Vintage Matco Box

[La Petite Tools]

Hey everyone,

First time lurker first time poster. I recently acquired my dads old Matco tool box he used back when i was a kid. Its sat out in the weather for a long long time and I was planning on having it sand blasted and powdercoated when I get it cleaned up. I was wondering if there would be any issues with the friction slides still fitting after the process. I'm extremely green when it comes to toolboxes i've only had a top craftsman box for years and got in perfect shape from my brother in law. I just want to make sure everything will go back together as planned. And also if there is any way to smooth the handles, i'm not sure if they are pitted or chipped. Anyways thanks for any help!

 

[Logante]

 

[La Petite Tools]

well not really worthless the questions can be answered without pictures.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

You'll get a lot more interest with pictures.

 

[La Petite Tools]

not sure why the images aren't appearing

 

[La Petite Tools]

ahh it says i have to post more

 

[La Petite Tools]

sooo 5 posts and it should show up

 

[La Petite Tools]

 

[La Petite Tools]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/166479064@N04/44230052841/in/dateposted-public/

 

[La Petite Tools]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/166479064@N04/44230052061/in/dateposted-public/

i can't get them to show up in the message.

 

[zkling]

Depending on the thickness and even coat, yes the powder coat can build to interfere with the slides, however it is rare, especially on Mac/matco boxes as their slides have quite a bit of clearance.

My advice would be a good automltive paint, and do it up like a car. Primer, color, clear, sand, buff. If you are going to spend the money for powder coat, something to consider.

As for the handles, they are probably pitted. The chrome on old tool box handles was pretty thin and the alloy they used for handles and badges seemed to pit easily. You could get them recoated. Start with a rub down of extra fine steel wool soaked in oil.

Hopefully water and rust havent permiated the inner wall of the boxes as then they will rust from the inside out.

Tool boxes have a lot of surface to cover and restoring them is a labor of love. Since it belonged to your dad, probably worth the effort and money.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Here you go

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I have those boxes too. A classic combo for sure!

 

[chrisnazzy]

If you have any interest in seeing some pics of a similar NOS (New Old Stock) Matco box, I have some saved that originated here on GJ when another member found and purchased this. I apologize in advance I can't remember who that member was but these would probably also come up in a Google search linked back to GJ.

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[Mr_B]

If do with auto type paints like 2K or epoxy use straight color no clear coat and don't go over heavy on the slides .
Clear coat is a ballache on a toolbox and does not last as well or clean/repair marks as easy as quality straight color .
I've refinished few boxes over the years, yours looks worthy candidate and worth the effort .
Handles could be blasted and refinished with plating or silver epoxy depending on costs and how original you want go.
Remove all badges and lock carefully as these small details make lot of difference at the end .
Would be real nice have that back in action being used for another generation or 2 .

 

[La Petite Tools]

Thanks for all the tips guys. I would love to be able to take the time and do all the fixing up of the box by myself but with two kids and now a house to now fix up I think i'm going to go the powder coat route, seems like it would be the best route for me. I'm not too worried about keeping it original as i have no plans to sell it in the next 30 years or so and that will be a problem for my son to deal with when he gets it lol. For now i'm cleaning up the slides getting the grease off them so they will work nicely when its all done and trying to power wash all the grease off the insides of the boxes and drawers so i can send it off to get blasted and coated. I've got the lock out and one of the badges as well as all the lower box handles off i'm gonna have to try and clean them up when the box is off getting coated.

 

[La Petite Tools]

Depending on the thickness and even coat, yes the powder coat can build to interfere with the slides, however it is rare, especially on Mac/matco boxes as their slides have quite a bit of clearance.

My advice would be a good automltive paint, and do it up like a car. Primer, color, clear, sand, buff. If you are going to spend the money for powder coat, something to consider.

As for the handles, they are probably pitted. The chrome on old tool box handles was pretty thin and the alloy they used for handles and badges seemed to pit easily. You could get them recoated. Start with a rub down of extra fine steel wool soaked in oil.

Hopefully water and rust havent permiated the inner wall of the boxes as then they will rust from the inside out.

Tool boxes have a lot of surface to cover and restoring them is a labor of love. Since it belonged to your dad, probably worth the effort and money.

What type of oil should i use? i was hoping i could just sand them with fine grit sand paper and use some polishing compound to get them looking nice again. Then the paint around the matco is going to take some work as i'm not very good with detailed painting.

 

[Tanro]

Hell I'd leave it like it is. Looks good. You can't pay someone for real patina unless you're willing to wait 10 or 20 years.

 

[La Petite Tools]

If it wasn't so rusty I probably would but I don't want it to rust away and then be even harder to make right later.

 

[zkling]

Just use a clean light weight oil. Penetrating oil works well, but so does a little engine oil, which doesn't run out of the steel wool as quick as the thinner kroil and the like.

If you have any interest in seeing some pics of a similar NOS (New Old Stock) Matco box, I have some saved that originated here on GJ when another member found and purchased this. k

It's so weird seeing a vintage Mac/matco box in red, instead of the faded orange!

 

[yhprum]

If you spray some simple green on it and wash it off you will be surprised how much of the oxidation washes off.

 

[La Petite Tools]

Thanks for all the help everyone. I just started cleaning up some of the rusty tools so when I figure the picture thing out i'll post up some of the before and after pictures of everything.

 

[La Petite Tools]

Dropped the box off today to get blasted and coated.

 

[chrisnazzy]

Nice. Are you going for a color close to original or something custom. Either way, I'm excited to see how it turns out.

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[xs650shawn]

I have that same top box, that I inherited from my dad. Sadly, he traded that same bottom chest off long time ago. Would love to find another.

 

[La Petite Tools]

Nice. Are you going for a color close to original or something custom. Either way, I'm excited to see how it turns out.

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I'm going with glossy blue I'm getting pretty excited.3 weeks and it should be done

 

[La Petite Tools]

So I got a quote to get the handles cleaned and recoated but it is quite a bit more than I can justify, almost the same as the cost of the powdercoating the box and drawers. How horrible would it be to clean the handles up and spray paint them?

 

[La Petite Tools]

Or anywhere that I can send these handles to get the job done? the quote was $300+ as they weren't sure how many passes or hours it would be to prep them.

 

[La Petite Tools]

Got the toolbox back today. Not perfect but they did the best they could with how bad some of the rust was. I'll post some more pictures when I get everything put back together on it.

 

[FJ 432]

Very nice color choice. Can't wait to see it put together.

 

[La Petite Tools]

All put back together finally. Just need some drawer liners now

 

[chrisnazzy]

You certainly have something to be proud of there. Very nice resto but more appropriately........congratulations on the NEW toolbox!

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[La Petite Tools]

You certainly have something to be proud of there. Very nice resto but more appropriately........congratulations on the NEW toolbox!

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thank you!

 

[Stuart in MN]

Looks good. I like all those shallow drawers.

 

[La Petite Tools]

Got some liner in some drawers and finally got some wrenches put away. Not sure I'll ever need 5 of the same but I've got it in a few sizes. Also found some bonney and so tools mixed in the bunch

 

[Tynee]

Looks nice. Good choice not spray painting the handles. The chrome stands off nicely against that blue.

 

[toolman9w]

Nice color choice.