Vintage tool box, should I restore or preserve?

[automotive stud]

I picked this up a few weeks ago from an old friend. It's in good shape, complete down to the key, nice chrome, works smooth and all, but it's definately got character. I cleaned it up the best I could already. I'm trying to decide if I should leave it as is or strip it and repaint it. What do you guys think?

 

[metalhead212121]

leave it be... it has character..

Dan

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

As long as you get the rust stopped, I would leave it how it is. Very nice box!

 

[Bull]

I like patina and old stickers. Spray it down with WD-40 and use it!

 

[old salvage]

There's too much original paint left to justify sanding it all off. Also, that 70's SK sticker is awesome.

 

[panel pete]

Leave it be, that old box has character. Some would call it "patina", I call it proof of a hard earned and well used but cared for existance!

 

[Tim Cowan]

Keep it like it is and use it for 30 more years. Fill it with mismatched tools and let it ride in the back of the truck, just remember to shut the tailgate.

 

[Scout Driver]

Please leave its original character. Great old box.
By the way.....nice pin-striping on the phone!

Scott

 

[sk farmer]

nice. to bad that snap-on logo is polluting that great old sk box.

 

[A_Pmech]

I'm going to be the lone dissenter and say strip that puppy and paint it with some nice automotive enamel.

I don't like rust!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Having a lot of experience repainting boxes, I wouldn't think twice on this one. Sand it down and repaint it. It will look much better. Some boxes, like Slipkid's old Snap On roller look better being left alone. This one doesn't, and it's not even close.

 

[Tim Cowan]

SK Farmer brought up a point.......I think it is a SO box, early model, with a later model
emblem attached to the front. Anyone else agree?

 

[larry_g]

IMHO I would fix it up a bit and paint it. Now let me ask you, do you plan to use this box or just have it sit around as decoration? A well cared for box is a joy and one that is dented, rusted and with so much paint gone as that one is I would bring it back.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[ironfist]

Leave it as is .It looks nice . Clean it up a bit and enjoy it

 

[Fedwrench]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it...

You're not trying to win a beauty contest. I would use the chest as is. The most I would do is clean it up with some 409, lube the slides, and maybe squirt some clp on the rust.

 

[arkangel06]

Restore it

 

[fatfillup]

Depends on your project load and what you plan to do with it. If you are like me and have too many projects, leave it be. If you have time and enjoy redoing it and/or most of the equipment if your shop looks nice, by all means, restore it.

I don't think the box has any big value as a collectible, so either way, you won't go wrong.

 

[lauver]

I think the original owner of that chest was a little conflicted... or maybe just a free spirit. Not sure which.

At any rate, just scrub the chest down, lube the slides, coat it generously with WD40, and fill it with your favorite tools.

 

[Packard V8]

Your box, your time and money, your decision.

As for me, I like patina. Plus, a good paint job on a box with riveted handles is incredibly labor intensive. I wouldn't even attempt it without a sandblast cabinet.

thnx, jack vines

 

[automotive stud]

Thanks for the input guys. I did put some of my misc tools in there so I plan to use it a little, but I always take care of my tools and for serious jobs I have a mint '70's snap on box full of tools. This is more of my working out in the yard tool set that I leave at my other small shop for some basic wrenches and screwdrivers.

I appreciate the input I planned on leaving it but my dad said I should redo it like I did with the big box. For some reason this thing has charm I'll probably leave it for a while at least.

 

[automotive stud]

Please leave its original character. Great old box.
By the way.....nice pin-striping on the phone!

Scott

Haha I was wondering who would comment on my phone! Did that myself too I think it came out damn good haha

 

[cnc-me]

Its to far gone, restore it.

 

[automotive stud]

Well most of the voters said leave it, but most of the posters said redo it. Well since I got my new sand blaster working thanks to you guys I sandblasted it and resprayed it. Nothing too fancy, but good enough for a box I plan to keep using. I'm still waiting for my cork drawr liner to come in the mail before I put my tools back in though.

 

[Pukeballs]

I like it! You did a good job. BTW, where do you buy your cork drawer liner from? Does it hold up well?

 

[sselander]

It looks like my cman box made by advertising metal co

 

[automotive stud]

I like it! You did a good job. BTW, where do you buy your cork drawer liner from? Does it hold up well?

Thanks. I shoulda taken the time to smooth the face a little more but it came out nice. I bought the cork liner on the auction site, although I'm sure it's available other places. I don't know how well it will hold up actually, but it's what they used back in the day so I figured what the heck I'd try it.

 

[loj]

At any rate, just scrub the chest down, lube the slides, coat it generously with WD40, and fill it with your favorite tools.

+1 to this.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Nice job on the resto, automotive stud. Any pics of the process?

What kind of paint did you use?

 

[larry_g]

Cork is avaiable as gasket material in the auto parts store.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[automotive stud]

Here it is with the cork liner, not bad...

 

[ZenMoto]

Looks great, congrats! ...I'd love to see some process pics if you took any!

I have an old-ish (not sure of the year) SO top box (looks like a KRA59) sitting on a similar vintage Matco rolling chest that I got for cheap on Craigslist. ...they spent their life in an auto body shop sitting just outside the paint booth; both were covered with 20+ years of over-spray.

I've scrubbed them down best I could, and they slide and work great (although the lid on the top-box has a broken stay). ...I'd really like to strip them down and make them pretty, but I've never taken one of these down and the last thing I want to do is affect the way they work.

Again, great job; the old box looks fantastic!

 

[automotive stud]

I did take some pictures I'll post them over the weekend. There is a tool I have from my large snap on box to take the drawrs out, basically it's a thin piece of metal like a hacksaw blade you wedge in to release the clips holding the tracks in. I left the lid on when I blasted and painted it, just did my best to get to the back side. I didn't want to try and take the hinge apart.