What do you guys think about this vintage sk tools chest as a restoration project? I paid $10 for it today pretty rusty but i think it is just surface rust i don't think i would put any tools in it but would look very nice restored in my garage. Thinking i need to take out the drawers sand down the paint and paint it green. Thanks for the help guys!
I did a five draw SK Machinist box awhile back. As others have said just sand it enough to get the rust and crud off it and smooth the edges. I am sure you will get plenty of helpful advice from folks on this forum more experienced than me, but here are a couple of things that might help from my SK adventure.
1) The drawers in the older SK boxes were lined with 100% cotton cloth similar to single sided flannel (not sure if the non Machinist boxes were lined). I purchased 1/2 yard of dark green flannel from a fabric store and had plenty left over. Use an acid free fabric adhesive that dries clear and put it on very very thin, a plastic bondo spreader will help get it on thin. I then rolled up the fabric into a tube and then rolled it across the draw bottom. The glue I used must have been a fast setting type as it was not to forgiving for placement adjustments.
2) The backs of the draws of my box had the best/truest original color. I took one draw to a real paint store and they mixed up a quart of oil based satin enamel to match. I thinned it just enough to spray the box and draws (borrowed the spray gun from my brother). Two coats, 24 hours apart. I did use a 12 oz shaker can of etching primer first to put on a light coat, my main area of concern was the bare metal. From your pictures the paint color appears to be the older darker olive drab.
My goal was not to create a factory new museum piece, It was to put the stage two rust cancer into remission and return it to everyday use.
Good Luck
