaining areas such as the drawer fronts looks like rust but are actually grease and grime, so thanks again for all your opinions, and I will post pics when they are completed.

 

[taumac]

I've been on both sides of that fence and given opinions both way. IMO. I would clean dirt in **** out box, lube of the slides and use it. A full restore is a time consuming progress so I would make it useable and decide another day.

 

[pendragon1998]

I think it would be a big project to do it right. Not that I am discouraging a full restoration: it has good bones and would look very nice if you carried one out on it I wouldn't hold back due to fear of destroying 'history'. I think common tools are fair game for restoration if they are going to be users. Rare stuff should be sent to the collectors and the patina should be preserved, but stuff like well-used old toolboxes or no. 4 Stanley planes aren't important enough that preservation should trump usefullness.

If you like the current look, try cleaning it up and knocking off any loose rust, then give it a few coats of paste wax to prevent further deterioration You can always do a full restoration later.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

If 5 hours of your time is worth 30 bux, do this:

(Evaporust is too expensive)

Buy 2 packs of citric acid powder from Amazon. $15 each. Says they do 5 gallons, and I think that is TOO strong. I do about 7-10 gallons per bag.

Fill up a big *** rubbermaid box or whatever, and set the tool boxes in them after you clean the dirt out etc. Check in one day, then maybe 2 days.

All the rust will come off, the paint will come off or be so soft you can rub/scrape it off.

EDIT: Flash rust happens with citric acid, (not evaporust), so mix up a 3 or 5 gallon bucket of baking soda and water, and just wash it down with that real quick to neutralize it, then dry, prep and paint.

 

[1930]

I wouldnt do a thing to those great looking boxes except clean them up and preserve them now lets talk about what really matters and thats the 69 under the paper. Is that a real DZ car and what are your plans for it?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Another cool option:

Lay paper towels on all surfaces and spray Evaporust on them, let soak until rust comes off. Lightly scrub with 99cent store wannabe scotch brite (it is not coarse like the real stuff, it's closer to 3M white)

Then neutralize with baking soda water, dry, and clear coat a bunch of times. Keeps patina without rust.

Hot glue some cork in the drawers and top shelf.

Clean and lube slides 100% and call it a day.

I think that's my final answer.

 

[bonneyman]

Depends, I'd restore and plan to keep them forever. BUT restore them properly.

^^^^^This^^^^^

 

[Silpaint]

Hi all, Thanks again for your great advice, and Mohawk Dave for his great detailed instructions (that I think I am going to try). Preserving and clear coating them is what I was wanting to do with them, but I never attempted that before with anything, I always prepped and painted them, and this way down the road If I want I can always do a full restore on them. Also there was some interest from 1930 about what's under the sheets, and yes it is an original X33 69 Z28 RS. I will post some pics for you.

 

[Silpaint]

69 Camaro pics

 

[Cato]

Patina looks nice, but those boxes need some serious TLC.

 

[1930]

Beautiful car, it was my second car but not a z or rs

 

[Linda@Lista]

IF you want to keep them, definitely restore.

Anymore, I don't think old boxes like that are worth keeping for much of anything, unless you just really like the style, then heck yea, keep em. ( I just did an old Proto to hold my leather working tools)

But a new/newer BB box is 1000x nicer and smoother and all that.

I started out restoring old boxes. Awesome. Then upgraded to newer Snap on / Matco stuff. Awesome. Then upgraded to Lista / Vidmar stuff. No contest.

@Mohawk_Dave thanks for the Lista/Vidmar shout out!

 

[OCD Tendencies]

Pics of the completed project?

 

[Gasgt1]

I like the look.
Id clean them up.
I bet you would be surprised how much paint will show through a good cleaning

 

[1982fxr]

Another cool option:

Lay paper towels on all surfaces and spray Evaporust on them, let soak until rust comes off. Lightly scrub with 99cent store wannabe scotch brite (it is not coarse like the real stuff, it's closer to 3M white)

Then neutralize with baking soda water, dry, and clear coat a bunch of times. Keeps patina without rust.

Hot glue some cork in the drawers and top shelf.

Clean and lube slides 100% and call it a day.

I think that's my final answer.

You are a terrible human being. 50 years from now the next guy will curse your name.

 

[Zrxrunner]

Personally, I like em like they are. The old gray/red I have is rusty and I just straightened and greased. On a lot of my old boxes, I'll spray the rusty areas down with aerokroil or another penetrating oil to slow further corrosion and gives it a better look. Depends on what u wanna do with it too. Out in the shop storing vintage old tools...I'd leave it as is. Going in the basement to show off...put some time in and do it up nice. My 2 cents anyways.

 

[ZRX61]

Hi all, I would like your thoughts whether I should restore my Craftsman tool boxes, or leave them alone. They are from 1949 and are rusty, but how far does patina go until its not patina just a rusty old box. Thanks, Michael

Yanno, you could just wipe them down with BLO. I did that with a top chest like you have.

 

[giants]

What would you lubricate the slides with? How often would you re-lubricate them?

Thanks!

 

[Firebird1975]

69 Camaro pics

I know it's an old thread but that's one awesome Camaro. I hope you still have it.