I bought my dad a new toolbox for his birthday and swapped him for the metal one that he's had since I was a kid. I want to restore the old box to its former glory. Any advice?
The process is actually pretty simple. Paint won't stick to a dirty surface, so wipe the box with a clean cloth and mineral spirits, or, if it's really nasty, something powerful like Castrol Super Clean. Follow that with a damp cloth and wipe the box dry. Next, remove any rust with a drill and a 60- to 80-grit sanding disc. If that leaves swirl marks, hand-sand them away. Your primer should be a high-build type, like what they use for auto repair. It's thicker and will do a better job of hiding scratches and filling small pits. After one to three coats, remove any imperfections with 1,000-grit sandpaper, then add a couple coats of hammer-finish spray paint on the outside of the box. For the lift-out tray, stick with red. That's just how it's always been.
If either of the latches is shot, you can find a replacement (called a draw bolt) at Rockler, a supplier of woodworking tools and materials, or at websites that sell leather craft supplies. Use steel blind rivets to attach the new latches and your dad's old toolbox will be ready for the next generation.
Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. When he’s not working on his own house, he volunteers with Sovereign Grace Church doing home repair for families in rural, suburban and urban locations throughout central and southern New Jersey.
