Make an old toolbox new again

Depressed by the utter unmanliness of the plastic toolboxes at my local hardware store, I headed to the flea market to see if I could do better. I was looking for a heavy-duty hunk of American steel. It didn’t take long to spot a real beauty … if you find rust and worn paint to be beautiful. But how could I resist a box labeled “Park Manufacturing Co?” After talking the seller down to $13, the old beast was mine. None of the rust seemed to be below surface level. Time to take it home, sand it down to the metal, and bring it back to its original glory.

Materials:

Dremel Multi-Max or other oscillating tool/sander with sander attachment, and sanding pads.
Dremel Rotary Tool and wire wheel. You could use sandpaper and wire brushes instead if needed.
Shop cloths or old t-shirts
Masking tape
Primer
Ruste preventative enamel spray paint
Spray truck liner
Safety goggles
Dust Mask
Goggles

Download the Project PDF
(Right click to save the PDF to your desktop.)

12 Responses to Make an old toolbox new again

giessfoermchen on December 29th, 2010 at 1:16 pm said:

I hate plastic, although the world donÂ´t live any more without plastic is conceivable. If I had had the luck to find this splendour piece on a flea market, I would have bought it also immediately. Then the plastic tool box would have become for me and my workshop an adornment. One must fancy this onceâ€¦.. a box labeled “Park Manufacturing Co” for $ 13? He is even more worth and actually unaffordable.

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An4h0ny on December 29th, 2010 at 2:08 pm said:

Hear me roar.

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Josh Kopel on December 29th, 2010 at 5:17 pm said:

The after is nice and all, but the before wears it’s working history proudly! I would have just wiped it down and filled it full of tools.

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- Simon on December 29th, 2010 at 7:44 pm said:
  
  I second that notion. I think it looked great all battered and bruised. Still, nice job restoring it if that’s your bag, errr, box.
  
  Also a tip, old ammo boxes make excellent metal toolboxes. I have one holding my tools in the boot of my old MG.
  
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tgmake on December 29th, 2010 at 6:21 pm said:

Wow, that turned out great! That box has a new lease on life.

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Adam E on December 30th, 2010 at 5:21 am said:

As much as I can agree with the posters who prefer the old look, what I’ve learned is that brightening things up makes a workshop feel better for me, at least. Old-looking things can make a shop feel depressing and less attractive to myself and visitors. Then there are people like my wife who have almost no knowledge of tools and would develop the idea that it’s time to replace my “aged” stuff when it’s still perfectly functional. I have to constantly remind her that they are in working condition and I find making some things brighter (usually by polishing and cleaning) impresses her and friends better. An exception is my father-in-law, who knows tools and loves to look at old functional stuff, so I leave some unaltered to keep the shop interesting.

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tgmake on December 30th, 2010 at 7:05 am said:

I have to disagree with the others, the box definitely looks better now and will be around a lot longer because you restored it. The before picture shows a box that suffered from neglect and the scratches and rust are from a previous life, not the new life it just started. From now on, the scuffs and scratches will come from your projects and mishaps. After you’re done with it, another owner can do the same.

A lot of the guys on Garage Journal would probably like this.

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gigs28 on January 5th, 2011 at 5:52 am said:

I think the truck liner is a great idea. How did you go about it? Did you find some in a regular spray can? Did you brush it on? Can you buy the lining material and use a paint spraying gun with an air compressor? Or is some specialized equipment needed?

I’d like to give that a try. A quick search around the internet revealed a few different “do-it-yourself” products and methods, but I like to know your opinion on what works well.

Thanks.

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- John Park on January 5th, 2011 at 1:48 pm said:
  
  I used a spray-on truck liner paint from Rustoleum, and it seems to be pretty good. There were a few different choices at the hardware store, like you mentioned, but this one seemed the easiest to apply and is thick enough that I doubt I’ll ever chip it away just putting tools in there.
  
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John McBride on November 29th, 2011 at 10:43 am said:

I worked for Park Manufacturing in Grant Park, Illinois, in the mid-1970′s when they built those boxes. You did a magnificant job of refurbishing that box with the hip roof design. Very impressive!

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Eileen Fayant on January 25th, 2012 at 1:51 pm said:

i am the proud owner of park tool box model 83333
i also have the metal case with bits.
what do u suppose it would be worth?

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Bricago on April 8th, 2013 at 8:37 am said:

That blue is beautiful. Would you mind sharing the brand and color you used? You’ve inspired me to restore my dad’s toolbox. Thank you and great work.

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