Hard Old Tool Box Paint

[flagum]

I have been trying to restore a few old red Craftsman tool boxes. I have some bad scratches in the paint but I can not feel them with my fingernail. I tried using Ultimate Polish, SwirlX, scratchX 2.0 and even Ultimate compound with enough "passion" until my elbow almost fell off. What makes old tool box paint so hard? When i look at the yellow pad there is really No (not even enough to turn the pad pink) paint transfer. I know these tool boxes would NOT have been clear coated. Any advice on how to clear up some of these scratches would be great. Thanks

[Nick Winn]

Re: Hard Old Tool Box Paint

flagum,

We would imagine the reason you are having trouble removing these defects is because the tool boxes are powder-coated and not painted. Powder-Coating is often a tough, resilient surface, which makes it more difficult to remove defects. We always recommend starting with the least aggressive approach, and are OK with our paint cleaners being used on high gloss powder coating, but based on what you have tried so far, it sounds as though these defects are pretty heavy or the powder coat is ultra resilient.

[BillE]

Re: Hard Old Tool Box Paint

I have to agree with the OP, those older boxes are tuff as nails.

I've always just used a cleaner wax (A-12) and called it good. On my oldest box (about 45 years old) I will get paint residue, the newer stack (20-25 years old), no paint transfer.

On those older boxes, you'll notice they are made in Kenosha...same as "Snap-On"?

As to them being powder coated...any idea when powder coating become the norm? I'm leaning towards, the boxes aren't PC'd. But then, powder coating has come a loooong ways since the beginning. How's that for a wishy-washy sentence?

Bill

[flagum]

Re: Hard Old Tool Box Paint

Yes I too, would like to know when they started power coating tool boxes instead of painting them. These boxes are from the middle 70's. Thanks

[BillE]

Re: Hard Old Tool Box Paint

I'd be willing to bet that they are painted, not PC'd.

You ever see the Snap-On truck? If ya get a chance, ask the salesman about the paint. I do know (from their catalog) they did offer touch up paint for their boxes. Whether or not they still do, no idea.

Bill

[Nick Winn]

Re: Hard Old Tool Box Paint

Just talked with Craftsman customer service who transferred me to Waterloo Industries who manufacturers Craftman's Toolboxes. Waterloo stated the tool boxes are powder coated. The rep is also going to seek if and when they were ever painted along with any care guidelines and e-mail me at a later time.

[BillyJack]

Re: Hard Old Tool Box Paint

I'd be willing to bet that they are painted, not PC'd.
Bill

If they're older boxes, I agree with Bill. "Oven-baked enamel" is what they used to advertise in the age before powder coatings. I agree with the very hard paint judgement. The same coating quality that makes them difficult to damage also makes them difficult to correct. Last year on Father's Day, I attempted a resto on my fathers' 50's era two-drawer middle section, pictured below with my 70's top section.





I spent much more time than I ever imagined the job would require, going from Cleaner Wax thru D151 all the way to UC and both Meg's yellow and LC Orange pads.
Eventually, I got it about as good as it was gonna get.



Based on my experience, all I can tell you is UC works great, but you're gonna have to rub, rub and rub some more if you want to get the scratches out.

Good luck!
Bill

[flagum]

Re: Hard Old Tool Box Paint

Even tried UC with a terry cloth that I thought that might give me some more "bite" but still no luck or paint transfer. Man this stuff is hard!! Thanks Flagum